Beethoven: Symphonies 2 and 8 - ORR/Gardiner

Sir John Eliot Gardiner revisits two of his favourite Beethoven symphonies. Classic FM Drive Featured Album, 6 October 2014.

October 2014 marks the silver anniversary of the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, founded by conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner with the aim of given an authentic reading to the music of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Now, 20 years after their acclaimed Beethoven symphonies recordings, John Eliot Gardiner and the orchestra continue to revisit this repertoire and this new release follows the critically acclaimed release of Symphonies Nos. 5 and 7, also recorded live at Cadogan Hall.

This album came in at No.11 in Classic FM's Album of the Year 2014. See the full chart here > 

This album pairs two of Beethoven's 'lighter' symphonies. It captures this ensemble's vivid understanding of the Second Symphony, filled with humour and energy, but at times lyrical and dramatic. Beethoven’s Eighth is equally witty and playful.

The two symphonies are among the conductor's favourites and that shines through in this world-class performance by a world-class period orchestra.

Have a listen to a preview below: