Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (complete)
Helena Döse (soprano), Marga Schiml (mezzo), Peter Schreier (tenor), Theo Adam (bass)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Chor der Staatsoper Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt
Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 (complete)
Yefim Bronfman (piano)
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman
Piano Concerto in D major, arranged by the composer after the Violin Concerto, Op. 61a
Shoko Sugitani (piano)
Berliner Symphoniker, Gerard Oskamp
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Christian Tetzlaff (violin)
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman
Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin, and Cello in C major, Op. 56
Yefim Bronfman (piano), Gil Shaham (violin), Truls Mørk (cello)
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman
Piano Concerto in E flat major, WoO 4
Martin Galling (piano)
Berliner Symphoniker, Carl-August Bünte
Rondo for Piano & Orchestra in B flat major, WoO 6
Walter Klien (piano)
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Semkow
Leonore Overture No. 1, Op. 138
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Leonore Overture No. 2, Op. 72a
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Fidelio Overture Op. 72c
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Funeral March for Leonore Prohaska, WoO 96/4
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Consecration of the House Overture, Op. 124
Bach Society of Minnesota Bach Society of Minnesota, David Laberge
Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Zur Namensfeier overture, Op. 115
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Gratulations-Menuett WoO 3
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Triumphal March for Kuffner's "Tarpeja" WoO 2a
Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislav Skrowaczewski
Fugue in D major WoO 31
Christian Schmitt (organ)
Pieces (5) for a Mechanical Clock, WoO 33
Christian Schmitt (organ)
Grenadiermarsch in F major for a Mechanical Clock Hess 107
Christian Schmitt (organ)
Wellington's Victory, Op. 91 (Battle Symphony)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Fidelio, Op. 72
Christine Brewer (Leonore), John MacMaster (Florestan), Daniel Borowski (Don Fernando), Juha Uusitalo (Don Pizarro), Kristinn Sigmundsson (Rocco), Sally Matthews (Marzelline), Andrew Kennedy (Jaquino), Andrew Tortise (1st prisoner) & Darren Jeffrey (2nd prisoner
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5 (complete)
Timora Rosler (cello), Klára Würtz (piano)
Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123
Anna Tomowa-Sintow (soprano), Annelies Burmeister (alto), Peter Schreier (tenor) & Hermann Christian Polster (bass)
Gewandhaus Orchestra, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Kurt Masur
Piano Trios (complete)
Trio Elegiaque
Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-10 (Complete)
Kristóf Baráti (violin), Klára Würtz (piano)
Mass in C major, Op. 86
Elly Ameling (soprano), Janet Baker (mezzo), Theo Altmeyer (tenor), Marius Rintzler (bass)
New Philharnmonic Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini
String Quartets Nos. 1-16 (complete, inc. Grosse Fuge)
Suske Quartet
It would not be an overstatement to declare that Ludwig van Beethoven stands as one of the most significant figures in Western civilisation: a composer who shaped the course of music history through his mastery of rhythm, melody and harmonic exploration, pushing the boundaries of form and effectively bridging the gap between Classicism and Romanticism – and yet all the while continuously professing how difficult he found composition.
Detailing his complete output – from his earliest years to his last, by which time he had almost completely lost his hearing – this 86CD box reveals an extensive palette of styles and mediums, rendered all the more obvious by the box's division into different genres (starting with the symphonies and ending with the large corpus of different national folk songs).
A stellar cast of performers completes the tribute: Alfred Brendel, Sir Colin Davis, David Zinman, Herbert Blomstedt, Staatskapelle Dresden and the London Symphony Orchestra are just of the first‐class names and ensembles gracing this must‐buy, bargain‐priced compilation.