Who would have believed Belgian fortepianist and conductor
Jos van Immerseel had it in him to turn in an exciting set of
Beethoven's symphonies and overtures, especially with a a period instrument chamber orchestra? But these are indeed very exciting recordings. Listen to the hunting horns in the Third's Trio or the charging trumpets in the Seventh's closing Allegro con brio. Listen to
Immerseel mold the phrasing in the Second's Larghetto or coda of the Third's Marcia funebre -- it's genuinely thrilling. In these performances, one gets a real sense of the warmth, humor, and compassion that mark the best
Beethoven recordings. The recorded sound is immediate and translucent.