Eduard van Beinum: Philips Recordings 1954-1958 (6 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Hubert Barwahser, Phia Berghout
Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Conductor: Eduard Van Beinum
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederick Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, et al.
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Philips
Size: 1.72 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
with Hubert Barwahser
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Water Music Suites Nos 1-3 for orchestra, HWV 348-350
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Concerto for flute, harp & orchestra in C major, K. 299 (K. 297c)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
with Phia Berghout, Hubert Barwahser
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Serenade No. 9 for orchestra in D major (“Posthorn”), K. 320
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Variations on a Theme of Haydn for orchestra in B flat major (St. Anthony Variations), Op. 56a
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Alto Rhapsody, for alto, male chorus & orchestra, Op. 53
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
with Aafje Heynis
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Symphony No. 6 in C major (“Little C Major”), D. 589
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Symphony No. 8 in B minor (“Unfinished”), D. 759
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Nocturnes, for female chorus & orchestra, L. 91
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# La Mer, symphonic sketches (3) for orchestra, L. 109
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

# Images (3), for orchestra, L. 122
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

I have owned and still own some of the recordings in this set in original-now quite worn- Philips pressings. Philips was making about the most natural sounding and clean records available in those days. Spectrum analysis comparing the reissue to records I have indicates that the original recordings were severely re-equalized in the reissue, with 10 decibels of boost in the presence range (2-8khz), for example, in the Water Music. This makes the sound aggressive and distorts instrumental balances. It is unfortunate, though with a good parametric equalizer, the set can be greatly improved. The performances are wonderful.