Search - Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe :: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 [United Kingdom]

Splendid Recordings of Beethoven's Earliest Symphonies

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 02/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Warner Classics has gone back to its vaults (in this case, Teldec's) to release once more Nikolaus Harnoncourt's superb Beethoven Symphony cycle with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. This recording contains two of the most inspired, truly memorable, performances of Beethoven's first two symphonies from a period instrument perspective using modern musical instruments, with the notable exceptions of the horns. Ever the thoughtful musicologist, Harnoncourt has successfully combined his own scholarship with his superb conducting, leading the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in truly distinguished playing, in which they emphasize Beethoven's intellectual debt to his mentors Mozart and Haydn. For both symphonies he has opted for brisk tempi. This recording remains among my favorites for these two symphonies, but I regret that Warner Classics has opted to remaster only solo CDs from this cycle, instead of offering it in its entirety."