Search - Michael George, Ludwig van Beethoven, Roy Goodman :: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9

I wonder...

KIM JONG BACK | Dubai, U.A.E. United Arab Emirates | 11/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"why nobody has written any review for this Beethoven cycle, though lots of people are astonished by the new cycle of Abbado or Zinman.Roy Goodman is a conductor cum violinist whose playing can be listened in the Mass of Beethoven. The important thing of his analysis is 'Purity". He does not allow any part of orchestra com in front. Balancing of sound is disappeared under the tight control of this conductor, though we acknoledge that the dynamic range of Nimbus recording is very wide and accurate.Let's hurry up to collect this cycle. Generally, the odd number shall be listened, if you are real classic music mania. There are lots of famous conductors who conducted these really well, like 3 of Toscanini, 5&7 of Furtwangler, Erich Kleiber, Carlos Kleiber, 9 of Bohm and the immortal name of Karajan. But Gooman compensated the missing (overlooked) points of them. 'Remove Sympathy!' We already know about the misfortune of Beethoven, but we can assume that Beethoven had managed his life by music. Many people has told that 9 symphonies of Beethoven reflect his life. This means that odd numbers reflect his dark side, even number bright side. But we can not give them our 'charity', which would surely annoy Beethoven. Goodman's idea seems more full filled with this 'Lightness with Consideration'. Even numbers are 'out of description'!. Especially No. 8 which follows the Great Dance of No. 7 is brightness itself! Please listen. You may agree..."

Excellent...period!

Micaloneus | the Cosmos | 05/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Beethoven set features the Hanover Band playing on period instruments with less musicians than the average orchestra. These were recorded in a spacious, atmospheric acoustic approximating were Beethoven would have premiered them. The result is thoroughly enjoyable and still sound and feel great after repeated listening.



I also find them far preferable to Hogwood, Norington and Gardiner. Though the Bruggen set on the Phillips label are also pretty good as well. But these seem to have a magical quality about them that is hard to beat.



It's interesting to read about what are the "best" performances, as far as I can tell there are no weak spots to be found. One person wrote - the first was the only letdown - and yet, I found the first to be something quite special. I personally thought the 8th was the only slight drawback to the set, and yet someone else wrote it was their favorite. So who really knows?



This also makes a good second set if you already have a modern interpretation."

Realistic performance and recording, faithful period instrum

Andrew Dale | Geneva, Switzerland | 12/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Customers should know that the Nimbus Hanover Band series is a special exercise: using a single stereo microphone in a warm reverberating acoustic.

This may not be to everyone's taste: whoever wrote the Amazon default review does not know this, and the nonsense written there should be removed.

The experience is very much of being not only at a live performance, but also one taking place around 1820.

Tempos and dynamics are perfectly observed, and this set makes a welcome change from the over-engineered plastic recordings of recent years.

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