Album

The 1990s were a peak period for historically informed performances, and the most praised box set to emerge from this boom time was John Eliot Gardiner's 1994 survey of Ludwig van Beethoven's nine symphonies, brilliantly played on original instruments by the redoubtable Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. If any early music conductor or authentic practice ensemble ever succeeded in changing public opinions and transforming standard repertoire, surely top honors belong to Gardiner and his musicians, for their refreshing takes on Beethoven's core masterpieces not only won over many converts to the cause, but permanently changed the way these works are played. The crisp sonorities, the brisk rhythms, and the volatile energy of these electric performances proved once and for all that Classical performances need not be fragile, dainty, or rarefied, but should be just as robust and invigorating as any mainstream interpretation, and even more exciting for taking a few risks. Indeed, it was Gardiner's ear-opening set that showed how stodgy and sluggish many of the older established Beethoven cycles sounded in comparison, and after this set was released, most new recordings revealed its impact, particularly in the adoption of revised tempos, leaner textures, and cleaner sonorities. Traditionalists may still balk at Gardiner's interpretations or find his changes unnerving (particularly the quicker tenor solo in the finale of the Ninth), but no one who claims to know the symphonies should ignore this set, for its significance in Beethoven studies cannot be overrated. Highly recommended.

© Blair Sanderson, Rovi

CD 1 of 5
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.1 in C, Op.21 Work Recorded 1993 24:27 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
1	1.Adagio molto. Allegro con brio	8:22			$1.49
2	2.Andante cantabile con moto	6:33			$0.99
3	3.Menuetto: Allegro molto e vivace	4:05			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Adagio. Allegro molto e vivace	5:27			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.2 in D, Op.36 Work Recorded 1991 33:00 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
5	1.Adagio molto. Allegro con brio	12:08			$1.99
6	2.Larghetto	10:19			$1.99
7	3.Scherzo: Allegro	4:25			$0.99
8	4.Allegro molto	6:08			$0.99
CD 2 of 5
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.3 in Eb, Op.55 ('Eroica') Work Recorded 1993 44:30 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
1	1.Allegro con brio	15:36			$2.49
2	2.Marcia funebre: Adagio assai	12:41			$1.99
3	3.Scherzo: Allegro vivace	5:32			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Allegro molto	10:41			$1.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.4 in Bb, Op.60 Work Recorded 1993 32:01 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
5	1.Adagio. Allegro vivace	10:56			$1.99
6	2.Adagio	9:24			$1.49
7	3.Menuetto: Allegro vivace. Trio: Un poco meno allegro	5:17			$0.99
8	4.Allegro ma non troppo	6:24			$0.99
CD 3 of 5
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.5 in C-, Op.67 Work Recorded 1994 31:46 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
1	1.Allegro con brio	6:30			$0.99
2	2.Andante con moto	8:15			$1.49
3	3.Scherzo: Allegro	7:12			$1.49
4	4.Allegro	9:49			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.6 in F, Op.68 ('Pastoral') Work Recorded 1992 40:56 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
5	1.Allegro ma non troppo: Angenehme, heitere Empfindungen, welche bei der Ankunft (Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the countryside)	11:13			$1.99
6	2.Andante molto mosso: Szene am Bach (Scene by the brook)	12:00			$1.99
7	3.Allegro: Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Merry gathering of country folk)	4:48			$0.99
8	4.Allegro: Donner. Sturm (Thunder, storm)	3:39			$0.99
9	5.Allegretto: Hirtengesang. Wohltätige, mit Dank and die Goltheit verbundene Gefühle nach dem Sturm (Shepherds' song. Beneficent feelings with thanks to the Godhead after the storm)	9:16			$1.49
CD 4 of 5
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92 Work Recorded 1992 38:31 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
1	1.Poco sostenuto. Vivace	13:09			$2.49
2	2.Allegretto	7:45			$1.49
3	3.Scherzo: Presto	8:30			$1.49
4	4.Finale: Allegro con brio	9:07			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.8 in F, Op.93 Work Recorded 1992 24:12 Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
5	1.Allegro vivace e con brio	8:41			$1.49
6	2.Allegretto scherzando	3:46			$0.99
7	3.Tempo di menuetto	5:28			$0.99
8	4.Allegro vivace	6:17			$0.99
CD 5 of 5
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.9 in D-, Op.125 ('Choral') Work Recorded 1992 59:42 Monteverdi Choir Chorus/Choir, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Orchestra, Luba Orgonasova Soprano, Gilles Cachemaille Bass, Anthony Rolfe Johnson Tenor, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano, John Eliot Gardiner Conductor
1	1.Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso	13:05			$2.49
2	2.Scherzo: Molto vivace. Presto	13:07			$2.49
3	3.Adagio molto e cantabile	12:06			$1.99
4	4.Presto. Allegro assai ('Ode to Joy'; complete)	5:30			$0.99
5	4b.O Freunde, nicht diese Töne! - 4h.Prestissimo (end)	15:54			$2.49