Beethoven 9 Symphonies - John E. Gardiner

If you've already got favorite versions of Beethoven's symphonies, Gardiner may not convert you, but he gives you plenty to think about with these very interesting alternative performances. With all the scholarship and hard work that went into this cycle, perhaps this version IS closer to what Beethoven intended (though who can say for sure?), but a happy surprise is the verve and brio of these 'period' performances. It used to be that so-called 'period instrument' versions of classical music came off sounding bloodless and dessicated. Not so here! Partly this is due to the rethinking of the tempi involved; this is the FASTEST set of Beethoven symphonies that you're ever likely come across. But the musicianship is both gutsy and sensitive–-just top-notch throughout. While I must admit, these will probably never be my favorite versions of the Third, Fifth, or Seventh, I can live very happily with the First, Second, Fourth, and Eighth here. But this entire cycle should be heard several times by any Beethoven fan. The sound quality is great, too.

parte 1 | parte 2 | parte 3 | parte 4 | parte 5 | parte 6 | parte 7 | parte 8 | parte 9 | parte 10 | parte 11 | parte 12 | parte 13 | parte 14 | parte 15 | parte 16 | parte 17 | parte 18 | parte 19 | parte 20 | parte 21 | parte 22 | parte 23 | parte 24 | parte 25 | parte 26 | parte 27 | parte 28 | parte 29