Tír Na HiFi

Right, so basically I ended up culling the controversial selections (for now at least) so ordered:









I'll buy a Sibelius set in due course, and I'll buy one of the other Shostakovich discs (they're basically at full price at the moment, so can be bought at any time.)

I'm intrigued by the Beethoven suggestions and reactions. Frankly, I'm not convinced by any of them, but that's not helped by the fact that, hand-on-heart, I'm just not that convinced by Beethoven symphonies at the best of times. Some of them I love, but the chances of me ever sitting down to listen to 5 or 8 are very slim. Anyway, I'm intrigued by the responses to the Haitink set online, and despite the contrary recommendations here, I may end up buying it anyway. I'm going to listen to a few samples before making a final decision. (It's not like it's really a big deal of course, if I don't like it I can buy another, but I do enjoy the research!)

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I'll be back for more!

Good for you Simon and I hope that you enjoy your new purchases when you receive them. Do post some feedback when you eventually get to hear them as we will all be interested to read how you got on with our recommendations when it comes down to the listening session.

Diapason wrote:I'm intrigued by the Beethoven suggestions and reactions. Frankly, I'm not convinced by any of them, but that's not helped by the fact that, hand-on-heart, I'm just not that convinced by Beethoven symphonies at the best of times. Some of them I love, but the chances of me ever sitting down to listen to 5 or 8 are very slim. Anyway, I'm intrigued by the responses to the Haitink set online, and despite the contrary recommendations here, I may end up buying it anyway. I'm going to listen to a few samples before making a final decision. (It's not like it's really a big deal of course, if I don't like it I can buy another, but I do enjoy the research!)

Does it have to be a modern style for these symphonies Simon? After getting the Gardiner and Hogwood sets, I've hardly ever gone back to any of the rest.

Actually, I simply don't know! Normally I'm a fan of period performance practice, but "normally" really only extends to Baroque and earlier. The Gardiner set is available cheaply at the moment as well, and I was tempted by that, but then I thought that maybe that's not a great place to start.

The truth is that I'm buying a Beethoven cycle because I feel I *should* have it, rather than because I think I'll listen to it all that often. As I said above, I really like some of the symphonies and they'll certainly get an occasional airing, but 5 and 9 leave me pretty unmoved. A set that could change that viewpoint would be a very worthy purchase!

I hear that!!

I didn't make any comment on the Beethoven symphonies, because I rarely listen to them. At one point I probably listened to them too much and now I find my attention just drifts when I put them on. Occasionally I accidentally hear one on the radio and find myself gripped, but if I bought the CD then it would rapidly defocus as well!

Glad to know I'm not alone. I was starting to feel like a complete Philistine!

Ciaran wrote:I hear that!!

I didn't make any comment on the Beethoven symphonies, because I rarely listen to them. At one point I probably listened to them too much and now I find my attention just drifts when I put them on. Occasionally I accidentally hear one on the radio and find myself gripped, but if I bought the CD then it would rapidly defocus as well!

Ah well you have the guts of a thirty year head start on me I suppose. I love all of Beethoven's music. What an extraordianary man he was. I am inclined to listen to one or more of his symphonies several times a week. I have individual performances and eleven complete symphonic cycles and I never cease to be amazed at the range and depth of interpretations that this music offers conductors and orchestras. I, for one, am enjoying my Beethoven odyssey, I might grow tired of them in say, 20 years time.

Diapason wrote:Glad to know I'm not alone. I was starting to feel like a complete Philistine!

The vast majority of people on planet earth couldn't give two hoots about Beethoven's music, so you are not alone my friend.

Seán wrote:

Diapason wrote:Glad to know I'm not alone. I was starting to feel like a complete Philistine!

The vast majority of people on planet earth couldn't give two hoots about Beethoven's music, so you are not alone my friend.

I don't much like the company down here. Must try harder with Beethoven!

Well, I adore Beethoven's String Quartets, his Piano Sonatas, Violin Sonatas and the Missa Solemnis: it's just the symphonies that don't grab me any more!