For directness, firmness, and coherence,
Gunther Herbig's performance of
Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, "Eroica," with the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is certainly a worthwhile interpretation, though the recording has some qualities that make it a little less than extraordinary. Because the Royal Philharmonic Masterworks series is specifically promoted as an audiophile collection, this CD should offer much better reproduction than it delivers. The 32-bit digital recording is fine, but in this case it doesn't quite match the deep and spacious sound that many listeners expect of state-of-the-art audiophile discs, such as hybrid SACDs. Furthermore, the orchestra itself is somewhat lacking in definition in the homogenized ensemble blend. This is fine for listeners who enjoy a rich and even lush orchestral sound, but anyone seeking a crisp and clean rendition that makes every line distinct and every color pop will find this recording is a bit too evenly mixed. Aside from these points, though, this performance is musically superb, expressively secure, and technically accurate, and it falls on the spectrum between traditional versions that emphasize the heroic aspect of the symphony, and historically informed period performances that are sometimes too playful. Somewhere between these extremes is where this reading lies, and
Herbig appears to have adopted a moderate approach that leans slightly toward the traditional side. Listeners searching for a solid mainstream "Eroica" that is neither overly reverent nor particularly fussy will find this recording quite suitable for their needs. This disc also presents the Overture to Fidelio as filler, played in a vein similar to the symphony, and recorded with the same audio quality.