Customer Reviews

Creatures of Prometheus

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The CD was in great condition, it was very inexpensive, and it came about 4 days after I ordered it. I will use this company again.