Music – Beethoven: the 9 Symphonies

John Eliot Gardiner, conductor; The Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique (Archiv Production)

Beethoven is, of course, one of the Greats of classical music. But other than the Pastoral (the 6th) Symphony, I’ve found most recording of the symphonies hard for me to listen to. And until I heard these recordings, I couldn’t really articulate why.

John Eliot Gardiner

Gardiner and the Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romatique have recorded all nine symphones on period instruments. One of the consequences of that is that the stringed instruments are not using modern metal-wound strings. The use of catgut strings takes a harsh edge off the extensive string passages. Without the hard edge of the metal, the native agressiveness of the music itself is allowed to take the forefront in the sound. Additionally, Gardiner conducts the pieces at the speed (apparently) which Beethoven himself designated: this is considerably faster than many orchestras have performed some of the pieces. And yet, to my ear, these two factors suddenly opened up symphonic Beethoven to my ears: this was the way the music was intended to be performed, and it feels right to my internal responses.

Full of energy and verve, I think this is the very best recording of Beethoven’s symphonies.