Complete Edition

beethoven-card

Label: Naxos

Series: Boxed Sets

Catalogue No: 8.500250

Barcode: 747313025039

Release Date: 11/2019

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Beethoven’s monumental contribution to Western classical music is celebrated here in this definitive collection marking the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Surveying the totality of his career and achievement, the Complete Edition spans orchestral, concerto, keyboard, chamber, music for the stage, choral and vocal works, encompassing his most familiar and iconic masterpieces, alongside rarities and recently reconstructed fragments and sketches in world premiere recordings. The roster of artists and ensembles includes some of Beethoven’s greatest contemporary exponents, in performances that have won critical acclaim worldwide.
  1. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 01 – Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 (Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia, Drahos)  8.500250-01
  2. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 02 – Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4 (Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia, Drahos)  8.500250-02
  3. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 03 – Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6 (Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia, Drahos)  8.500250-03
  4. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 04 – Symphonies Nos. 7 and 8 (Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia, Drahos)  8.500250-04
  5. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 05 – Symphony No. 9, “Choral” (Papian, Donose, M. Fink, Otelli, Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia, Drahos)  8.500250-05
  6. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 06 – Overtures (Slovak Philharmonic, Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia, Gunzenhauser, Drahos)  8.500250-06
  7. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 07 – German and Viennese Dances / Marches (O. Dohnányi, Segerstam)  8.500250-07
  8. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 08 – Wellington’s Victory / Minuets (O. Dohnányi, Segerstam, Skrowaczewski)  8.500250-08
  9. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 09 – Piano Concerto No. 1 / Piano Concerto, WoO 4 (Vladar, Galling, Wordsworth, Bünte)  8.500250-09
  10. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 10 – Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 5, “Emperor” (Vladar, Čechová, Krytinář, Haniková, Wordsworth, M. Štilec)  8.500250-10
  11. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 11 – Piano Concertos Nos. 3 and 4 (Vladar, Capella Istropolitana, Wordsworth)  8.500250-11
  12. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 12 – Violin Concerto (version for piano and orchestra) / Triple Concerto (Dong-Suk Kang, Kliegel, Jandó)  8.500250-12
  13. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 13 – Violin Concertos, Op. 61 and WoO 5, Hess 10 / Romances Nos. 1 and 2 (Takako Nishizaki, Junek)  8.500250-13
  14. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 14 – Bagatelles, Opp. 33, 119, 126, WoO 54, 59 and 60 (Jandó, S. Gallo)  8.500250-14
  15. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 15 – Ländler, WoO 11, 15 / Minuets, WoO 10, 218 (Jandó)  8.500250-15
  16. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 16 – German Dances, WoO 13, Hess 5 and Hess 67 / Contredanses, Hess 102 (excepts) (Jandó, S. Gallo)  8.500250-16
  17. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 17 – Minuets / Bagatelles / Waltzes (S. Gallo, Jandó, C. Petersson, Larry Weng)  8.500250-17
  18. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 18 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 2 and 3 (Jandó)  8.500250-18
  19. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 19 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Jandó)  8.500250-19
  20. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 20 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 8, “Pathétique”, 9, 10 and 11 (Giltburg, Jandó)  8.500250-20
  21. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 21 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 12, “Sonate mit dem Trauermarsch”, 13, 14, “Moonlight” and 15, “Pastoral” (Jandó)  8.500250-21
  22. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 22 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 16, 17, “Tempest” and 18, “La Chasse” (Jandó)  8.500250-22
  23. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 23 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 19, 20, 21, “Waldstein”, 22 and 23, “Appassionata” (Giltburg, Jandó)  8.500250-23
  24. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 24 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 24, 25, “Kuckuck-Sonate”, 26, “Les Adieux, l’Absence et le Retour”, 27, 28 (Jandó)  8.500250-24
  25. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 25 – Piano Sonatas Nos. 29, “Hammerklavier”, 30 and 31 (Jandó)  8.500250-25
