CLASSICAL REVIEW

Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies Accentus (5 CDs), Out now

Herbert Blomstedt was 90 earlier this month but continues with his extraordinary 67-year conducting career, still doing 70 to 80 concerts a year. He had a spell as principal conductor in Leipzig and remains the orchestra’s honorary conductor. In this complete Beethoven symphony set, recorded with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig between mid-2014 and earlier this year, he shows his exceptional grip of classical style, with powerful, beautifully phrased accounts of all these symphonies, and totally persuasive dynamics and tempi. With challenging pacing, no way are these old man’s performances. The orchestra play magnificently for a musician they plainly hugely admire. The sound is state-of-the-art. If you want a newly recorded Beethoven symphony set, don’t hesitate. And at about €45 or less, it’s pretty good value.