BEETHOVEN: Symphonies No. 4 & 8, Méhul: Symphony n°1, Cherubini: Overture "Lodoiska" Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck (2 CDs)

The least famous of Beethoven’s symphonies? Yet these two works are genuine tours de force: the composer takes the listener on a journey whose destination never seems to be known in advance, one brimming over with structural innovations subtly brought out in this interpretation by the musicians of the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. This recording is also an opportunity to discover just how clearly Cherubini’s music prefigured that of Beethoven, whereas Méhul’s symphony is a response à la française to the German composer.

LUIGI CHERUBINI [1760-1842]
· Lodoïska Overture. Adagio - Allegro vivace - Moderato - Allegro vivace (9'27)

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN [1770-1827]
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60
B-flat major / Si bémol majeur / B-Dur
· I. Adagio - Allegro vivace (10'24)
· II. Adagio (8'35)
· III. Allegro molto e vivace - Trio. Un poco meno allegro (5'32)
· IV. Allegro ma non troppo (6'56)

ETIENNE NICOLAS MÉHUL
Symphony No. 1
G minor / Sol mineur / g-Moll
· I. Allegro (6'55)
· II. Andante (7'59)
· III. Menuet. Allegro - Trio (3'23)
· IV. Finale. Allegro agitato (6'08)

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN [1770-1827]
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93
F major / Fa majeur / F-Dur
· I. Allegro vivace e con brio (8'34)
· II. Allegretto scherzando (4'03)
· III. Tempo di Menuetto (5'21)
· IV. Allegro vivace (7'17)