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Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD

My CD's of Beethoven's symphonies were all issued in the late 80's or early 90's and sound flat and two-dimensional, with a back-of-the-house perspective. Vinyl is more dynamic but I can't tolerate the surface noise during the quiet passages. So, fellow A'gon members, I'm looking for your suggestions for the best sounding (good tone, big dynamics, front row perspective) and most thrilling performances of Beethoven symphonies on redbook CD. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
crazee01
goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot
1,403 posts
 
Brownsfan, to refresh your memory, Josef Krips studied with Felix Weingartner in Vienna and became principle conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic before he was exiled out of Austria.
I'm guessing that may have been around 1948 when that Krips Schubert symphony was recorded. Also, the unfinished Mozart Requiem is beautiful, possibly my favorite. His Don Giovanni with the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera Orchestra is possibly thought to be his greatest recording achievement. Cesare Siepe is Don Giovanni and a young Lisa Della Casa plays Donna Elvira.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Now I am very curious about that Krips Don Giovanni recording. Krips is an interesting conductor. I have Siepe singing the Don on the Leinsdorf recording, which is nice, and I also like that they recorded all of the opera, even the numbers that are almost always cut in the last act. The best Don Giovanni, though, is Giulini's. Absolutely fantastic, as is his Figaro. By the way, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra are one and the same ensemble - always have been.
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goofyfoot
1,403 posts
 
Learsfool, I apologize but I made an error, I meant to say the Vienna State Opera Chorus. I have the Josef Krips, Don Giovanni on vinyl. It's an 8 sided London mono box set which was given to me. I just wish that I had a better mono cartridge since all of the vinyl that I own is in mono. The other complete Don Giovanni that I have is the Glyndebourne Festival Opera Company with Fritz Busch as conductor on RCA Victor but admittedly its condition is somewhat sketchy so it sits in the misfit bin. I would certainly recommend the Josef Krips recording. I have a Rene Jacobs Le Nozze di Figaro on Harmonia Mundi which is a period performance and I would way recommend that also.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Hi Goofyfoot - I used to have a copy of that Glyndebourne one, but I didn't care for it as much as those others I mentioned, so I sold it. Haven't heard the Rene Jacobs. For the period instrument Mozart, I really like Gardiner, though I think I only have a copy of his Magic Flute, not any of the other operas.
goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot
1,403 posts
 
Learsfool,
the Rene Jacobs operas are excellent and they feature the Concerto Köln in cooperation with WDR 3. There is also a 'Saul' by Georg Friedrich Haedel and it's superb. The Don Giovanni is with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and it's also available on Blue Ray or DVD. If my memory doesn't fail me, they were all recorded live for radio broadcast.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/albumList.jsp?name_id1=8429&name_role1=1&name_id2=13576&name_role2=3&bcorder=31

Honestly, I couldn't give you a higher recommendation from my collection than the Rene Jacobs recordings.They may not be to everyones taste but the quality of these discs are irrefutable. As for the Krips Don Giovanni, it's of course a classic. I don't own the Decca CD,

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=213511

I've not heard the Gardiner but his Figaro DVD looks enticing.
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