  26. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 26 – Piano Sonatas, Op. 111 and WoO 47, Nos. 1-3, “Kurfürstensonaten” (S. Gallo, Giltburg, Jandó)  8.500250-26
  27. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 27 – Piano Variations, Opp. 34, 35, WoO 68, 70 and 80 (Jandó, Ian Yungwook Yoo)  8.500250-27
  28. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 28 – Piano Variations, Op. 76, WoO 64, 65, 66, 69, 72, 73 and 76 (S. Gallo, Larry Weng, Ian Yungwook Yoo)  8.500250-28
  29. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 29 – Piano Variations, WoO 63, “Dresselver Variations”, 75, 77-79 (S. Gallo, S. Kagan, C. Petersson)  8.500250-29
  30. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 30 – Piano Variations, Op. 120, “Diabelli Variations” and WoO 71 (Scherbakov, Ian Yungwook Yoo)  8.500250-30
  31. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 31 – Sonata for Piano 4 Hands, Op. 6 / Piano Variations, WoO 67 and 74 (A. and S. Hamann)  8.500250-31
  32. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 32 – Piano Sketches and Fragments (Fishell, S. Gallo, C. Petersson)  8.500250-32
  33. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 33 – Musik zu einem Ritterballett / Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (Warren Lee, C. Petersson)  8.500250-33
  34. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 34 – Piano Sketches and Fragments (S. Gallo, Jandó, C. Petersson)  8.500250-34
  35. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 35 – Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-3 (Kliegel, Tichman)  8.500250-35
  36. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 36 – Cello Sonatas Nos. 4 and 5 / Cello Sonata, Op. 64, Hess A 15 (Kliegel, Tichman)  8.500250-36
  37. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 37 – Variations on Cello and Piano / Mandolin Sonatinas, WoO 43a and 44a, Hess 43 (Kliegel, Sariel)  8.500250-37
  38. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 38 – Piano Trios Nos. 1 and 2 (Xyrion Trio)  8.500250-38
  39. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 39 – Piano Trios Nos. 3, 4, “Gassenhauer” and 5, “Ghost” (Hausmann, Xyrion Trio)  8.500250-39
  40. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 40 – Piano Trios Nos. 6 and 7, “Archduke”  8.500250-40
  41. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 41: Piano Trio Variations / Symphony No. 2 (version for piano trio) (Xyrion Trio)  8.500250-41
  42. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 42 – Piano Trios, Op. 38, WoO 37 and WoO 38, Hess 49 (Demmler, Tillier, Grabinger, Xyrion Trio)  8.500250-42
  43. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 43 – Piano Quartets, WoO 36, Nos. 1-3 (New Zealand Piano Quartet)  8.500250-43
  44. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 44 – Piano Quartet, Op. 16 / Piano Quintet (Ioannides, Jandó)  8.500250-44
  45. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 45 – String Trios, Op. 9, Nos. 1-3 / Trio Secondo, Hess 28 (Falvay, Scholtes, Fejérvári, Sedo Karasaki)  8.500250-45
  46. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 46 – String Trio, Op. 3 / Serenade, Op. 8 / Finale: Allegro, Hess 25 (Falvay, Eunji Kim, Fejérvári)  8.500250-46
  47. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 47 – String Quartets Nos. 1, 2, “Komplimentierquartett” and 3 (Kodály Quartet)  8.500250-47
  48. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 48 – String Quartets Nos. 4, 5 and 6 (Kodály Quartet)  8.500250-48
  49. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 49 – String Quartets Nos. 7 and 8, “Rasumowsky” (Kodály Quartet)  8.500250-49
  50. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 50 – String Quartets Nos. 9, “Rasumowsky”, “Heldenquartett” and 10, “Harp” (Kodály Quartet)  8.500250-50
  51. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 51 – String Quartets Nos. 11 and 12 (Kodály Quartet)  8.500250-51
  52. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 52 – String Quartets Nos. 13 and 14 (Kodály Quartet)  8.500250-52
  53. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 53 – String Quartets Nos. 15 and 16 / String Quartet, Hess 34 (Kodály Quartet)  8.500250-53
  54. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 54 – String Quartet, Hess 32 / Allegretto, WoO 210 (Fine Arts Quartet, Quartetto d’Archi di Venezia)  8.500250-54
  55. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 55 – String Quintets, Opp. 29 and 104 (Fine Arts Quartet, G. Sharon)  8.500250-55
  56. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 56 – Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-4 (Takako Nishizaki, Jandó)  8.500250-56
  57. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 57 – Violin Sonatas Nos. 5, “Spring”, 6 and 7, “Eroica” (Takako Nishizaki, Jandó)  8.500250-57
  58. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 58 – Violin Sonatas Nos. 8, “Champagnersonate”, 9, “Kreutzer” and 10  8.500250-58
  59. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 59 – Dances and Marches (Segal, Sarid, Scholtes, Fine Arts Quartet, New Zealand Symphony, Judd)  8.500250-59
