Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

Album review

Having completed his Brahms orchestral set with the WDR Sinfonieorchester on Profil, Jukka-Pekka Saraste turns to Beethoven for a complete cycle of the nine symphonies, recorded for broadcast on Cologne radio. On CD, the series begins with the two middle symphonies, the Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60, and the Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, suggesting an unconventional pattern for subsequent releases. Yet this unusual pairing opens up the possibility of exploring sharp contrasts between the symphonies, by pitting the gentle Romantic lyricism of the often overlooked Fourth against the dynamic energy of the Fifth, possibly the best known of all classical symphonies. Saraste has performed Beethoven's symphonies before, usually with chamber orchestras, so these performances with a large symphony orchestra show his disciplined approach and attention to details, while strong ensemble playing from the brass and woodwinds demonstrate the orchestra's modern resources. There is no attempt to re-create the orchestral scale or sonorities of Beethoven's time, though one might say these performances offer the clarity of a period performance with the robust sound of a modern reading, which may be the best of both worlds. This is a solid start for a Beethoven set and highly recommended.
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