Creatures of Prometheus

Beethoven (Artist), Harnoncourt (Artist), Chamber Orchestra Europe (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000000SJK
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,704 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: Ov: Adagio-Allegro molto con brio

2. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: Intro: Allegro non troppo La tempesta

3. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: I. Poco Adagio

4. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: II. Adagio-Allegro con brio

5. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: III. Allegro vivace

6. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: IV. Maestoso-Andante

7. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: V. Adagio-Andante quasi Allegretto

8. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: VI. Un poco Adagio-Allegro

9. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: VII. Grave

10. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: VIII. Allegro con brio

11. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: IX. Adagio

12. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: X. Pastorale: Allegro

13. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: XI. Andante Coro di Gioja

14. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: XII. Maestoso Solo di Gioja

15. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: XIII. Allegro Terzettino 'Grotteschi'

16. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: XIV. Andante Solo della Casentini

17. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: XV. Andantino Solo di Vigano

18. Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus Op.43: XVI. Finale: Allegretto Danze Festive

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Much tampering involved, May 2, 2008

By 

Larry VanDeSande - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Creatures of Prometheus (Audio CD)

As is the norm with this conductor, Beethoven's only ballet is pulled and pushed all over the place in this recording by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under the wayward baton of Nicholaus Harnoncourt. This conductor has a well-earned reputation for wilfullness and overinterpretation and does everything possible to reinforce that reputation in this recording.

Just about every movement of the ballet is pulled or pushed in a different direction. Deadly slow movements are followed by episodes so ripe with passion you'd think Harnoncourt just had a reilgious epiphany. The most obvious example comes in the final dance where conductor and band are driven to passion, only to have the music nearly slow to a crawl before the every ending. This goes on throughout this recording. If you like this sort of thing, have at it. For its part, the band plays well for this conductor.

Anyone looking for a more mainstream and dedicated version of this music only need search for David Zinman's now out of print Vox recording. I checked it out the day I wrote this review and there were 21 used copies available beginning at less than $5. Zinman made this recording with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra before he became a maven of the period performance movement. His recording is outstanding in all of performance, playing and sound. There are other recordings available, including a cheap one on the Naxos label, all of which are better than this nonsense.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dogmatic, June 20, 2000

By 

D. B. Rathbun (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creatures of Prometheus (Audio CD)

This is a fine recording of the Geschoepfe, and indeed perhaps the best available. The presentations are done nicely, transitions intelligent, and the solos very nice. The orchestra plays with great precision. Nonetheless, this performance is not quite as good as that of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, which unfortunately is probably out of print. Nonetheless, if you love Beethoven, consider this an essential addition to your collection. This is Beethoven at his best, and it's a shame this work isn't better known. Much lesser Beethoven finds its way into most people's collections. I'd recommend Harnoncourt's as highly as any other I've heard, including live performances.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harnoncourt's Splendid Reading of Beethoven's Prometheus, June 16, 2001

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creatures of Prometheus (Audio CD)

Using orchestral forces barely larger than those in Beethoven's time, Nikolaus Harnoncourt gives a splendid reading of one of Beethoven's earliest orchestral works. It is of special note since one of the themes in this ballet score - Beethoven's only ballet score - later becomes the main theme of the last movement of the 3rd Symphony and in his Eroica Variations for the piano. The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, gives a polished, technically perfect performance. I am not surprised that Grammophone's Guide to Classical CDs lists this recording as definitive. Those interested in hearing an early orchestral work of Beethoven's won't be disappointed.