Originally posted by jayne lee wilson
View Post
-
Well, it certainly grabs one by the ears from the off. I can't remember which 'Gramophone' reviewer used to bang on in the past about "agogic pauses" but those in the first movement in particular are going to take some some getting used to. I don't remember them being quite as pronounced in the CMW recording which post-dates this Zürich performance by four years - and which is a great personal favourite, final bars notwithstanding. But, as Jayne has said, Harnoncourt's performances were never the same from one to the next - and this one is outstanding. Thrilling - a reminder of what an extraordinary work this is.
Comment