Beethoven Symphonies 5 & 7 is The Sunday Times’ Album of the Week

Beethoven Symphonies 5 & 7  performed by the NDR Radiophilharmonie under the baton of Andrew Manze is The Sunday Times’ Album of the Week.

“The strings never sound too plush or saturated, giving these performances a feeling of contemporary freshness and interpretative zest. Manze is clearly working wonders in his German outpost.”

“The conductor’s period instrument background manifests itself in swift, no-nonsense tempi — the “slow” movement of the A major (No 7) is a true Allegretto — with cogent feeling for structure and pulsing rhythmic momentum that never sound hard-driven. He leaves plenty of breathing space for exquisitely shaped wind solos that emerge naturally from the lean, lithe orchestral textures.”