Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F. - Christopher Hogwood, Orchestra of the Academy of Ancient Music - sound recording reviews

National Review, April 7, 1989 by Ralph de Toledano

Christopher Hogwood, who records with the orchestra of the Academy of Ancient Music, has been reproached for being metronomic in his conducting of the Beethoven symphonies, and of being pedantic and stodgy generally. There is some irony in this, for Beethoven was a bear about metronomic faithfulness and carefully marked his scores for the benefit of contemporary and future conductors.

I find myself in total disagreement with Hogwood's critics, and I offer as Exhibit A his recording of Beethoven's Sixth in FPastoral (L'Oiseau Lyre 421 416-2). There are no tinkling brooks in Hogwood's reading-no pandering to a program" that Beethoven never intended-and his dynamics are both sturdy and wise. The symphony itself, in the instrumental dress that Beethoven gave it, sounds fresh in comparison to most current performances.