Beethoven

| Symphony Nos 5 & 7 | Pittsburgh SO/Manfred Honeck | Ref. Rec. MC SACD FR-718

Ever since fate came knocking at the door of Carlos Kleiber’s Musikverein back in the early seventies, and with the subsequent recording that took the musical world by storm, conductors have had to tread carefully when daring to couple Beethoven’s Fifth and Seventh Symphonies. Everyone will compare this recording with the Kleiber as the benchmark... and rightfully so, as Honeck played under Kleiber in the violin section in the Vienna Philharmonic. Honeck also takes the period advances into consideration (generally quick tempos), but is not hesitant to use expressive devices found in ages past. Even against the formidable competition already in the catalogue, this release, with its illuminating and brilliant surround sound, takes pride of place among the best available: an audiophile’s delight.