Nikolaus Harnoncourt and his period orchestra, Concentus Musicus Wien, never recorded a complete cycle of the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven, and this 2016 Sony release is their only recording of the Symphony No. 4 in B flat major and the Symphony No. 5 in C minor, made almost ten months before the conductor's death. Harnoncourt planned for this to be his last recording before his retirement, so it inevitably has the feeling of a valedictory performance, and one can also hear it as the orchestra's warm tribute to its leader and his sterling musicianship.
…A treasureable and revelatory disc of the alpha and omega of Schumann's symphonies; I can hardly wait for the other pair.
…A treasureable and revelatory disc of the alpha and omega of Schumann's symphonies; I can hardly wait for the other pair.