10 Box Set of Beethoven - DG/Poyldor - 1972


Someone just gave me a 10 box set (10 boxes, not 1 box with 10 records) of Beethoven that was produced by Deutsche Grammophon in 1972 for the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. It was produced by Polydor in the US. Each box has 5 or 6 albums in it, along with a large format booklet on works in that box. It also came with a large format book of his life and works. It is in English, but it seems to have been translated from German.

I have not found out much about this set. I can look for information on each individual performance but that is a lot of work. This looks like a majority (if not all) of the DG recordings of Beethoven, re-pressed and re-packaged for the set.

Anyone familiar with this set? Are the pressing really good or just average? Were they done from original masters? Were they re-edited for this edition. etc.

Most of the records have hardly ever been played and some may be unplayed.

Any information would be appreciated, especially if they happen to be rare and valuable. Should I buy my dream home in Maui? Probably not, but any info would be appreciated.

Three of the boxes say Part 1, but I do not have a part 2 to go with them.

The 10 boxes are

I Symphonies and Overture - Part 1
II Symphonies and Overture - Part 2
III The Concertos
IV Piano Sonatas
V Music for the Stage
VI Choral Music
VII String Quartets - Part 1
VIII Music for Piano - Part 1
IX Chamber Music
X Music for Violin and Cello - Part 1
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Showing 6 responses by dtc

Turns out their are actually 17 boxes in the set. I have seen them going for $50+ per box new or near mint. I cannot, however, find out much about the pressings.
Thanks Elee. That seems consistent with the bits and pieces I have been gathering, but adds good detail. The subscription sales explains why there are so many sets out there. I do have the book, although it is not on my coffee table. Seems like these were really just standard re-issues of the DG portfolio in a convenient set sold by subscription. For Polydor/DG just a way to get revenue for not a lot of extra work.

Lowrider57 - thanks for the link. I missed that one. Looks like the price there is about $40 a box, which is consistent with what I have seen from dealers. Of oourse they do say that the 8 boxes are the complete "rare" set. Individuals are, of course lower, and Goodwill, etc. are rock bottom, but you are never quite sure of the quality of the disks. However, there is a good chance that many have not been played all that much, other than the symphonies perhaps.

Looks like, as with the other albums my friend gave me, I need to cherry pick the things of interest and figure out what to do with the rest.

Thanks.
Lowrider57 - I agree. My friend has never played them. There are several other boxed sets and single albums. I also got things like the sound track from Risky Business, with is worth it just for the cover :)
Elee - you are right, I have the big book, not the cross reference one. Thanks for the clarification.

Frogman - since it appears I cannot buy my vacation home on Maui, I will keep the set. I already have some of this music, like the Symphonies by George Szell and Cleveland Orchestra, the piano concertos, and some of the string quartets, so I will have to compare these new ones to the ones I have. My 10 boxes are not the whole collection, but 40 lps will probably get me through Frankenstorm.
Frogman - I have always liked the Szell recordings. I am just working through the Karajan ones, although in the past they have not been my favorites, but now that I have them all, I need to do some listening.

HDtracks has the nine symphonies in 24/96 by Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Any thoughts on them? I am not sure I really want to digitize all my classical and there are times when listening through the computer is just so much more convenient. Thanks for any insight.
Thanks Frogman. That is pretty consistent with things I have read from others. Prior to this boxed set, the only Karajan/Beethoven I have had has been on CD and I think the transfers were not very good. So I have kept with the Szell. Everyone seems to agree on the Furtwangler but I have never come across them. I need to find time for some serious listening. Thanks.