  60. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 60 – 3 Duets, WoO 27 / Duo for Viola and Cello, WoO 32 (Kazunori Seo, Mitsuo Kodama, Zimmermann, Kliegel)  8.500250-60
  61. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 61 – Septet, Op. 20 / Wind Quintet, WoO 208, Hess 19 (Balogh, Vajda, Jenő Keveházi, Hegyi, Máthé, Szabó)  8.500250-61
  62. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 62 – Sextet, Opp. 71, 81b / Octet, Op. 103, “Parthia” (Shifrin, Paul Wonjin Cho, Morelli, Olegario)  8.500250-62
  63. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 63 – Preludes and Fugues, Hess 29-31 / String Quintet, Hess 40 (fragment) (Segal, Sarid, Isabel Kwon)  8.500250-63
  64. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 64 – Flute Sonata, Anh. 4, Hess A 11 / Serenade, Op. 25 (Kazunori Seo, Asuka Sezaki, Koichi Komine)  8.500250-64
  65. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 65 – 6 Variations on Folk Songs, Op. 105 / 10 Variations on Folk Songs, Op. 107 (Gallois, Prinz)  8.500250-65
  66. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 66 – Geschöpfe des Prometheus (Die) [Ballet] (Turku Philharmonic, Segerstam)  8.500250-66
  67. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 67 – Fidelio [Opera] (CD 1) (Glashof, Titus, I. Nielsen, Hungarian Radio Chorus, Halász)  8.500250-67
  68. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 68 – Fidelio [Opera] (CD 2) / König Stephan (Halász, Segerstam)  8.500250-68
  69. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 69 – Leonore (1805 version) [Opera] (CD 1) (Polster, T. Adam, Cassilly, Leipzig Radio Choir, Blomstedt)  8.500250-69
  70. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 70 – Leonore (1805 version) [Opera] (CD 2) (Polster, T. Adam, Cassilly, Leipzig Radio Choir, Blomstedt)  8.500250-70
  71. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 71 – Egmont / Vestas Feuer, Hess 115 (fragment) (Salminen, Ranta, Turku Philharmonic, Segerstam)  8.500250-71
  72. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 72 – Ruinen von Athen (Die) / Die Weihe des Hauses Overture (Turku Philharmonic, Segerstam)  8.500250-72
  73. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 73 – Glorreiche Augenblick (Der) / Choral Fantasy (City of London Choir, Royal Philharmonic, Wetton)  8.500250-73
  74. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 74 – Missa Solemnis (L. Phillips, Redmon, J. Taylor, Baylon, Nashville Symphony Chorus, Schermerhorn)  8.500250-74
  75. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 75 – Cantata on the accession of Emperor Leopold II / Mass, Op. 86 (Aalto, Katajala, Segerstam)  8.500250-75
  76. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 76 – Christus am Ölberge / Opferlied, Op. 121b (Lehesvuori, Säikkä, Raudanen, Segerstam)  8.500250-76
  77. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 77 – Cantata on the death of the Emperor Joseph II / Abschiedsgesang, WoO 102 (Segerstam, T. Holmes)  8.500250-77
  78. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 78 – Irish Songs, Vol. 1, WoO 152 (R. Kramer, Schedel, Wohlgemuth, Springer, K. Wagner, Wehler)  8.500250-78
  79. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 79 – Irish Songs, Vol. 2, WoO 153 (Bourvé, R. Kramer, Schedel, Wohlgemuth, Springer, Stöhr)  8.500250-79
  80. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 80 – Irish Songs, Vol. 3, WoO 154 / 26 Welsh Songs, WoO 155 (Bourvé, Stöhr, Wehler, D.M. Hamilton, Schaub)  8.500250-80
  81. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 81 – 22 Scottish Songs, WoO 156 (Bourvé, Wohlgemuth, Stöhr, Wehler, D.M. Hamilton, Poplutz)  8.500250-81
  82. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 82 – 4 English Songs, WoO 157 / 29 Songs of Various Nationality, WoO 158 (Bourvé, R. Kramer, Wohlgemuth)  8.500250-82
  83. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 83 – 25 Scottish Songs, Op. 108 (R. Kramer, Springer, Büchner, Leib)  8.500250-83
  84. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 84 – Folksong Arrangements (alternative versions) (Bohnet, Johannsen, Klimbacher)  8.500250-84
  85. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 85 – Lieder, Vol. 1 (Coburn, Trost, Prey, Hokanson, Bartos)  8.500250-85
  86. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 86 – Lieder, Vol. 2 (Coburn, Trost, Prey, Bojórquez, Hokanson, Bartos)  8.500250-86
  87. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 87 – Lieder, Vol. 3 (Coburn, Gerstgrasser, Tauber, Prey, Edelmann, Klimbacher)  8.500250-87
  88. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 88 – Lieder, Vol. 4 (E. Breuer, Coburn, Schlemmer, Bohnet, Trost, Johannsen)  8.500250-88
  89. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 89 – Voice and Orchestra Works (Haavisto, Karlström, Greenlaw, Turku Philharmonic, Segerstam)  8.500250-89
  90. BEETHOVEN, L. van: Edition (Complete), Disc 90 – Canons and Musical Jokes (Schlemmer, Breuer, Tauber, Weiser, Tabea Ensemble, Cantus Novus Wien)  8.500250-90

