Ludwig Van Beethoven – The Very Best Of Beethoven (2005)

Beethoven was a brilliant composer, musician and artist, despite having lived centuries ago, and going deaf whilst he was alive. Considered one of the three main Classical music composers, along with Mozart and Bach, he gave the world a huge amount of unique music. Some of the music is on this compilation, and this should be a good listen in any case so let’s hear what we have here.

First off is Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 I. Allegro Con Brio which is instantly recognisable, with its classic melody. This is a beautiful and suspenseful piece of Classical music that has not aged at all. A great mixture of string based sounds are here, and this piece sounds top and unique. The suspense in this piece is nothing short of amazing, and it sounds wonderful. It is one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable pieces of music in the history of the world, so therefore this must be heard to be experienced. A great and powerful (in the melodic sense) piece of music, and undeniably good. Towards the end, it builds up into a melodic frenzy that is awesome. A thoroughly nice and enjoyable listen.

Next along is Egmont, Op. 84: Overture begins with a slow and sustained string melody that takes some time to kick off. Before long, a combined sustained sounding piece is here which sounds really top. Other string melodies run underneath it, giving this piece an edge of suspense. This is an eight minute long piece, so get strapped on in. The underlying melody is brought to the fore, which sounds wonderful and unique simultaneously. This is another really good piece of Classical music that has lasted the test of time. The whole piece here is nicely structured here, and it does sound incredibly amazing and enjoyable. Not bad for the length of the piece, one can go into an imaginative state because of it. It has a very positive sounding conclusion towards the end, sounding like glory. An amazing piece, another must hear composition.

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”: I. Adagio sostenuto comes along next, which is a dark sounding piece. It certainly has an air of melancholy about it, make no mistake. The repeated melodic refrain and sound here is definitely different. Still, it is a decent piece that progresses along nicely, and is no doubt another brilliant Classical music piece. Great stuff, although from a very dark place. A very unusual yet captivating listen, this is definitely different. The wonder and creativity of these pieces are nothing short of amazing, and this rings true for this album so far.

String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59/3, “Razumovsky”: IV. Allegro Molto begins with a frenetic violin piece that sounds clever and amazing. This is a much more cheery listen than before, and sounds really quite unique, yet very good. The racing string sections here are excellent. This is a really awesome piece of brilliantly structured music that never ages, it sounds like some brilliant effort has gone into playing here. An excellent and lively sounding tune, this is an incredible and surprisingly fast, yet totally enjoyable listening experience. For Beethoven to write pieces of music such as this, it must have taken a phenomenal effort to do so. Awesome. It gets very suspenseful towards the end, which is cool. A decent listening experience through and through, excellent composition.

Following is the 11 minute piece Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61: III. Rondo: Allegro which starts off with a lone violin section that sounds cheerful and bright. This goes into a glorious and amazing piece that sounds lovely and upbeat. Very good listening, this is a very original and inspired listen. Yes, this is Classical music but it sounds truly inspired and marvelous. Tell that to a postmodern musician about their music and compare it to this beauty, the former wouldn’t be able to compete with it in a way. The violin playing here is wonderful and dramatic, and this piece is really excellent. Lovely string sections are everywhere and this is a really top listen. A really strong and beautiful rhythm is here, this is an extraordinary listen from being crafted centuries ago. The midsection is very dramatic, with a multitude of dazzling melodies here for your pleasure. Clever melodies and structure are here, this is a very good listen from the big book of Beethoven symphonies. A great violin solo is towards the end here. All in all, an interesting and yes, exciting listen. Definitely different. It finishes dramatically.

Next is Fidelio, Op. 72, Act. I: No. 9 Abscheulicher! Wo Eilst Du Hin? which begins with a dramatic string section, before going into a mixed Classical/Opera styled piece. This is really good, even if you are not a huge fan of Opera itself, although the Opera here is unlikely to be of everybody’s taste. A nicely delivered piece of music regardless. This is a really great piece of original music, something that is so unique that many postmodern mainstream musicians would never take note of. A really great piece of lovely music here, this is really awesome to listen to. Great to know that this music has been preserved for centuries, a lively and good listen. Great and melodramatic listening all the way to the end here. It finishes dramatically.

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathetique”: II. Adagio Cantabile is a solo piano piece that sounds like many artists have attempted to copy it at some point. It is a more melancholy and darker piece of music listening. This is a fine listening experience, despite the overtone of sadness in the piano playing here. Still, it is very good listening, even if at times it seems dreary. An excellent slice of musical history without a doubt.

Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, “Pastoral”: I. Pleasant, cheerful feelings aroused on approaching the countryside: Allegro ma non troppo is a long piece, as you may have guessed from the long song title. This begins with some upbeat melodies on string sections, before building up into a frenzy of sound and melody. A really lovely and summery sounding piece of instrumental music that just works nicely. This is a really amazing and fine listening experience, and this piece flows well. An excellent sounding string driven orchestral piece that sounds wonderful and gorgeous, this is nothing short of amazing listening. A valuable and refreshing piece of Classical ear candy, this is another great composition by Beethoven. Great to listen to all the same, and the multitude of sections are really great here. A really cool and nicely enjoyable piece of artistry is here for many to enjoy. Excellent stuff, it builds up towards the end of it in terms of expressive music. Fine listening and a nicely crafted composition, the repeated melodies here are great, ending this piece gently.

Next is Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47, “Kreutzer”: III. Finale: Presto begins with crashing piano and melodic playing of that and a violin. This is a nice change from the Opera and purely orchestral sections prior to this, and sounds very lively, upbeat and frenetic. This is a really interesting and undeniably good listening experience that is shorter, and a bit different. Refreshing and different, this is really a good composition by Beethoven. Very different and listenable, this is really awesome stuff. The piano playing here is excellent and intricate, which is a very notable thing about this sort of Classical music. Great and colourful playing is here on the piano, a really awesome listen. Brilliant music all the way to the end, which ends dramatically.

Following is Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 Es-Dur, Op. 73: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, “Emperor”: Rondo Allegro is a 10 minute piece that begins with some beautiful piano and some great melodies that just sound top. This is a better composition from the brains of Beethoven to one’s ears, it just sounds purely fantastic here. A heartwarming and lovely listening experience, this does wonders for one’s mood. An intelligent and lovely composition indeed, this is a really fantastic listen here. Nice to hear all the same, it goes to show the variety and expertise of the piano playing here is unmistakable. Great and creative music, this is a fine listen. This is exceptionally good for a piano piece, sounding nice and lovely. The other instruments here interact nicely as well, meshing together seamlessly with the intricate piano playing here. A really solid effort by all means, this is great music here. A really fine listen, perfect for background music for a dinner party or something similar, this is outstanding music. Great listening for a piece of its kind, this is a valuable little composition here. It goes quiet towards the end, before finishing in an awesome way.

Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica”: III. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace begins with some quickly played violin sections, which are awesome. This is an upbeat, yet melodic piece of music that is shorter in length to many pieces on this album at five minutes long, but is just as good as the other pieces here. This piece consists of fluttering melodies and a keen sense of melody that is brilliant. This piece is one of the better Beethoven pieces and makes a dramatic impact upon listening. An impressive and refreshing listening experience, this is really impressive and artistic music. It gets very subtle at points, which makes it a bit different from other compositions by Beethoven. Energetic and enjoyable music to last for centuries, this is top stuff. Effortless and brilliant listening.

Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59, “Fur Elise” is the very famous piece of music which is instantly recognisable upon listening. It is super short, at three minutes long, but sounds marvelous and well played here. A really great and effortless listen all the same, this is really fine and enjoyable music at hand. The piano does make a difference here, and it goes to show that this piece comes alive on it. Great instrumental and playing here, too.

Next is Mass in D Major, Op. 123, “Missa Solemnis”: Benedictus begins with a subdued string section that is nothing but lovely. This is a beautiful 10 minute long piece, with horns and some lovely additions via orchestra. Although it is predominately a string based piece, the other instrumentation is welcome here. Before long, Opera vocals enter which are refreshing and nice. A truly beautiful and very nice piece of music, this is awesome and different from what you’d expect. A really expertly delivered and composed piece of music, this is a great mixture of Classical instrumentation and eventually, Gospel choir. It is a good Opera based piece, but not overwhelming so. A really excellent listening experience to hear, this is certainly blissful music. Excellently delivered, this is an extraordinary piece of music. Pure brilliance set to instrumentation, this is really dramatic and outstanding for this ingenious mix of sound. Just really amazing sounding. Towards the end, the entire choir sings wonderfully over this legendary Classical piece. Glorious sounds to one’s ear, this is a fine listening experience. A lively and great piece of music. It ends softly.

After that is Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24, “Spring”: II. Adagio molto espressivo begins with a gentle piano part, along with a sad sounding violin. This is really fine and beautiful listening, and is relatively short at five minutes long. Very touching and moving, this is a really excellent and wonderful piece of orchestration. This effort is indeed another strong one, and sounds really timeless and excellent. Despite the fact it is a melancholy piece, it sounds very good. A great piece of artistry by Beethoven, this is another effortless and amazing listening experience. Very reassuring listening, this is fine music. It ends softly and gently.

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: III. Rondo (Vivace) is a far more upbeat and pleasant listen than the piece before it. The violin sections and the piano here are really bright and cheerful sounding, and are frenetic and interesting to hear. This is a wonderful made and played piece of music that is awesome and incredible, and just sounds really great. The piano work here is the real star, putting in a performance that is nothing short of amazing. A great and beautiful slice of music, there is a sort of call-and-response between the piano and orchestra here. Very good to hear such accurate and frenetic piano playing here, whoever is playing on this is an excellent pianist, without a doubt. Effortless and wonderful, just like music should be. In the second half, it has an unusual melodic change which makes this piece sound different. A really nice listen here, this is very intellectually appealing and beautiful as well. Towards the end, some fluttering piano makes its mark again which is pretty cool. It ends with a huge mesh of instrumentation.

