Coming between two of Beethoven's most famous symphonies the Fourth Symphony can seem a relatively lightweight and cheerful work. Written for Count Franz von Oppersdorff, who wanted a symphony similar in vein to the Second Symphony it is a brusque and enjoyable work. Beethoven's Eighth Symphony sees him in playful mood. Featuring humorous twists and turns and relatively brief movements, including the shortest movement of any of his symphonies, it is a light hearted work.

Reviews:

Disc of the Month

Performance ***** Sound ***** BBC Music Magazine

'simply masterful Beethoven ... Capped by a magisterial account of the Ninth Symphony, this is the Beethoven set for our time. Even if you already have umpteen other recordings of these works, you really owe it to yourself to hear this new set. It's a deeply satisfying musical experience'Chicago Tribune

Artistic Quality 10 Sound Quality 10 ' ... the LSO is in absolutely smashing form ... has the scherzo ever had more bounce? ... an unforgettable experience. Nothing proves this more tellingly than the second movement, taken at an ideally lilting tempo. It's a veritable orchestral adventure in terms of color, texture, and range of expression ... This is without doubt on of the best Fourths around ... [The Eighth] is one hell of a ride ... the coda is about as thrilling as it's possible to be in this music.' ClassicsToday.com

Artistique 10 Techique 10 ClassicsTodayFrance.com

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James Mallinson producer; Jonathan Stokes for Classic Sound Ltd sound engineer; ; Recorded April 2006, Barbican, London; DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recording