8.500250

naxos8500250

COMPLETE BEETHOVEN: DG versus WARNER versus NAXOS

November 1, 2019

DG BOX = 101 CDs (with duplications) + 17 CDs of historical or period instrument performances + 3 Blu-ray Audio discs + 2 DVDs: reviewed on this page.
This box costs more than Warner and Naxos combined (but the new DG box costs less than half what the 25 year old DG Beethoven Edition cost).
Hardcover Beethoven biography + nine separate booklets.
Texts and English translations for the vocal works: BIG PLUS FOR DG.
Padded out with multiple performances of major works (but you have to pay for them).
Five different performances of the Ninth Symphony alone: Bernstein, Fricsay, Gardiner, and two performances by Karajan (1962 and 1976).
Nice that DG includes both standard and period instrument performances of the complete Symphonies and most Concerti (but they forgot period instrument recordings of Piano Concerti 3 & 5).
DG has the most thorough documentation.
THE DG BOX IS MY DEFAULT RECOMMENDATION.
Biggest negatives are the high price, Gardiner’s messy edition of ‘Leonore’, and the omission of Op.41, Op.42 & Op.64 (see below).WARNER BOX = 80 CDs Beethoven – The Complete Works (80CD)
One booklet.
No texts or translations for vocal works.NAXOS BOX = 90 CDs Beethoven Complete Edition [Naxos: 8500250]
One booklet.
Texts and translations for approximately 40% of the vocal works are available on Naxos’ website. You’re on your own for the rest.
NAXOS IS MY SECOND CHOICE – RECOMMENDED IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE DG BOX.
More user-friendly than Warner, but it falls well short of DG.

THREE OPUS NUMBERS THAT GET NO RESPECT:
Apologies to Rodney Dangerfield.
None of the three boxes include all of Beethoven’s opus numbers.
The DG box, which is otherwise the most attractive, is missing three Opus Numbers published during Beethoven’s lifetime:
—- Op.41: Serenade for Flute and Piano in D major – an arrangement of Op.25, the Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola.
—- Op.42: Notturno for Viola and Piano in D major – an arrangement of Op.8, the Serenade for Violin, Viola and Cello.
—- Op.64: Sonata for Cello and Piano in E-flat major – an arrangement of the Op.3 String Trio.
The Naxos box is missing Op.42
The Warner box is missing Op.64
The DG box is missing Op.41, Op.42 and Op.64
All three arrangements were the work of Beethoven’s students (apparently Beethoven made some corrections).
DG uses this as an excuse to leave them out of their box (they were also missing from the old DG Beethoven Edition).
But Beethoven submitted these works to his publisher and accepted payment.
I think any “Complete” Beethoven Edition should include all opus numbers approved by Beethoven.

