Triumphing over deafness and turbulent political times, Ludwig van Beethoven singlehandedly changed the course of music history, laying down the foundations for the Romantic era. His nine symphonies grew out of the forms established in the time of Mozart and Haydn, but show a remarkable evolution which embraces heroic grandeur in the Third Symphony, patriotism and innovation in the Fifth Symphony, countryside imagery and narrative in the Sixth Symphony, and choral inspiration in the Ninth Symphony, the ‘Ode to Joy’ from which has become the Anthem for Europe.

Even Beethoven couldn’t entirely escape the influence of Mozart, and this lineage can be traced in the melodic grace to be found in the symphonies as well as the concertos. Imposing in their stature, the five Piano Concertos are filled with lively inventiveness as well as some of the most beautiful music ever to emerge from this genre. Beethoven’s single work in the popular symphonie concertante form is the ‘Triple’ Concerto, but it is the distinctive nobility of the Violin Concerto which has seen it gain an unassailable position as one of the greatest works in the repertoire.

Beethoven considered music ‘a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy’, with greatness of conception and painstaking craftsmanship his hallmarks. The Overtures are no exception in this, reflecting the drama and excitement of the theatre and including the opening of his only opera Fidelio.

Contents:

Disc 1
Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, "Pastoral"
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor

Disc 2
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor

Disc 3
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55, "Eroica"
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor

Disc 4
Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor

Disc 5
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, 'Choral'
Papian, Hasmik, soprano
Donose, Ruxandra, mezzo-soprano
Fink, Manfred, tenor
Otelli, Claudio, bass-baritone
Nicolaus Esterhazy Chorus
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor

Disc 6
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15
Vladar, Stefan, piano
Capella Istropolitana
Wordsworth, Barry, Conductor
 
Rondo in B-Flat Major, WoO 6
Vladar, Stefan, piano
Capella Istropolitana
Wordsworth, Barry, Conductor
 
Fantasia in C Minor, Op. 80, "Choral Fantasy"
McCawley, Leon, piano
Rutter, Claire, soprano
Wallevik, Matilde, mezzo-soprano
Fontanals-Simmons, Marta, mezzo-soprano
Hoare, Peter, tenor
Davies, Julian, tenor
Gadd, Stephen, baritone
City of London Choir
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Wetton, Hilary Davan, Conductor

Disc 7
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19
Vladar, Stefan, piano
Capella Istropolitana
Wordsworth, Barry, Conductor
 
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, "Emperor"
Vladar, Stefan, piano
Capella Istropolitana
Wordsworth, Barry, Conductor

Disc 8
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Vladar, Stefan, piano
Capella Istropolitana
Wordsworth, Barry, Conductor
 
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
Vladar, Stefan, piano
Capella Istropolitana
Wordsworth, Barry, Conductor

Disc 9
Piano Concerto in D Major, Op. 61a
Jando, Jeno, piano
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 56
Kang, Dong-Suk, violin
Kliegel, Maria, cello
Jando, Jeno, piano
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor

Disc 10
Fidelio, Op. 72: Overture
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
Die Geschopfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus), Op. 43: Overture
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
Overture to Collin's Coriolan, Op. 62, "Coriolan Overture"
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
Die Ruinen von Athen (The Ruins of Athens), Op. 113: Overture
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
Egmont, Op. 84: Overture
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
Overture in C Major to Die Weihe des Hauses (The Consecration of the House), Op. 124
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor
 
Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Gunzenhauser, Stephen, Conductor

Disc 11
Overture in C Major, Op. 115, "Namensfeier" (Name Day Celebration)
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Leonore Overture No. 1 in C Major, Op. 138
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Leonore Overture No. 2, Op. 72a
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Konig Stephan (King Stephen), Op. 117: Overture
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Ritterballett, WoO 1
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Leonore Prohaska, WoO 96: No. 4. Funeral March
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor
 
Triumphal March for Tarpeja, WoO 2a
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Drahos, Bela, Conductor

Disc 12
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
Nishizaki, Takako, violin
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean, Kenneth, Conductor
 
Romance No. 1 in G Major, Op. 40
Nishizaki, Takako, violin
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean, Kenneth, Conductor
 
Romance No. 2 in F Major, Op. 50
Nishizaki, Takako, violin
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean, Kenneth, Conductor