Cinderella Symphony

Beethoven's 8th Symphony can be considered the Cinderella amongst his late symphonies. On the most superficial level, it is relatively short. It doesn't have a name that has stuck to it, although the first edition did title it "Eighth Great". It maybe doesn't have so many memorable themes. But Beethoven himself thought it fgatr better than the seventh and Berlioz wrote that is was "brilliant, novel and lavishly developed". Sadly, the under appreciation continues to this day when it is much less likely to get programmed than the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th, normally only featuring if a cycle is being embarked upon. It's clear that it is a major composition in Beethoven's catalogue, however. This recording by the Berliner Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan more than does it justice. Because of the short length of the symphony, the cd also includes three overtures, Coriolan, Fidelio and Leonore III. The overture is another interesting form, one of the major money spinners for composers in the 19th century but now somewhat ignored.