John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique

Beethoven: The Symphonies

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AllMusic Review by Blair Sanderson

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.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
	1	1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	8:21
	2	2. Andante cantabile con moto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	6:32
	3	3. Menuetto. Allegro molto e vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	4:04
	4	4. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	5:30
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
	5	1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	12:07
	6	2. Larghetto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	10:18
	7	3. Scherzo. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	4:25
	8	4. Allegro molto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	6:08

Track Listing - Disc 2

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica"
	1	1. Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	15:35
	2	2. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	12:40
	3	3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	5:32
	4	4. Finale. Allegro molto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	10:49
Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60
	5	1. Adagio - Allegro vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	10:55
	6	2. Adagio Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	9:23
	7	3. Allegro vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	5:16
	8	4. Allegro ma non troppo Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	6:23

Track Listing - Disc 3

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
	1	1. Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	6:29
	2	2. Andante con moto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	8:14
	3	3. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	7:12
	4	4. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	9:57
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastoral"
	5	1. Pleasant, Cheerful Feelings Awakened in a Person on Arriving in the Country. Allegro ma non troppo Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	11:12
	6	2. Scene by the Brook. Andante molto moto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	11:59
	7	3. Merry gathering of Country Folk. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	4:48
	8	4. Thunderstorm. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	3:39
	9	5. Shepherds' Song: Happy and Thankful Feelings to the Deity after the Storm. Allegretto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	9:16

Track Listing - Disc 4

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
	1	1. Poco sostenuto - Vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	13:08
	2	2. Allegretto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	7:44
	3	3. Presto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	8:29
	4	4. Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	9:12
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
	5	1. Allegro vivace e con brio Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	8:40
	6	2. Allegretto scherzando Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	3:45
	7	3. Tempo di Menuetto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	5:27
	8	4. Allegro vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	6:16

Track Listing - Disc 5

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125
	1	1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	13:04
	2	2. Molto vivace Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	13:06
	3	3. Adagio molto e cantabile Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	12:05
	4	4. Presto Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	5:30
	5	5. Presto. O Freunde, nicht diese Tone!. Allegro assai Ludwig van Beethoven	John Eliot Gardiner / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique	15:54

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