Beethoven, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt – Symphonien 6 "Pastorale" & 8

Symphony No. 8 In F, Op. 93 1 1. Allegro Vivace E Con Brio 9:37 2 2. Allegretto Scherzando 3:33 3 3. Tempo di Menuetto 5:35 4 4. Allegro Vivace 7:13 Symphony No. 6 In F, Op. 68 "Pastoral" 5 1. Allegro Ma Non Troppo 11:24 6 2. Andante Molto Mosso 12:43 7 3. Allegro 5:38 8 4. Allegro 3:36 9 5. Allegretto 9:34

In the 1988 'New Penguin Guide To Compact Discs and Cassettes' this recording was given 3 stars and both the Pastoral and No 8 were highly commended. In the Pastoral it spoke of 'Tennstedt's fresh, alert and imaginative performance' and saw the Eighth as an ' equally enjoyable reading.' I'm no musicologist but I like tuneful music well played. This is a recording that delights my ear both in the music itself and in the performance. In the Pastoral there is an excellent pacing of the music which never loses energy and direction and here one can imagine Beethoven on his outing at times walking briskly along, and at other times slowing down to have a look at something that has caught his eye. Then a new tune comes into his head and he fair dances along merrily as the strains fill his mind, only for a sombre mood to come over him, and he steadies up and then charges on, one determined step after another. It is a very fine recording of the Pastoral Symphony, maybe not the best available, but these things are a matter of personal preference and often differences which reviews make much of are in the end quite small. I have no hesitation in recommending this. The sound is clear and spacious and Tennstedt draws from the L.P.O. playing with great finesse and a glorious integrated sound. Symphony 8 is equally good. Buy this and enjoy.

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