Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Maag, Orchestra di Padove e del Veneto :: Beethoven: Symphonies no 5 & 6 / Maag, Padua and Veneto Orch

A very good, solid Fifth, with every detail audible and every musical point convincingly made. Lacking the special intensity of Carlos Kleiber's Fifth (Deutsche Grammophon), for example, this is nevertheless a completely satisfying performance and very well recorded. Maag's "Pastoral" is even better, with a wide range of dynamics, extremely involving expression throughout, and an uncommonly good balance between strings and winds, not always characteristic of this series. The disc's credits claim this is a live performance, but only the "Pastoral" has applause and minor audible audience noise. Perhaps the moral is to make recordings in concert whenever possible. --Leslie Gerber