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Seán wrote:

fergus wrote:Recent listening - Beethoven Symphonies 5, 6, 7, 8....





No. 5 was another strong, assertive performance. The outer movements were urgently paced, the inner ones somewhat reflective. This was a performance on a Grand scale!
No. 6 was a fine, noble rendition. This can be a difficult work to pull off but it is done great justice here. I was a little disappointed with the storm scene but everything else was wonderful.
No. 7 is another fine rendition which jaunts along at pace but never breathlessly. The timpani are striking in the first movement and the final movement is a powerful conclusion and wonderfully performed.
No. 8 is yet another fine performance; the outer movements lilt along while the inner movements are steady and sure.

You have whet my appetite and Xmas is nigh.

Symphony no. 9 awaits and many fail at the final hurdle....so I look forward with some trepidation and some anticipation.

However, so far Seán, I can only but highly recommend th cycle and as you can see from other comments here, I am not alone.

Some wonderfully played extracts from Purcell's music....





If one wanted to get a flavour of Purcell's work this comes highly recommended. This is a vinyl copy but I am sure that it can be had on CD also.

Marvellous recording from last year.

I am especially impressed with the Concerto for harpsichord, flute & violin; the harpsichord is delightfully manic in the allegro movement.

Mark.

fergus wrote:Recent listening - Beethoven Symphonies 5, 6, 7, 8....





No. 5 was another strong, assertive performance. The outer movements were urgently paced, the inner ones somewhat reflective. This was a performance on a Grand scale!
No. 6 was a fine, noble rendition. This can be a difficult work to pull off but it is done great justice here. I was a little disappointed with the storm scene but everything else was wonderful.
No. 7 is another fine rendition which jaunts along at pace but never breathlessly. The timpani are striking in the first movement and the final movement is a powerful conclusion and wonderfully performed.
No. 8 is yet another fine performance; the outer movements lilt along while the inner movements are steady and sure.

The Fifth is an extraordinary performance Fergus, in fact I think it´s one of the greatest ever recorded. Having heard Gardiner´s live so recently, amazing and electrifying in it´s own right, one can only marvel that Brüggen perhaps has the better idea for this work: more classical and proportioned, less war-like and epic than Sir John´s, but more in accordance with what was going on with Beethoven at the time. This Fifth falls more logically between the 4th and the 6th than most I have heard.
The Sixth is no less amazing, the first truly distinguished and inspirational Pastoral on period instruments. The storm should not disappoint you dear Fergus, I think it makes it´s mark without over cooking the pudding. And the exquisite playing of the Orchestra of the XVIII Century is a wonder unto itself.

Interesting comments Pepe. Gardiner's Beethoven Fifth is my favourite interpretation of this wonderful work so Brüggen's 18th Century performance must be really special.

I am really enjoying the Zinman recordings with the Zurich Orchestra:



Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 3
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich
David Zinman conducting.

fergus wrote:Some wonderfully played extracts from Purcell's music....





If one wanted to get a flavour of Purcell's work this comes highly recommended. This is a vinyl copy but I am sure that it can be had on CD also.

I do like Prucell's music and I have Simon's enthusiasm for Ode Cecila and yours for Gardiner for my having the wisdom to acquire this superb set:

Seán wrote:Interesting comments Pepe. Gardiner's Beethoven Fifth is my favourite interpretation of this wonderful work so Brüggen's 18th Century performance must be really special.

I am really enjoying the Zinman recordings with the Zurich Orchestra:



Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 3
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich
David Zinman conducting.

The Zinman shares many -good- qualities with the Harnoncourt cycle, it has period manners but modern instruments, a fine orchestra and a hall appropriate for the size of the band and the works themselves. At budget price it was always a great buy.

What are the sonics like on the Zinman Beethoven set?

Jose Echenique wrote:

fergus wrote:



No. 5 was another strong, assertive performance. The outer movements were urgently paced, the inner ones somewhat reflective. This was a performance on a Grand scale!
No. 6 was a fine, noble rendition. This can be a difficult work to pull off but it is done great justice here. I was a little disappointed with the storm scene but everything else was wonderful.
No. 7 is another fine rendition which jaunts along at pace but never breathlessly. The timpani are striking in the first movement and the final movement is a powerful conclusion and wonderfully performed.
No. 8 is yet another fine performance; the outer movements lilt along while the inner movements are steady and sure.

The Fifth is an extraordinary performance Fergus, in fact I think it´s one of the greatest ever recorded. Having heard Gardiner´s live so recently, amazing and electrifying in it´s own right, one can only marvel that Brüggen perhaps has the better idea for this work: more classical and proportioned, less war-like and epic than Sir John´s, but more in accordance with what was going on with Beethoven at the time. This Fifth falls more logically between the 4th and the 6th than most I have heard.
The Sixth is no less amazing, the first truly distinguished and inspirational Pastoral on period instruments. The storm should not disappoint you dear Fergus, I think it makes it´s mark without over cooking the pudding. And the exquisite playing of the Orchestra of the XVIII Century is a wonder unto itself.

I like my storms to be fierce and thunderous Pepe. What disappointed most about this one was the timpani were used to such great effect elsewhere in the cycle as was the sense of urgency and tension in the playing. However, a mere quibble in the overall scheme of this cycle so far.

Diapason wrote:What are the sonics like on the Zinman Beethoven set?

Don't be worrying about the sonics Simon; this cycle is all about the performances.