“The Nine Symphonies” by Ludwig van Beethoven by Antonello Manacorda

This release is one of those “imported” Sony discs. Fans will poke around, so. Manacorda is one of the “baroque” ones who are interested in Beethoven. The 1^er movement of the Fifth says everything about the sound and musical aesthetics (timbres, effects, vibrato). It is a tonic and muscular Beethoven (what an initial part of the 8^e !) which possibly aims to be the most transparent by using the smallest numbers. The most surprising thing here is that the most direct competitor, Giovanni Antonini, is a complete set canned in 2020 by… Sony! In this obedience to emaciated sounds, Manacorda comes up against the more fruity and chiseled ensemble of Savall (Alia Vox) and the more inventive and relaxed musicality of Antonini (Sony). For a more opulent Beethoven with reduced numbers, we will choose Yannick Nézet-Séguin (DG). In practice, once you have tasted the physical and rather basic pleasure of this Beethoven taken head on, you don’t really go back.

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