Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 / Sir John Eliot Gardiner (recorded live at Carnegie Hall)

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 / Sir John Eliot Gardiner (recorded live at Carne

Label: Soli Deo Gloria
Catalog No: SDG 717
Format: CD
Release Date: 2012-10-30
Number of Discs: 1
Running time: 1 hr. 12 min.
Mono/Stereo: Stereo
UPC Code: 843183071722

Free Freight is AvailableFreeFreight Is Available. Click for Details
List Price: $20.99 (0 )    Your Price: $18.99 (0 )
In Stock, usually ships in 24 hours *

HBDirect Recommended Recording
Add To Basket

Login or Create an Account to write a review

Notes & Reviews:

Nearly 20 years after their acclaimed Beethoven Symphonies recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique returned to this repertoire for the first time last year, in a tour that took them to London, Philadelphia, Washington and New York. The concert in Carnegie Hall was broadcast live by WQXR, who kindly agreed to make the recording available on our label. Performing on period instruments, the ORR brings brisk energy, as well as a genuinely thrilling sound.

American Record Guide, March / April 2013
No. 7 is fast and acceptable. I therefore find this performance is all right.

Notes & Reviews:

Personnel: David Watkin (cello); Michael Niesemann (oboe).

Recording information: Stern Auditorium/Perleman Stage, Carnegie Hall, New Yor (11/16/2011).



Reviews

Reasonable recording, but the sound is a little thin…
On this CD are performances of Beethoven’s 7th and 5th Symphonies, in that order. Given that the conductor is John Eliot Gardiner, I sat down, ears primed, ready to be overwhelmed by the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique under Mr. Gardiner’s baton. Instead, I found myself a bit disappointed. The opening movement of the 7th seemed to lag ever so slightly in places at first, but picked up nicely when the flute begins its familiar positive tune around 1/3rd of the way through. But the 2nd movement (my favorite) seemed all to thin, the result being that the dynamic tension I was looking for was lacking. The pace of the 3rd movement also seemed just a touch fast which again left me a bit put-off, but the 4th movement was lovely.

The 5th Symphony also seemed too “smooth” in places, and a bit too drawn out in others. I also felt that the pace was somewhat uneven, and again the thinness of the sound left me wanting.

As to the recording quality, I attribute some of the thinness of the sound to Carnegie Hall itself, as these works were recorded recently. I can’t speak to the caliber of the orchestra itself, as this is the only recording I have of them in aggregate.

With respect to this particular CD, if you find Karajan recordings of these pieces to be too thick and heavy then this performance might just be what you are looking for. On the other hand if, like me, you are very satisfied with Karajan-esque performances, then this CD is probably better off being skipped.

Submitted on 01/02/13 by KlingonOpera 
Login or Create an Account to write a review
 

Also Purchased



Previous

Next


Works Details

>Beethoven, Ludwig van : Symphony no 7 in A major, Op. 92
  • Conductor: John Gardiner
  • Ensemble: Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique
  • Running Time: 38 min. 21 sec.
  • Period Time: Classical
  • Form: Orchestral
  • Written: 1812
  • Studio/Live: Live

>Beethoven, Ludwig van : Symphony no 5 in C minor, Op. 67
  • Conductor: John Gardiner
  • Running Time: 32 min. 35 sec.
  • Period Time: Classical
  • Form: Orchestral
  • Written: 1808
  • Studio/Live: Live