The 1939 Beethoven Cycle, Volume 1 cover

The 1939 Beethoven Cycle, Volume 1

Ludwig van Beethoven · 2019

78 min · 12 tracks · classical music

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
76 /100
Alpine
Higher than 75% of albums we've rated

The concentrated broadcast program gives two symphonies a clear progression, while announcements interrupt the flow and the archival performance is less polished than modern studi…

What we noticed

  • A radio announcement precedes the Fidelio overture, which leads into the complete First Symphony rather than opening with a symphony.
  • A midway announcement separates the First from the complete Third; each symphony is divided into four movement tracks, followed by a closing announcement.
  • The program moves from the First Symphony's four movements to the broader four-movement span of the Third, with no unrelated repertoire inserted between them.
Composition 25% of the score
9/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 RADIO Opening announcement 0:33
  • 2 Fidelio, op. 72 - Overture 7:18
  • 3 Symphony 1 - 1st mvt. - Adagio molto – Allegro con brio 8:04
  • 4 Symphony 1 - 2nd mvt. - Andante cantabile con moto 6:20
  • 5 Symphony 1 - 3rd mvt. - Minuet. Allegro molto e vivace - Trio 3:14
  • 6 Symphony 1 - 4th mvt. - Finale. Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace 5:37
  • 7 RADIO Midway announcements 1:05
  • 8 Symphony 3 - 1st mvt. - Allegro con brio 13:50
  • 9 Symphony 3 - 2nd mvt. - Marcia funebre. Adagio assai 16:20
  • 10 Symphony 3 - 3rd mvt. - Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio 5:23
  • 11 Symphony 3 - 4th mvt. - Finale. Allegro molto 10:35
  • 12 RADIO Closing announcement 0:36

What to play next

Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4
Listen next

Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4

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Reference: MusicBrainz