Harnoncourt's Beethoven has always been regarded as a thrilling experience and this set of overtures is no different. The sheer visceral excitement and utterly unimpeachable playing is truly out of this world especially in the "darkness to light" transitions of the Leonora overtures and the wonderful "Egmont", always one of my favorites. "Prometheus" is also very interesting in that it incorporates some music from the ballet itself whilst "Coriolanus" is packed with as much drama and tension as one might expect from the Austrian master.
These recordings have been available in some way or another for several years but this excellent grouping should definitely be snapped up by the bargain hunter who did not get his hands on it before.
Copyright © 2009, Gerald Fenech