Beethoven – Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) / Coriolanus Overture – A Naxos Musical Journey

This volume of the Naxos Musical Journey takes you on a breathtaking tour of the famed “city of light.” From the world-famous landmarks of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, stroll through the Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens; from the architectural splendor of Sacre-Cur and Notre Dame to the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, wander the banks of the Seine; travel outside Paris to the ancient city of Chartres, or experience the splendor of the Palace of Versailles. Also featuring Beethoven’s “Coriolanus Overture,” this is a visual experience as rich and memorable as Paris and the music itself.Two of Beethoven’s most powerful orchestral works get vigorous, refined performances from skilled Czech and Slovak orchestras, but music is only part of this disc’s attractions. More important is the splendid panorama of Paris and Versailles presented for nearly an hour. While the orchestras play Beethoven’s musical essays on heroism, the camera wanders from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, Sacré Coeur, Les Invalides, the Bibliothèque Nationale, and the Arc de Triomphe; it browses the city’s open-air markets and bookstalls, views the Seine’s bridges and busy boat traffic, the city’s wonderful variety of parks and fountains, its drivers and pedestrians. It’s almost like being there.

The pictures’ flow seems correlated to the music’s mood, pace, and dynamics. The Eroica is a logical choice for a musical journey through Paris because the Symphony No. 3 was inspired by Napoleon, who shows up in portraits and memorabilia during the slow movement. –Joe McLellan