BEECHAM conducts Beethoven Symphonies 2, 6, 7, 8 (1951-59) - PASC593

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BEECHAM conducts Beethoven Symphonies 2, 6, 7, 8 (1951-59) - PASC593

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Overview

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 'Pastoral'
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7
BEETHOVEN Symphony No.8

Studio recordings, 1951-1959
Total duration: 2hr 16:03

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

This set contains the following albums:

"Of the more heroic of Beethoven's symphonies Beecham would give performances that were always interesting and often exciting, if not in the end wholly satisfying, but this one  suited him to perfection and here is a performance full of affection and with the real Beecham touch to it. Again and again I found myself smiling with pleasure at some distinctive, yet wholly justifiable, bit of phrasing or characterisation. To mention only the most obvious one, the bird cries at the end of the slow movement aren't just "played", as they almost always are; each bird is given its own character. The peasants make merry at a very swift speed (so those who admire Klemperer in this may disapprove) but the only movement I didn't wholly enjoy was the last, which Beecham chooses to make boisterous instead of peacefully flowing. The sound of this record is remarkably good, so good that it conveys Beecham's interpretations perfectly adequately (though you may find you want to play the first two movements of the Pastoral at a higher level than the rest of it). If you haven't already got Beecham's … Pastoral performance, this is the moment not to be missed."
 - The Gramophone, 1961, on Beecham's Beethoven Symphony No. 6

"It would be hard to achieve a more graceful or spirited performance of this work than Beecham does: the tempi are just right, the balance is admirable, and there is some lovely horn tone in the Trio of the Minuet"
- The Record Guide, 1955, on Beecham's Beethoven Symphony No. 8


Sir Thomas Beecham was not particularly well-known for his Beethoven. Naturally over such a long career he conducted many performances of the composer's music, but the recorded canon is remarkably light for such a well-recorded conductor and such a major composer.

Of the four symphonies presented here, recorded across the final decade of Beecham's life, Symphonies 6 and 8 comprise his only recordings of these works. The 7th he recorded twice, the 2nd three times. We do not have a complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies from Sir Thomas.

The earlier recordings here, Symphonies 6 and 8, were recorded in mono in 1951 and 1952, and have the most to gain from XR remastering and Ambient Stereo processing, both of which bring a fabulous sense of space and realism to some previously rather dim recordings. The 2nd and 7th recordings benefit from being full stereo recordings to start with, and both offer quieter background noise and finer quality, further enhanced in this new edition.


BEECHAM conducts Beethoven


DISC ONE

BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, 'Pastoral'
1. 1st mvt. - Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande.  (9:32)
2. 2nd mvt. - Scene am Bach. Andante molto moto  (14:31)
3. 3rd mvt. - Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute. Allegro  (5:17)
4. 4th mvt. - Gewitter. Sturm. Allegro  (3:46)
5. 5th mvt. - Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm. Allegretto  (8:49)
Recorded December 1951 & May 1952
Presented in Ambient Stereo

BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
6. 1st mvt. - Allegro vivace e con brio  (9:25)
7. 2nd mvt. - Allegretto scherzando  (3:59)
8. 3rd mvt. - Tempo di Menuetto  (4:38)
9. 4th mvt. - Allegro vivace  (8:10)
Recorded November 1951
Presented in Ambient Stereo


DISC TWO

BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
1. 1st mvt. - Adagio molto - Allegro con brio  (8:49)
2. 2nd mvt. - Larghetto  (12:37)
3. 3rd mvt. - Scherzo. Allegro - Trio  (4:06)
4. 4th mvt. - Allegro molto  (6:40)
Recorded May 1957
Presented in Stereo

BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
5. 1st mvt. - Poco sostenuto - Vivace  (10:49)
6. 2nd mvt. - Allegretto  (9:49)
7. 3rd mvt. - Presto  (8:14)
8. 4th mvt. - Allegro con brio  (6:52)
Recorded April & July 1959
Presented in Stereo

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra    
conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

XR Remastered by Andrew Rose
Studio recordings made at Abbey Road Studio 1
Cover artwork based on a photograph of Sir Thomas Beecham

Total duration:  2hr 16:03     

CD1: 68:06      CD2: 67:57