OTHER MISSING WORKS:
—- Op.11: Trio No.4 in B-flat major for Piano, Violin and Cello: MISSING FROM WARNER AND NAXOS is only in the DG box (played by the Beaux Arts Trio). This is Beethoven’s alternate version of the Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello Op.11 (the Clarinet version is in all three boxes).
—- Op.17: Sonata for Cello and Piano in F major: MISSING FROM WARNER is in the DG box (played by Casals & Horszowski) or in the Naxos box (played by Kliegel & Tichman). This is Beethoven’s alternate version of his Horn Sonata Op.17. [Maria Kliegel on Naxos is the only cellist to record all seven sonatas: the traditional five + Op.17 + Op.64].
—- Op.72a: Leonore (first version, 1805): MISSING FROM DG (which claims it has the 1805 version, but doesn’t) – see “Problems with Leonore” *
—- Op.72b: Leonore (second version, 1806): MISSING FROM ALL THREE BOXES – see “Problems with Leonore” *
—- Op.130: String Quartet in B-flat major – Finale (Allegro): MISSING FROM WARNER – This quartet has two finales, published a year apart. The Artemis Quartet on Warner recorded the first finale (the “Grosse fuge”) but not the second, and there is no alternate recording on Warner’s list of contents. The “Grosse fuge” was later published separately as Op.133.
RECONSTRUCTED WORKS:
—- Symphony No.10 in-E flat major (Biamonti 838): MISSING FROM ALL THREE BOXES – Reconstructed by Barry Cooper from Beethoven’s sketches of the first movement. Premiered in 1988 by Wyn Morris and the London Symphony. The Tenth created quite a stir at the time, but has since dropped from sight: Beethoven: Symphony No. 10- World Premier.
—- Macbeth Overture (Biamonti 454) and Oboe Concerto (Hess 12): MISSING FROM ALL THREE BOXES – Reconstructed by Willem Holsbergen from Beethoven’s sketches. The Macbeth Overture was premiered in 2001 by Leonard Slatkin and the Washington National Symphony. Both works were recorded by Yuval Waldman and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic (H. David Meyers oboe) Beethoven: Lost & Rediscovered.
Basically just curiosities.
The problem with the Tenth Symphony, Macbeth Overture and Oboe Concerto is that reconstructing an orchestral work requires a much more interventionist (creative?) approach from the editor than completing an incomplete piano score.
SPURIOUS WORKS:
—- Three Duos for Clarinet and Bassoon (WoO 27), once attributed to Beethoven, are now believed to be spurious. They are in the Naxos box (CD 60), where they are played in a doubly spurious version for Flute and Bassoon (Kazunori Seo & Mitsuo Kodama). Inexplicably, Warner licensed the Naxos recording for their box (CD 57). Not in the DG box.
—- The ‘Jena’ Symphony (WoO Anh.1), published in 1911, is definitely spurious, composed by Friederich Witt. Naxos owns a recording (Witt: 2 Symphonies & Flute Concerto), but decided against including it in their Beethoven box (also not in DG or Warner boxes).

* PROBLEMS WITH LEONORE:
Beethoven composed three versions of the same opera, with four different overtures:
—- 1805 Version 1: Leonore Op.72a, opens with Leonore Overture No.2 (chronologically this should have been labelled “Leonore Overture No.1”, but the order was screwed up by publishers after Beethoven’s death).
—- 1806 Version 2: Leonore Op.72b, opens with Leonore Overture No.3 (this should have been labelled “Leonore Overture No.2”).
—- 1807 Version “2a” Beethoven planned a third version of Leonore, but only got as far as a new overture, published posthumously as Leonore Overture No.1 with the ridiculous opus number of Op.138 – Beethoven’s final opus (this should have been labelled “Leonore Overture No.3, Op.72c”).
—- 1814 Version 3: renamed Fidelio Op.72, opens with the Fidelio Overture.
All three boxes have Fidelio and the four overtures.
—- the DG box lacks the 1805 and 1806 versions of Leonore. Instead, John Eliot Gardner prepared a conflated version of 1805 and 1806 (with some 1814 Fidelio thrown in for good measure). This is a totally unsatisfactory solution for a scholarly edition of Beethoven’s works.
—- Warner and Naxos have the same (excellent) recording of the 1805 Leonore conducted by Herbert Blomstedt, but to get the libretto and translation, you need the original Berlin Classics CD release, which I recommend: Beethoven: Leonore.
—- the 1806 version of Leonore Op.72b is MISSING FROM ALL THREE BOXES – the 1806 version has significant differences from the 1805 version and it’s omission is a serious black mark against all three companies. But it has been recorded – by the other DG (Dabringhaus und Grim): Beethoven: Leonore (1806 version) (with libretto and translation).
—- following Blomstedt’s recording of the 1805 version, the orchestral sketch WoO2b (previously thought to be an Entr’acte from Tarpeja) was determined to be the prelude to Act Two of Leonore in 1805. Gardiner recorded it with his version of Leonore on DG. Blomstedt’s recording lacked it, but it is in both the Warner box (disc 11, conducted by Dausgaard) and the Naxos box (disc 7, conducted by Segerstam).

