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Riccardo Chailly: Egmont Overture
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Classic FM's Essential Beethoven Recordings
10. Riccardo Chailly: Egmont Overture
Aside from the fifth symphony, Beethoven openings don't get much bigger than this. Whether you're Wilhelm Furtwängler with your super-slow intro or stately and quiet like Christian Thielemann, conductors have a hard time with this one. Richard Chailly, however, rattles through it and sounds like he's having an absolute ball - look out for the explosive ending.
