Günther Herbig & Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester - Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 " Eroica" (Remastered) (2020) [Hi-Res]

"Herbig would record the "Eroica" again in the studio in 1994 with the Royal Philharmonic for their short-lived Royal Philharmonic Collection on the Tring bargain label. That was not in the catalogue long which was a pity because it was a performance I liked. I was pleased, therefore, when this earlier recording arrived. What is interesting, however, is the fact that Herbig seems to have confounded an old dictum that as conductors get older tempi get slower. Overall this 1982 recording of the "Eroica" is over two minutes slower than the one he made twelve years later and is none the worse for that. This does also represent what we might still refer to as "big band Beethoven", so not for Herbig any of the recent authentic practice touches. But if you expect the last movement to lack any sense of direction, to meander and dissipate its essential energy and humour in any way, then you would be mistaken. What you get maintains the mood of the previous movements and yet fulfils the device of transformation out of tragedy Beethoven clearly meant to convey by the end. From the opening, played "attacca", as it would be in the later RPO recording, Herbig manages to move through the Prometheus variations with a lovely sense of poise and style. Humour may not be high on his menu but he certainly has lightened the mood sufficiently to convey the overall effect of this remarkable work. The late, horn-led delivery of the theme has fine grandeur and the coda is winning. Rounding off a studio performance that gives every impression of being a "live" one and which will give you much pleasure as it did me. A rich, vibrant performance by a neglected craftsman. Happy birthday, Günther Herbig." (Tony Duggan, MusicWeb International)

Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester
Günther Herbig, conductor

Digitally remastered