NEWLY RECORDED WORKS:
In 1969, for the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, Deutsche Grammophon issued the first Beethoven Edition on LP (reissued on CD 25 years ago).
Beethoven scholarship has uncovered a lot of previously “lost” works in the past fifty years.
All three companies claim first recording rights to a number of rarities.
DG claims 50 “rarities” (discs 99-101), but a lot of them were recorded ten years ago by the now defunct Monument Classics CD label.
No matter, most are still first recordings, and quite well done.
Naxos’ website claims only 20 first recordings, but their box has considerably more (more than DG, though you’d never know it from the Naxos website).
Mostly alternate versions and brief sketches, but their inclusion is a definite plus for Naxos.
At least 30 “first recordings” are common to both DG and Naxos,
Still working on EMI.
For a list of “rarities” (and an explanation of “WoO”, Hess and Biamonti) see Comment One (“sort by “Oldest”).

MAJOR WORKS:
SYMPHONIES:
—- DG: two complete sets: Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic (1962, BLU-RAY Audio) + Gardiner, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique (period instruments)
—- Warner: Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe
—- Naxos: Drahos, Nicolas Esterhazy Sinfonietta
—- DG bonus: 25 symphonies conducted by Abbado, Bernstein, Bohm, Chailly, Fricsay, Giulini, Karajan, Carlos Kleiber, Monteux, Nelsons, Schmidt-Isserstedt, Furtwangler (mono), Erich Kleiber (mono), Scherchen (mono) + Carlos Kleiber DVD Video + single movements (mono) conducted by Nikisch, Strauss, Klemperer, Karajan & van Kempen
OVERTURES:
—- DG: Abbado, Chailly, Fricsay, Klee, Szell, Gardiner (period instruments), Busch (mono), Furtwangler (mono), Klemperer (mono)
—- Warner: Barenboim, Dausgaard, Klemperer, Muti
—- Naxos: Drahos, Gunzenhauser, Segerstam, Skrowaczewski
CREATURES OF PROMETHEUS:
—- DG: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
—- Warner: Harnoncourt
—- Naxos: Segerstam + Beethoven’s transcription for solo piano
EGMONT INCIDENTAL MUSIC:
—- DG: Abbado
—- Warner: Masur
—- Naxos: Segerstam
WELLINGTON’S VICTORY:
—- DG: Karajan + Beethoven’s transcription for solo piano
—- Warner: Dausgaard
—- Naxos: Lenárd + Beethoven’s transcription for solo piano
CONCERTI (5) for PIANO:
—- DG: 15 recordings by 10 pianists: Argerich, Arrau, Brendel, Buchbinder, A. Fischer, Gulda, Kempff, Pollini, Zimerman, Levin (period instruments)
—- Warner: Schiff/ Haitink
—- Naxos: Vladar/ Wordsworth
CONCERTO for VIOLIN:
—- DG: four recordings: Mutter/Karajan + Repin/Muti + Schneiderhan/Jochum + Zehetmair/Bruggen (period instruments)
—- Warner: Perlman/Giulini
—- Naxos: Nishizaki/Jean
CONCERTO for VIOLIN arranged for PIANO:
—- DG: Barenboim, piano & cond.
—- Warner: Duchable/ Menuhin
—- Naxos: Jandó/ Drahos
CONCERTO for PIANO, VIOLIN, CELLO:
—- DG: Chung Trio/ M.W.Chung cond.
—- Warner: Barenboim piano & cond, Perlman, Ma
