Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (2003)

In May 2002, in a series of live concerts in the Golden Hall of Vienna's Musikverein, a journey unique in the Wiener Philharmoniker's long and distinguished history reached its conclusion. This thrilling set of symphonies is the fruit of that journey.

The recordings were made 'live' after numerous performances of individual symphonies and complete cycles in Tokyo, Berlin and Vienna. Rattle believes that a live performance has its own rhythm. The conductor 'channelling his unrelenting energy' was something audiences and the critics noticed at the concerts in the Musikverein. “Rattle left all landmark conductors behind him, as he unleashed then tamed, shaped, and painted the musical forces to be heard here…[Beethoven] certainly has his best advocate in Simon Rattle”, claimed Austria’s Standard after one of the recorded concerts.

“The well-known, often played and much-loved Beethoven classics are not just reeled off in expert routine,“ observed the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in 2001, “but are thought through and spontaneously rendered at the highest levels. The musicians react directly to the smallest gestures from their conductor. It's not often that one experiences such perfection.” The Berliner Morgenpost said of the cycle's character and capacity to excite: “Rattle goes for clear contours, for rhythm, dynamics and above all physical energy. He doesn't pay tribute to a genius transfigured and endowed with mythical status by 200 years of tradition but presents us instead with a Beethoven for today.”

Track List:

CD 1
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio 08:36
2 II. Andante cantabile con moto 07:07
3 III. Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace) 04:03
4 IV. Finale (Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace) 05:43
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55, "Eroica" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5 I. Allegro con brio 16:21
6 II. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai) 15:14
7 III. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) - Trio 06:01
8 IV. Finale (Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto) 12:08

CD 2
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 I. Adagio - Allegro con brio ( ) 12:03
2 II. Larghetto 10:20
3 III. Scherzo (Allegro) 03:31
4 IV. Allegro molto 06:13
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5 I. Allegro con brio 07:24
6 II. Andante con moto 09:06
7 III. Allegro - 04:47
8 IV. Allegro - Presto 10:39

CD 3
Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 I. Adagio - Allegro vivace 11:47
2 II. Adagio 09:52
3 III. Allegro vivace - Trio (Un poco meno allegro) 05:28
4 IV. Allegro ma non troppo 06:43
Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5 I. Allegro ma non troppo (Awakening of cheerful feelings on arriving in the country) 12:36
6 II. Andante molto moto (Scene by the brook) 12:20
7 III. Allegro (Merry gathering of the country folk) - 05:24
8 IV. Allegro (Storm and tempest) 04:00
9 V. Allegretto (Shepherds' Song. Happy and thankful feelings after the storm) 10:18

CD 4
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 I. Poco sostenuto - Vivace 14:10
2 II. Allegretto 08:25
3 III. Presto - Assai meno presto 08:28
4 IV. Allegro con brio 08:55
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5 I. Allegro vivace e con brio 09:29
6 II. Allegretto scherzando 03:59
7 III. Tempo di menuetto 04:45
8 IV. Allegro vivace 07:42

CD 5
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 "Choral" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 I. Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso 16:55
2 II. Molto vivace 11:59
3 III. Adagio molto e cantabile 17:03
4 IV. Presto - Allegro assai 06:18
5 IV. Presto - Allegro molto assai (Alla marcia) - Andante maestoso (Ode to Joy) 17:40

Performers:
Barbara Bonney (soprano)
Birgit Remmert (contralto)
Kurt Streit (tenor)
Thomas Hampson (baritone)
Wiener Philharmoniker
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
Simon Rattle