The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig was the first ever to present a complete Beethoven symphonic cycle during the composer’s lifetime in the 1825/6 season. Looking further back, the Gewandhausorchester performed Beethoven’s first symphony just a year after it was premiered and before the first edition was even published.
Nearly 190 years later, Riccardo Chailly presented his Beethoven cycle across Europe with concerts in Vienna and Leipzig as well as the Intermusica-managed concerts in London and Paris. There were five concerts in each city, a set of residencies that chimed with the release of a new Beethoven symphonic cycle recording for Decca Classics.
To add a contemporary dimension to the project Riccardo Chailly commissioned five composers to write a piece related to one of Beethoven’s symphonies. Each new work was performed prior to its partner symphony. The five composers are drawn from the four residency countries and Italy, which is Chailly’s homeland. They were Steffen Schleiermacher (Germany), Bruno Mantovani (France) Carlo Boccadoro (Italy), Friedrich Cerha (Austria) and Colin Matthews (Great Britain).
The cycle began in Leipzig, then travelled to Vienna’s Musikverein before touring to Paris (October 22, 23, 29, 30 and 31) and London (October 25, 26 and November 1, 2, and 3). Each residency culminated in the performance of Beethoven’s ninth symphony. Joining the orchestra in all cities to perform the ‘Choral Symphony’ was Christiane Oelze (soprano), Annely Peebo (mezzo soprano), Kor Jan Duesslejee (tenor) and Thomas E Bauer (baritone). Choruses from the Choeur de Radio France and the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus also performed with the orchestra in London and Paris respectively.
The London concerts were critically acclaimed in the press:
“This is above all, an explosively swift cycle.”
Guardian
“Riccardo Chailly's Barbican Beethoven cycle with his storied Leipzig orchestra has been one of the musical pinnacles of the year.”
Guardian
“The opening went at a lick but there was no lack of intensity. This was high-voltage Beethoven, delivered with a winning swagger.”
Evening Standard
“Chailly eked out orchestral colour and timbre and we were spurred into the interval on a high of virtuoso playing.”
Classical Source
“The seventh was played with staggering exactitude at precariously swift speeds; the electrifying finale brought the audience to its feet.”
Guardian
“Riccardo Chailly and his Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra can only be described in terms of whipped-up velocity. Each timpani staccato rings out with the precision and terror of a pistol shot. It's energising and nerve-racking, and in any other circumstance would surely crash, metaphorically if not technically.”
Observer
“Chailly has refashioned the mellow, old Gewandhaus sound with a sharper focus – how often does a traditional symphony orchestra shine as clear a light through the music as this?”
Financial Times
“The so-called Minuet flashed by like the countryside viewed from a high-speed train, the finale rambunctious in its unbuttoned vigour. The commitment and polish of the Gewandhaus Orchestra’s playing was astounding.”
Classical Source
“The Gewandhaus is one of Europe's finest orchestras, while Chailly is one of a handful of living conductors who genuinely deserves to be called great.”
Guardian
“What the Leipzigers offer is a richly textured, homogenised sonority adaptable to both the Classical and more Romantic faces of Beethoven. Riccardo Chailly's account was neatly pointed, thrusting, potent, unashamedly heroic.”
Evening Standard
Performances
22 October 2011
Salle Pleyel, Paris
23 October 2011
Salle Pleyel, Paris
25 October 2011
Barbican Centre, London
26 October 2011
Barbican Centre, London
29 October 2011
Salle Pleyel, Paris
30 October 2011
Salle Pleyel, Paris
31 October 2011
Salle Pleyel, Paris
1 November 2011
Barbican Centre, London
2 November 2011
Barbican Centre, London
3 November 2011
Barbican Centre, London