All hail Giovanni Antonini

[hautbois]

I was wrong about the orchestra NOT playing historical instruments - they actually do, at least in baroque repertoire (see their recent Fasch recording on DHM).   But not sure about this being the case in their Beethoven.  I personally want period instruments in Beethoven though - the sound itself can be revelatory to the right kind of audience. 

Absolutely, i totally understand what you mean. Although, to me what usually matters more is really the fine detail giving the score life. Take Gardiner's Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique for example with the Romantique Revolutionaire. What is so extraordinary about that recording is not so much the use of period instruments (which is actually quite spectacular to watch on that dvd they made), but the fine detail in making the score alive. E.g. the revival of the cornet solo in the ball scene, the clear and consistently fresh phrasing ideas of the melodies, utmost detail in orchestral colors (dynamics). This one find also in Antonini's Beethoven, with the amazing sforzatos that Beethoven consistently emphasized to be different, contrasts in dynamics that are absolutely stunning, and the controlled rubati, which is some of the most organic i have heard on recording (Jochum Bruckner 5th RCO?), take for instance the opening of the 4th symphony. This recording actually has natural horns and valveless trumpets. I don't understand why he chosed to use natural horns (Harnoncourt chose not to in his cycle), as the inconsistent stopping for the correct pitch meant different colors in one melody line, but one wonders, perhaps Beethoven used this to an advantage, and one can hear how interesting that is when it is revived in the eroica.

Howard

[FideLeo]

Absolutely, i totally understand what you mean. Although, to me what usually matters more is really the fine detail giving the score life.

In my experience most period-instrument interpretations of Beethoven give this, although always in their own ways.

[hautbois]

In my experience most period-instrument interpretations of Beethoven give this, although always in their own ways.

Reason being, they would only go to such extremes in the first place because they care about the music.

Howard

[FideLeo]

Reason being, they would only go to such extremes in the first place because they care about the music.

Howard

That is well said, although I imagine not every listener has a radical taste.