Various Artists
Beethoven: 7 Legendary Albums (7CD)
7 essential recordings – milestones of Deutsche Grammophon’s Beethoven discography Featuring symphonies, violin and piano concerti, piano sonatas and string quartets.
Legendary artists – Landmark interpretations. Presented with original album artwork and historic images.
CD 1 - Symphonies 3 "Eroica" & 4 (1963)
Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker
“… this 1963 set remains the most highly rated, and with reason. Lustrous Berlin Phil playing, plus Karajan's visionary grandeur.” - CLASSIC FM
CD 2 Symphonies 5 & 7
Carlos Kleiber, Wiener Philharmoniker
“Kleiber's superlatively played readings are unbeatable. If you own just one Beethoven disc, this should be it.” - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, LONDON
CD 3 Symphony 9 & Egmont Overture
Ferenc Fricsay, Berliner Philharmoniker
“… these performance [Beethoven 9] represents the highest level of musicmaking … it really does stand the test of time.” - WHOLENOTE MAGAZINE (TORONTO)
CD 4 Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor"
Maurizio Pollini, Claudio Abbado, Berliner Philharmoniker
“Pollini and Abbado at their best ... The "Emperor" is conveyed by one of the best performances in my memory ...” - FANFAIR
CD 5 Violin Concerto
Anne-Sophie Mutter, Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker
“Mutter really does possess a wonderful tone, and even at this early stage she proved entirely worthy of the music. And the Philharmonic is glorious, a reminder of how great this orchestra could sound … If you don't own this album, you ought to.” - CLASSICAL.NET
CD 6 Sonatas Nos. 8 "Pathétique", 14 "Moonlight", 21 "Waldstein", 23 "Appassionata"
Wilhelm Kempff
“…a refreshing, life-enhancing take on Beethoven that reveals pristine musical surfaces often buried under layers of interpretative accretion.” - INTERNATIONAL PIANO
CD 7 String Quartets No. 9 "Rasumovsky 3", No. 10 "Harp", No. 11 "Serioso"
Emerson String Quartet
“…dazzlingly polished accounts. The clarity of the fugal-style finale from the last "Razumovsky"-Quartet has to be heard to be believed.” - BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE