Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 6, Pastoral Bernard Haitink

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Symphony No 6 in F major, Op 68 ’Pastoral’ (1807–1808)
• 1 I. Awakening of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival in the Country: Allegro ma non troppo 11:39
• 2 II. Scene by the Brook: Andante molto mosso 11:48
• 3 III. Merry Gathering of Country Folk: Allegro 04:58
• 4 IV. Thunderstorm: Allegro 03:31
• 5 V. Shepherd's Song: Happy and Thankful Feelings after the Storm: Allegretto 09:36
• Symphony No 2 in D major, Op 36 (1799–1802)
• 6 I. Adagio molto - Allegro molto 13:05
• 7 II. Larghetto 10:43
• 8 III. Scherzo 03:59
• 9 IV. Allegro molto 06:38
• Total Runtime 01:15:57

Info for Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 6, Pastoral

The „Pastoral“ symphony is one of Beethoven's most consistently popular works, evoking feelings of the natural world's beauty. The symphony embodies the spirit of the dawning Romantic era in its depiction of the countryside, and allowed Beethoven to express his love of nature and the outdoors. At the time of its completion, the Second Symphony was probably the longest yet composed. Written while he was coming to terms with the onset of deafness, it is surprisingly light hearted and cheerful.

“For anyone who wants first-rate stereo sound and a broadly traditional reading, it is hard to imagine more profoundly satisfying accounts than these. The playing of the LSO is nowadays quite magnificent, and they are fully justified in releasing their public performances.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“a fantastic performance - pure music-making by a great conductor and an orchestra that responds magnificently to his every request” (Classic FM)

“There is a oneness of conception here which is superb - quite remarkable and ultimately wholly convincing. I'll let you into a secret: I have many recordings of the Beethoven symphonies in my collection but if anyone where to ask me which version of the Pastoral Iwould recommend, I would first of all direct them to this one” (International Record Review)

London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Haitink, conductor

Recorded live on 21 and 22 November 2005 (Pastoral)
Recorded live on 26 and 27 November 2005 at the Barbican, London

Bernard Haitink
With an international career now spanning six decades, Amsterdam-born Bernard Haitink is one of the most renowned conductors of our time. First engaged by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in 1954, Bernard Haitink began his meteoric career in 1956 at the age of just 27, when he substituted for an ailing Carlo Maria Giulini and first conducted the orchestra with whom he would enjoy a long and highly successful collaboration: the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. From 1961 to 1988 he was Music Director and Principal Conductor of the orchestra – a position he initially shared with Eugen Jochum. Other positions held by him included Music Director and Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1967-1979), of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera (1978-1988), of London's Royal Opera House Covent Garden (1988-2002) and of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (2006- 2010). Bernard Haitink is “Conductor Laureate” of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, “Conductor Emeritus” of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and "Patron" of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 1958 he has had a cordial working relationship with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks: the live recording of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, published on the BR-KLASSIK label, was awarded the ECHO Klassik 2013 and the “Toblacher Komponierhäuschen” prize. Bernard Haitink has been a Knight of the British Empire since 1977; in 1991 he received the “Erasmus” award, the highest cultural award of the Netherlands; and in 2007 the magazine Musical America named him “Musician of the Year”. He is a Companion of Honour of the United Kingdom and a holder of the Order of the House of Orange-Nassau.

Booklet for Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 6, Pastoral