Beethoven Eroica

This recording features one of today’s most sought-after conductors, Vladimir Jurowski, who was appointed Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007, with many of his recordings on the LPO Label being chosen for special mentions by BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone Magazine.

Beethoven took a massive stride forward in the development of the symphonic form with the 'Eroica'. Not only is the work written on an unprecedented scale, it also lays the very foundations of Romanticism in music.The symphony mirrors Beethoven's own emergence from despair and he used it to symbolize mankind's capacity for greatness. He initially dedicated the score to Napoleon whom embodied his view of greatness. However, when Napoleon crowned himself Emperor, Beethoven furiously removed the dedication from the score.

Reference Recordings proudly presents these two iconic works in definitive interpretations from Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, in superb audiophile sound.

Reference Recordings proudly presents these two iconic works in definitive interpretations from Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, in superb audiophile sound.

Over a thirteen-year period, Gábor Takács-Nagy and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra embarked on a spiritual journey through the nine symphonies of Beethoven. The resultant cycle of recordings captures the ensemble's liberated and transformative account of these masterworks, approaching each opus with a sense of spontaneity, insight, and joy. In the words of legendary Beethoven biographer Jan Swafford: "Honesty is what we hear: no romantic lushness, no ego, rather a sense of the truth of each piece on its own terms. There is a sense of intimate communication between an orchestra and conductor in service of a vision of the works as individuals and as a whole."

"Antonini wählt für Beethovens neunte Sinfonie ein klein besetztes Orchester und einen Kammerchor. Doch diese vermeintlichen Einschränkungen sind gar keine. Alle Musiker sitzen hörbar auf der Stuhlkante. Vibratoarmes Spiel und das Zurücknehmen von langen Noten macht jedes Detail hör- und erlebbar." schrieb Concerti über die letzte Aufnahme der vielgelobten Gesamteinspielung Beethovens neun Sinfonien vom Kammerorchester Basel unter der Leitung des italienischen Gast-Dirigenten Giovanni Antonini. 2005 startete das Orchester das Aufnahmeprojekt, das schon bald als "eine der aufregendsten Beethoveneinspielungen unserer Tage" (Rondo) gefeiert wurde.

Originally planned for April 2020 in celebration of Beethoven's 250th birthday, this recording of Beethoven's symphonies is the third composer-led collaboration between Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the COE having previously performed and recorded together complete Schumann and Mendelssohn cycles in 2014 and 2017 respectively. This Symphony Cycle was going to use the now complete performance material featuring the musical text of the "New Beethoven Complete Edition".

For Antal Doráti, one of the mid-twentieth century's most gifted conductors, Beethoven was a central repertoire choice. This symphony cycle was recorded in 1975-76 at the beginning of his tenure as principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Long unavailable, these scintillating recordings, combining weight and depth with dance-like clarity, are newly presented as a CD edition.

Over a thirteen-year period (2009-2022), G bor Tak cs-Nagy and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra embarked on a spiritual journey through the nine symphonies of Beethoven. The resultant cycle of recordings captures the ensemble's liberated and transformative account of these masterworks, approaching each opus with a sense of spontaneity, insight, and joy.