Interesting historical fact: In 1825, Johann Schultz and the Gewandhaus Orchestra presented the very first complete cycle of the Beethoven symphonies, a tradition followed by Schultz’s Leipzig successors which have included luminaries such as Mendelssohn, Furtwängler and Masur. Thus, with this new cycle under maestro Riccardo Chailly on Decca, it is fair to say that these works are pretty much “in the blood”. In fact, to sum up this beautifully presented 5-CD set, it is a rather brilliant fusion of the old and the new.

The traditional element is immediately evident in the sound. The Leipzig strings offer a rich, beefy timbre while the brass is bright and punchy, though never vulgar. All of this is captured in a state-of-the-art recording of tremendous depth. The new is represented in the playing style – strings eschewing unnecessary vibrato, delicate woodwind – but especially in the tempi. Chailly observes Beethoven’s markings to the letter so we have some very fast movements indeed.

The beauty is that the orchestra is so fleet of foot that detail is seldom sacrificed in the interests of speed. These unmannered readings allow Beethoven to speak for himself in exceptional versions of the Second, Third, Eighth and Ninth (with contributions from an excellent choir and soloists).

Chailly cites Toscanini, Karajan and most interestingly John Eliot Gardiner as his Beethoven influences. If he occasionally lacks Toscanini’s sheer dramatic chutzpah and Gardiner’s magical sense of “period” discovery, nevertheless I would put this thrillingly recorded set right up at the top of the list for modern orchestral performances.