Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 8

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: nothing

...Conductor Iain Sutherland Conductor Bryden Thomson Conductor Sir Neville Marriner Conductor Pierre Dervaux Conductor Alberto Lysy Conductor Jerzy Maksymiuk Conductor Tracklist Disc 1 76:32 1 Johann Pachelbel: Canon in D major for strings & continuo 4:59 2 Johann Sebastian Bach: Aria (Goldberg Variations, BWV 988) 4:45 3 Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni: Adagio in G minor 5:48 4 Johann Sebastian Bach: Aria (Goldberg Variations, BWV 988) 3:02 5 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio (Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major, K. 622) 6:35 6 Ludwig van Beethoven: Allegretto (Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastoral") 6:41 7 Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings op.11 6:20 8 Sergei V. Rachmaninoff: Adagio sostenuto (Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18) 4:29 9 Max Bruch: Adagio (Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments
Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.

...EMI as follows:- CD 1 66’06" Symphony No 1 Symphony No 6 "The Pastoral" CD 2 58’40" Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8 CD 3 48’43" Overture: Creatures of Prometheus Symphony No 3 "Erocia" CD 4 64’36" Symphony No 4 Symphony No 5 CD 5 52’50" Overture; "Coriolan ", Overture: "Egmont", Symphony No 7 CD 6 62’23" Symphony No 9 "The Choral" This new set from Virgin Classics Catalogue No 5619432 is as follows:- CD 1 Symphony No 1 Symphony No 3 "Eeroica" Creatures of Prometheus CD 2 Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8 Coriolan Overture Egmont Overture CD 3 Symphony No 4 Symphony No 7 CD 4 Symphony No 5 Symphony No 6 "Pastoral" CD 5 Symphony No 9 “The Choral" Amazon price £13.99 This will not be to everybody’s liking though I do believe that it gives a new perspective on some... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven
Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles

...Allegretto is taken at a properly fast speed but there is a strangely thin string timbre apparent throughout the movement and the orchestra also has a number of impurities in their playing that is most distracting. A fair version, but not even close to being the best. Symphony No.8 in F major, Op.93 Coupled with the Second Symphony, you can't go wrong at having the Eighth follow right after. Beethoven considered the Eighth as one of his personal favourites and it is clear to see why. It is so filled with Beethovenian humor that it is just an incredible pleasure to listen to. With no slow movement present, it is a work that is consistently jolly as well as being Beethoven's shortest symphony (at least the shortest since the First). There is really very little that need be said about this performance other than it is another highlight symphony... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The music, the chorus, the memorable melody
Disadvantages: None

...as in a fugue, as more and more instruments join with their particular qualities a joyfull interaction and socialisation occurs, indicating the coming of life on the newly created world. 3rd Movement Adagio Molto E Cantabile This slow movement is lyrical and tranquil as order develops from the chaos of creation. The 4th Movement Presto and the 5th Movement Allegro Assai, combine to make the finale. This part of the symphony is based on the poem by Schiller (An Die Freude) Ode To Joy. Beethoven combines choral with orchestral music, hence the colloquial name for this symphony (Beethoven’s Choral Symphony).The theme of joy is first herd from the orchestra and the cello’s and double basses alone, they are then joined by the entire orchestra, a bass voice proclaims “O friends, not such sounds as these; let us strike up more pleasing ones, full... Read review

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