Beethoven: Symphonies 1, 2 & 3 - Barry: Beethoven & Piano Concerto

The Britten Sinfonia and Thomas Adès launch into Beethoven’s first three symphonies with playing that’s fleet of foot, fresh and invigorating. No. 3, the mighty “Eroica”, rides a wave of youthful self-confidence—its funeral march is at the brisker end of the scale, but it’s performed with heartfelt gravity. Alongside the symphonies, Beethoven—Gerald Barry’s portrait of the composer in love—is gloriously comic and irreverent. Setting Beethoven’s love letter to an unknown woman, it’s full of falsetto shriekings, deadpan chanting and comedy when Beethoven is seemingly being his most sincere, and as such portrays a man struggling with his emotions. Barry’s Piano Concerto rounds off this recording with a witty, theatrical flourish.