Search - Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe :: Beethoven: Symphony No.3; Leonore III Overture; The Creatures of Prometheus Overture [United Kingdom]

Magnificient Third "Eroica" Symphony from Harnoncourt and th

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 02/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once more Warner Classics has selected from its vast holdings of recorded music (when the company was Teldec), to release this remastered version of Harnoncourt's thought-provoking, emotionally riveting account of the Beethoven 3rd "Eroica" Symphony. Independently of musicologist Jonathan Del Mar, the editer of the Barenreiter Edition of Beethoven's symphonic scores, Harnoncourt reached the conclusion - from his own extensive musicological scholarship - that swifter tempi were required in performances of Beethoven's scores. He offers a truly magnificient, emotionally intense account, which uses modern instruments (except for horns) performed by a first-class ensemble, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Traditionalists may not appreciate Harnoncourt's interpretation - or performances conducted using the Barenreiter Edition - but I think it remains among the best recordings of this symphony currently available. Warner Classics has added as a "bookend", Harnoncourt's performances of two of Beethoven's overtures which were recorded around the same time as the symphonies."