Open Web Player
![Beethoven: The Symphonies (Dolby Atmos) [2 Disc Blu-ray Audio]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61VyMCLU6TL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
I have been living with this set for about a month now. Disclosure: I will cop to being a Karajan fan, as well as a bit of a Beethoven cycle nut. I own all three of Karajan's Deutsche Grammophon Beethoven cycles on CD (as well as Gardiner, Chailly, and Bernstein's DG cycles). So I can compare them directly with each other on questions of interpretation (to a degree anyway) as well as recording quality.
The 1977 cycle is recorded in something called "Ambisurround." This is a matter of some controversy in audiophile circles, as it is an attempt to create a synthetic surround stage in a 16bit/44khz CD recording. It has been said that it is best decoded by stereo receivers with Dolby Digital decoding capability. I can say that, from my perspective, this is a bit of a tempest in a teapot. I listen primary over my Sony MDR-1000x headphones, and I don't have any problems with this when played in stereo.
Anyway, Karajan was somewhat notorious for re-recording material to take advantage of new technology (and to garner more sales). There are those who say that the readings are identical, which I disagree with. Inarguably, there are sonic differences. Let me highlight a few key areas of the cycle to compare and contrast.
I find Symphony 5 2nd Movement to be a good test for a disc. It has a sort of brass crescendo that can obscure the countervailing strings underneath. The 1977 set has a resonant, echoing brass that is still reasonably well balanced against the strings. I love how the drums are miked - there is a ringing, tympanic presence to them that really adds urgency to the music (the 7th is sublime). "Resonance" is the word I would use to describe the whole set, really. There is a feeling of echo here - not distortion mind you, but a kind of concert hall feel. The 1985 set is absent this - instruments seem to be closer miked, and so there is a very "studio" feel to it. The brass is cleaner, but also obscures the strings a bit more. The 1963 cycle, being the oldest, has the most hiss, with a bit of sibilance on the strings. This makes them easy to pick out against the brass, but the brass is a bit less involving and "moving." The second movement of the 9th is another great showcase for the virtues of the 1977 set. The tempo is fast (nearly but not quite at Gardiner levels) but the sound is just sublime. The tympani is absolutely rocking, and is perfectly balanced against those divine BPO strings. The overall sonic lushness really lends itself to dreamier symphonies like the 6th, which is absolutely sublime here.
With respect to tempo, the 1977 set as a rule serves as a middle ground between 1963 and 1985. Despite its reputation, 1985 is the fastest of the three sets. Symphony 5 Movement 2 for instance, is 10:05 in 1963, 9:33 in 1977, and 9:21 in 1985. Karajan clearly decided to speed things up as the years progressed (his Beethoven was always on the fast side for its time - listen to Bernstein or Klemperer if you really want to hear a slow, plodding Beethoven).
Basically, the 1985 set is perhaps the best sonically over headphones. The level of detail is just more more present, which makes sense given the digital recording technology. Ocaasionally, it has a crunchy "digital" sound that is offputting. 1977, by comparison, was recorded over basically the best analog equipment there ever was. It is smooth, plush, and enveloping. This is the set to get if you want to play it over good stereo speakers in my opinion (I tend to play it over my Bose Soundtouch 20) - the echoing "concert hall" feel really lends itself to filling a room with audio. The 1963 set, which has long been considered a gold standard, is actually my least favorite of the three (which I know puts me in the minority). The interpretation is fine, if a bit slower than the other two, but sonically it just doesn't please me in the way the other two sets do.
It should be added that this box set contains a very nice rendition of 6 overtures: Coriolan, Fidelio, Prometheus, Athens, Egmont, and Leonore. The 1985 set also has these tracks minus Prometheus and Athens. The 1963 set does not contain these overtures.
All three sets are good. In fact, I would probably place all three over any of the other sets I own (Gardiner's set is a refreshing "HIP" alternative). If you're going to buy one Karajan set, I think you should consider where they are to be played, but truly you will not go wrong with any of them. Given that 1977 and 1963 are currently the only reasonably priced ones here, I think the 1977 one is the one to buy. I think it will please the most people. The 1977 set has most of the virtues of the 1963 set's interpretation, but has significantly better sound. 1985 is an estimable set by any measure, but is not quite as emotionally involving as the 1977.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Top reviews from other countries
Benito Corte Velasco
Gran calidad de sonido a bajo costo.
Reviewed in Mexico on July 2, 2019Blau Jean Claude
Du grand son pour un petit prix
Reviewed in France on June 2, 2018