Composer: Ludwig Van Beethoven
Performer: Anima Eterna
Conductor: Jos Van Immerseel
Number of Discs: 6
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Alpha
Catalogue: ALPHA380
Release: 2018
Size: 1.69 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
01. Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, Op. 43: Overture in C Major
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
02. I. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
03. II. Andante cantabile con moto
04. III. Menuetto, allegro molto e vivace
05. IV. Finale, adagio – Allegro molto e vivace
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
06. I. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
07. II. Larghetto
08. III. Scherzo, allegro
09. IV. Allegro molto
CD 02
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica”
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Marcia funebre, adagio assai
03. III. Scherzo, allegro vivace
04. IV. Finale, allegro molto
05. Coriolan, Op. 62 : Overture in C Minor
06. Egmont, Op. 84: Overture in F Minor
Die Ruinen von Athen, Op. 113
07. I. Overture in G Minor
08. II. Marcia alla turca in B-Flat Major
CD 03
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Andante con brio
03. III. Allegro
04. IV. Allegro
Symphony No. 4 In B-flat Major, Op. 60
05. I. Adagio – Allegro vivace
06. II. Adagio
07. III. Allegro vivace
08. IV. Allegro ma non troppo
CD 04
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, “Pastorale”
01. I. Allegro ma non troppo
02. II. Andante molto moto
03. III. Allegro
04. IV. Allegro
05. V. Allegretto
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
06. I. Allegro vivace e con brio
07. II. Allegretto scherzando
08. III. Tempo di minuetto
09. IV. Allegro vivace
CD 05
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
01. I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace
02. II. Allegretto
03. III. Presto
04. IV. Allegro con brio
Die Weihe des Hauses, Op. 124
05. Overture in C Major
CD 06
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125
01. I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
02. II. Molto vivace
03. III. Adagio molto e cantabile
04. IVa. Presto – Allegro assai
05. IVb. Presto – Rezitativo
06. IVc. Allegro assai vivace alla marcia
07. IVd. Allegro ma non tanto
Here is a superb new set of the most famous symphonies in our musical culture, brilliantly played on period instruments. Jos van Immerseel and his highly skilled Flanders-based orchestra Anima Eterna play at modern pitch (A=440), which they have established was done in Beethoven’s Vienna. As the composer had to make do with motley collections of amateurs and professionals and couldn’t hear a thing after about 1817, this is better than anything he experienced. Van Immerseel’s interpretations are exciting but always musical. (The Observer Daily Mail).
Who would have believed Belgian fortepianist and conductor Jos van Immerseel had it in him to turn in an exciting set of Beethoven’s symphonies and overtures, especially with a a period instrument chamber orchestra? But these are indeed very exciting recordings. Listen to the hunting horns in the Third’s Trio or the charging trumpets in the Seventh’s closing Allegro con brio. Listen to Immerseel mold the phrasing in the Second’s Larghetto or coda of the Third’s Marcia funebre — it’s genuinely thrilling. In these performances, one gets a real sense of the warmth, humor, and compassion that mark the best Beethoven recordings. The recorded sound is immediate and translucent.