Beethoven : Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6

Album review

Once controversial and the subject of much debate for scholars and lay listeners alike, period performance practice (also known as historically informed practice) has been increasingly accepted by audiences, so a recording of Ludwig van Beethoven's symphonies played on original instruments and interpreted in authentic 18th century style is no longer a stumbling block. Indeed, just seeing the names of Frans Brüggen and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century will give many people an immediate impression of what to expect: Classical music played by a small and lean orchestra, with glossy strings and distinctive woodwinds and brass, brisk tempos, repeats scrupulously taken, and all of the composer's intentions closely observed. Yet even with this easy predictability and the extreme familiarity of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor and the Symphony No. 6 in F major, "Pastoral," these performances are actually quite fresh and exciting, thanks to Brüggen's engagement with his musicians and their responsiveness. The music they make is spontaneous and vigorous, and far from any misconception of period performances being the work of antiquarians, they play with as much passion and brilliance as any modern orchestra could. These live performances were recorded in Rotterdam in 2011, and the reproduction is exceptional for standard CD. Highly recommended.
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