Andante in F Major, WoO 57, “Andante favori” is a seven minute piece. It begins with upbeat and melodic piano that is quite excellent to hear. This is a decent and inspired piece of music with a great sense of melody about it. The playing here is just spot on and this sounds very, very good indeed. A very nice listen is here, and will take you places other music cannot. Lovely and lively, this is an awesome and interesting listen. Great music for a home setting or for a seriously intellectual mood, this never gets old. Although this is a solo piano piece, it is incredibly good and wonderful sounding. It has an array of playing and moods to put one’s mindset into. A very layered sort of sectioned playing is here, and this just sounds really great. It becomes more suspenseful towards the end of this piece, showcasing the brilliance of Beethoven. It gets very quiet and subdued towards the end, before entering a mellowed and optimistic sounding finish.

Next along is Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97, “Archduke”: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92: II. Allegretto which has a sombre intro for an eight minute Classical piece. Strings play quietly in the background, which are well done and are reassuring. This piece is definitely background music for the most part, and sounds subtle and relaxing, although there is an undercurrent of melancholy in the melody. A good, if odd, piece written by Beethoven. It eventually gets louder along the way, and continues playing a rather strange melodic section for this kind of music. This sort of music shows that, being quiet, just as much as being loud, can grab one’s attention. Awesome and different in that sense, a great addition to this compilation nonetheless. The playing on this record seems very accomplished and pure, and is a majestic listen throughout as a result. Actions speak louder than words, and this piece of music proves that being quieter is the case of action, not merely words. A very gentle stroll through what can be done musically. Good and finishes off very subtly.

After that is Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97, “Archduke”: II. Scherzo which is a more straightforward and piano driven piece that is shorter in length, and gorgeous to hear. A very unique and wonderfully loveable piece of music, this is grand and undeniably great sounding. This is a great piece of music that sounds lovely and wonderfully fitting for this record. The piano playing is spot on perfect for this piece of music, and just sounds brilliantly good. There are some unusual sections here which are suspenseful and different, too, sounding odd at times. Still, this is another great piece of music that is historically important, as much as the other pieces are here. Great musicality to it, and a very nice listen indeed. The ending is very sudden.

Sinfonie Nr. 9 d-Moll, Op. 125: 4. Finale: Presto – Allegro assai (Uhrwerk Orange): Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69: III Adagio cantabile – Allegro vivace is an extremely long title for a Classical music piece. It begins with suspenseful piano and violin here, sounding very spot on and magnificent. This is a slower, and somewhat more melancholy styled piece that runs for eight minutes long. This is a wonderful listen, along with the rest of this album, with some great violin, cello and piano playing in particular here. No doubt a strong and interesting listen for this type of music, it proves its worth through the wonderful melodies here. A good place with enough emphasisation to leave a good impression on one hearing it. Great and seemingly effortless music. Another nice and enjoyable piece of artistry as we head towards the end of this compilation. Brilliant and lovely music, another great listen from start to finish. The ending is dramatic.

Sinfonie Nr. 9 d-Moll, Op. 125: 4. Finale: Presto – Allegro assai (Uhrwerk Orange): Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: IV. Finale: Presto – Allegro assai (excerpt) is the very last and longest piece (not just the name) on this compilation, which lasts nearly 14 minutes long. It starts off with a joyous and upbeat melody, before some Opera singing enters. This is an animated and pleasant listen that is a grand finale for Beethoven’s music that becomes rather loud and extraordinary to hear. Some awesome string sections are here for one’s listening desire, and this whole piece is wonderfully effective. This is a really interesting piece of music, busy enough to get one’s mind going, as well as being emotionally enjoyable, too. It goes into a quieter section, before launching into the famous and memorable Opera section of singing that has been used in many TV programs of sorts. Enough to bring a smile to one’s face, this is legendary. More Opera style choir singing comes along which is pretty awesome. This is a very enjoyable and nicely structured listening experience that is excellent. About halfway through, it gets a little strange and suspenseful. The choir singing gets going again, and this is really awesome. A really triumphant and majestic listen all the way through, this is really fine and fun listening for a Classical music piece. Towards the end, rushing violins and Opera solo vocal parts give this piece an interesting twist. A grand listen experience, and quite an unforgettable one. The choir and solo singer interaction here is superb. Towards the end, a quick string section finishes off this highly entertaining and enjoyable piece of artistry. This piece finishes nicely.

If you love history, Classical music and famous musicians, this is obviously a necessity in your collection. The only real flaw of this album is that, given it is a double album, it is designed to be played in the background at home. It is not easy to hear otherwise, give it is around two hours and 40 minutes of Classical based music all in one go. Having said that, this is an amazing and quintessential collection to have.

Historical.

8/10