Beethoven: The Symphonies (Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Conducts the Danish National Symphony Orchestra)
Spanish maestro Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos (1933-2014) concluded his acclaimed international conducting career spanning nearly six decades with two memorable years as the revered Principal Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Recorded live at Copenhagen's new DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen from 2012 to 2014, this exclusive recording combines Fruhbeck de Burgos's powerful interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven's complete symphonies with his spectacular renditions of Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie, as well as Joaquin Rodrigos's popular Concerto de Aranjuez, with world-renowned Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero.
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Cast
Seasons
"Beethoven: The Symphonies" is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of DRS and Da Capo with AVC encoded 1080p transfers in 1.78:1. You have to hunt a little bit, but on the back of the three cardboard sleeves attached to the left side of the inside of this somewhat oddly configured package is information detailing that everything save for Eine Alpensinfonie was captured in native 1080p, while the Strauss piece has been upscaled from standard definition (it's not just obvious from the rampant stair stepping and similar anomalies on display, but also from the fact that Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos is noticeably younger and more spry, and conducts that piece standing up). While the really wide shots taken from what looks like the second balcony of Copenhagen's new(ish) Concert Hall look fairly ragged.
1.Symphony No. 1 in C major, op. 21 (1799/1800)
06-09-201233 minRecorded on September 06 and 07, 2012 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
2.Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 36 (1801-1802)
13-09-201248 minRecorded on September 13 and 14, 2012 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
3.Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, op. 55 “Eroica” (1803-05)
06-12-201256 minRecorded December 06 and 07, 2012 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
4.Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, op. 60 (1806)
24-01-201340 minRecorded January 24 and 25, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
5.Symphony No. 5 in C minor, op. 67 (1804-1808)
31-01-201340 minRecorded on March 21 and 21, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
6.Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral” (1808)
25-04-201348 minRecorded on April 25 and 26, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
7.Symphony No. 7 in A major, op. 92 (1811-1812)
24-05-201345 minRecorded May 24 and 25, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
8.Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93 (1812)
30-06-201330 minRecorded on June 30 and 31, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
9.Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 « Choral » (1822-1824)
30-06-20131h 16mRecorded on June 30 and 31, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
10.(Joaquín Rodrigo) Concierto de Aranjuez (1939)
21-03-201328 minRecorded on March 21 and 22, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
11.(Hector Berlioz) Symphonie fantastique, op. 14 (1830)
24-01-201357 minRecorded January 24 and 25, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
12.(Richard Strauss) Eine Alpensinfonie, op. 64 (1911-1915)
23-01-20141hRecorded on January 23, 2014 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
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