Much to my surprise recently, my list of unlistened-to podcasts jumped from about four to sixteen. On investigation, I discovered that the concert podcast Beethoven | Deutsche Welle – unupdated since about this time last year, suddenly released a glut of new episodes. Many treasures were to be found, including a series of concerts called ‘The Path to Democracy’, incorporating just about every style of music you can think of.
What led me (in my usual roundabout way of being led anywhere) to write this review, though, was the last nine episodes: interpretations by Estonian conductor Paavo Jarvi of Beethoven’s nine symphonies. Only one movement of each is included, but it was more than enough to spur me to dig out my favourite set of them.
That set, as you’ve probably guessed, is the one mentioned above: the complete symphonies recorded by the Academy of Ancient Music, conducted by Cristopher Hogwood. As it turns out, I had forgotten two things: the first is how much I love Beethoven’s symphonies. During my forty-minute walk home from work, I listened through number five (the timing was just about perfect), and was unable to keep the tears from my eyes in the first movement, or the glee from my face in the fourth. Yes, I must have looked pretty strange, but it’s pretty late when I’m walking home, and I don’t think too many people saw me.
The second is how much I love this particular recording of Beethoven’s symphonies. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a puritan or stickler for “correct” performance – I couldn’t like Glenn Gould as much as I do if I were – but I do admit a fondness for period instruments, and particularly for period orchestras. Throughout this recording, the AAM are on top form. The relatively small size of this orchestra compared to modern ensembles means that they are capable of a nimbleness and clarity that you don’t get with bigger groups, but in the slow sections as well the playing is delicate and measured.
The use of natural brass instruments also means the playing is more dissonant than we expect from modern orchestras. This affects the music throughout, but is most striking in rendering the opening of the fourth movement of the ninth symphony – that famous towering dissonance – as startling as it must have been at the première in 1824.
Some of the symphonies feature passages under slight alteration (according to the latest research), so there are surprises in store even for people very familiar with the symphonies. Either way, whether you’ve heard them once or a thousand times, go and buy this set. Today.
If you’ve never heard them, then buy it faster.
Just heard this on spotify. Thanks for the review. I’m ordering it today.