—- Naxos: Jandó, Dong-Suk Kang, Kliegel/ Drahos
FANTASY FOR PIANO, CHORUS & ORCHESTRA:
—- DG: Pollini/Abbado + Levin/Gardiner (period instruments)
—- Warner: Aimard/Harnoncourt
—- Naxos: McCawley/Wetton
ROMANCES (2) for VIOLIN & ORCHESTRA:
—- DG: Mutter/Masur + Zehetmair/Bruggen in Romance No.2 only (period instruments)
—- Warner: Perlman/Barenboim
—- Naxos: Nishizaki/Jean
MASS Op.86:
—- DG: Gardiner (period instruments)
—- Warner: Giulini
—- Naxos: Segerstam
MISSA SOLEMNIS:
—- DG: Karajan (1966) + Gardiner (period instruments)
—- Warner: Klemperer
—- Naxos: Schermerhorn
CHRIST ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES:
—- DG: Klee
—- Warner: Wangenheim
—- Naxos: Segerstam
FIDELIO (1814 final version)
—- DG: Abbado + Bernstein (DVD Video)
—- Warner: Klemperer
—- Naxos: Halász
LEONORE (1805 & 1806 versions of Fidelio)
—- DG: Gardiner (period instruments) – conductor’s hybrid of 1805, 1806 and even 1814 versions
—- Warner: Blomstedt – 1805 version
—- Naxos: Blomstedt – 1805 version
PIANO SONATAS:
—- DG: Wilhelm Kempff (BLU-RAY Audio)
—- Warner: Stephen Kovacevich
—- Naxos: Jeno Jando
—- DG bonus: 57 sonatas performed by Arrau, Ashkenazy, Backhaus, Brendel, Freire, Gilels, Grimaud, Gulda, Kissin, Kocsis, Kovacevich, Lupu, Michelangeli, Perahia, Pogorelich, Pollini, Richter, Serkin, Uchida, Rubin (fortepiano), Haskil (mono), Kempff (mono), Schnabel (mono)
CELLO SONATAS:
—- DG: Maisky/ Argerich
—- Warner: Starker/Buchbinder
—- Naxos: Kliegel/Jando
—- DG bonus: Fournier/Kempff (3), Rostropovich/Richter (5)
VIOLIN SONATAS
—- DG: Kremer/Argerich (1-4) + Perlman/Ashkenazy (5,6) + Mutter/Orkis (7,9) + Dumay/Pires (8-10) + Menuhin/Kempff (variations etc.)
—- Warner: Capucon/Braley
—- Naxos: Nishizaki/Jando
PIANO TRIOS:
—- DG: Beaux Arts Trio + Previn/Mullova/Schiff + Kempff/Szeryng/Fournier
—- Warner: Barenboim/Zukerman/DuPre
—- Naxos: Xyrion Trio
—- DG bonus: Staier/Sepec/Queyras (period instruments) + Levin/Hanson/Watkin (period instruments) + Gilels/Kogan/Rostropovich (mono)
STRING TRIOS:
—- DG: Mutter/Giuranna/Rostropovich
—- Warner: Perlman/Zukerman/Harrell
—- Naxos: Falvay/Fejervari/Eder
STRING QUARTETS:
—- DG: Amadeus Quartet (BLU-RAY Audio)
—- Warner: Artemis Quartet – they play the Grosse fuge (later published as Op.133) as the final movement of Op.130 – but not the replacement finale. This may be a typo.
—- Naxos: Kodaly Quartet
—- DG bonus: Emerson Quartet (early & middle quartets) + Takacs and Hagen Quartets (late quartets) + assorted quartets by Lindsay Quartet, Quartetto Italiano, Shuppanzigh Quartet (period instruments), Busch Quartet (mono), Hollywood Quartet (mono)

Best box you’ll can buy:
  1. DG (4,8 stars)
  2. Naxos (3.1 stars)
  3. Warner (3 stars)
  4. Brilliant (1.9 stars)

 

Het leven & de muziek van Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) op Compact Discs, DVD's en Boeken

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