Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Bela Drahos, Budapest Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia :: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 Pastoral

Excellent Budget Beethoven

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have generally steered away from Naxos when it comes to the standard repertoire (I just enjoy the "great" conductors and performers of the century too much), but as a collector of Beethoven's 5th Symphony I thought I would give this disc a try. The Naxos label has never let me down when trying to get recordings of more obscure works, and I already owned several recordings of early Haydn Symphonies with Bela Drahos, so purchasing this did not seem too risky. And it wasn't, as these performances of the 5th and Pastorale with Drahos conducting the Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia are quite excellent. For those looking to get their Beethoven Symphony Cycle via Naxos, please note that you should skip this title and buy the very same 5th Symphony performance coupled with the 2nd, and the 6th with the 1st. But if you are looking for a solid disc of two of Beethoven's most famous Symphonies, recorded digitally and at a budget price, then you have come to the right place."