Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 — Haitink & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Live capture of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam under Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink, one of the twentieth century’s greatest maestros and a guardian figure of this orchestra. Premiered in 1813, the symphony is famed for its irresistible rhythmic drive and its overwhelming Allegretto, one of the most performed and moving movements in the symphonic repertoire. Carried by the legendary acoustics of the Concertgebouw hall, Haitink’s reading favours clarity of line, balance between sections and a restrained intensity that lets the score breathe. This filmed concert is a precious document for music lovers: it captures the deep bond between a revered conductor and an exceptional orchestra, in a work Wagner called the “apotheosis of the dance”. A reference classical capture to discover or rediscover Beethoven in a performance of the highest order, carefully filmed. The multi-camera direction follows soloists and sections closely, drawing the listener inside the fabric of the orchestra.