Revolt of The Masses

Modern conservatism was born in the crisis of the French Revolution that sought to overturn Christianity, monarchy, tradition, and a trust in experience rather than reason. In the name of reason and progress, the French Revolution led to the guillotine, the dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte, and a decade of continental war.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt is celebrated as one of the most influential musical personalities of the second-half of the twentieth century, and this new release is the last recording made by the great conductor, having announcing his retirement in December 2015. It is also the first time Harnoncourt conducts Beethoven's symphonies 4 and 5 with Concentus Musicus Vienna, which he founded in 1953 and now is the longest existing period instrument ensemble.