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Beethoven Complete Works boxed set recommendations

I’ve been thinking of getting one of the Beethoven "complete works" boxed sets currently available. The recent sets I’m aware of are the Naxos, Warner Classics, Brilliant and Deutsche Gramophone ones. If you are aware of any other current Beethoven complete works sets please let me know.. The Deutsche Gramophone set is currently an out of print limited edition, but possibly available second hand.

Which of these sets would you recommend? I am primarily interested in the quality of the performances and quality of the recordings. Some of the sets are more comprehensive than others, and include a greater number of Beethoven’s lesser known works and fragments, but that’s only of secondary interest to me. I’ve read some reviews online of these sets, but am interested in what you think, especially if you've had a chance to listen to or sample any of them. Thanks,

Mike

skyscraper
newbee
4,767 posts
 

Too many excellent choices (for me at least - I've got/had a lot of them).

In recent years  I found myself listening more often to Bernstein's set on DG than others available, and more recently the set issued set by Blomstedt on Accentus Music. FWIW, the latter gets  good current reviews and IMHO deserves them. Don't mistake them for another set for 'sale' on Amazon if your looking for the latest/greatest performances in a set.

I too will take a pass on Vanska's set (which I also have).

skyscraper OP
827 posts
 

Meim and newbee,, I will try and find some information tonight on the Beethoven sets you both mentioned. and will get back to you here. There appear to be more options than those of which I was aware. Thanks for the suggestions.

Miker

rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 

Do you mean 'Complete Beethoven' , as in everything he wrote, or just recordings of the complete symphony cycle?

Cheers

skyscraper OP
827 posts
 

Rok2id, I meant "as in everything he wrote" or an approximation of the same, as none of the "Complete Works" sets has everything in it. From what I’ve been reading, some of the newest sets marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, are considerably more comprehensive than earlier "Complete Works" box sets. 

Mike

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

Otto Klemperer and the New Philharmonia would be my preference ahead of the 1963 DG Karajan!

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