Latest release: Beethoven cycle with Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Following on from our performances and live recording in July 2021 in Baden Baden Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe present Beethoven’s nine symphonies in what is the very first recorded cycle to be based on the recently concluded New Complete Edition of the composer’s works. Yannick has said “I’m interested in how Beethoven’s music can surprise us today. Our interpretation should make the audience feel as if they were hearing this music for the first time. That is my goal.” The set was released by Deutsche Grammophon on 15 July 2022 as a 5‑CD edition, Beethoven: The Symphonies is also available digitally in standard stereo and in the immersive Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio formats. Hailed by the international critic, the set was Album of the Week on Classic FM, BBC Radio 3 and Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Originally planned as part of the Beethoven 250 celebrations, this project was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Its concerts were rescheduled and recorded in July 2021 at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, where orchestra and conductor were joined in the Ninth Symphony by soloists Siobhan Stagg, Ekaterina Gubanova, Werner Güra and Florian Boesch and the professional choristers of Laurence Equilbey’s Accentus.

The COE first recorded the Beethoven cycle thirty years ago, producing pioneering work with its first Honorary Member Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Its musicians were delighted to rediscover the symphonies with Yannick, also now an Honorary Member of the Orchestra. Building on their experience of working together, which dates back to 2008 and has already produced acclaimed DG recordings of the complete symphonies of Schumann and Mendelssohn, Yannick and the COE players approached their third composer-led project for the Yellow Label by developing fresh interpretations informed by the recently concluded New Complete Edition of Beethoven’s works.