Beethoven: Symphony No.9; "Choral Fantasy" - Heras-Casado, Freiburger Barockorchester, Bezuidenhout

A fantasy that turned into a symphony? First and foremost, this double album enshrines the exemplary work of an ensemble whose designation 'Baroque Orchestra' by no means limits it's excursions into later repertories: under the watchful eye of a gifted conductor, the 'Freiburgers' (and co.) offer us a profoundly renewed vision of the Ninth, that myth among myths, that touchstone of a genre in quest of the absolute - and the direct descendant of a much earlier 'Choral Fantasy'. The latter work showcased one of Beethoven's most extraordinary talents: improvisation. Kristian Bezuidenhout has joined forces again with his concerto partners to let us experience this little-known score as if it had just been premiered... then transcribed by Beethoven himself!

Pablo Heras-Casado - Conductor

Freiburger Barockorchester

Kristian Bezuidenhout - Fortepiano

Sophie Harmsen - Mezzo-soprano

Werner Güra - Tenor

Florian Boesch - Bass

Zürcher Sing-Akademie - Choral ensemble

Christiane Karg - Soprano



Disc 1

Symphony no.9 "Choral" op.125
in D minor / D-moll / ré mineur
1I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso 13'35
2II. Molto vivace 13'32
3III. Adagio molto e cantabile 12'07
4IV. Finale. Presto 21'58
Disc 2

Choral Fantasy op.80 for piano choir and orchestra
in C minor / C-moll / ut mineur
1Adagio 3'54
2Finale. Allegro 6'29
3Adagio ma non troppo 4'23
4Allegro 3'56