Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 6/8

In February 2019, the penultimate part of the Wiener Symphoniker’s first recorded Beethoven cycle appeared with Symphonies No. 6 and 8. This CD is the continuation of the orchestra’s Road to Beethoven project, an undertaking in preparation of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Viennese by choice and patriarch of classical music in 2020. According to Philippe Jordan, the current CD to be released features with teh Soixth Symphony the close sibling of the Fifth. “Despite all the external contrasts, such as minor and major, they still show a host of structural similarities”, he said, elaborating: “Almost monothematic opening movements in two-four time where the basic themes are rigorously pulled through but halted in fermatas right at the beginning; extended instrumentation with piccolo and trombones; five-part scherzi passing directly into the finale, but also a clearly enunciated message. After the political utopia with revolution, freedom, liberation in the Fifth, the Pastoral Symphony seeks freedom and redemption in nature. For me, this is perhaps Beethoven’s most wonderful symphony.”