If an orchestra puts on a Beethoven cycle, the first question that has to be asked is why? In the case of the London Philharmonic Orchestra - which here began counting off the symphonies in numerical order with the First, Second and Third - the answer is unclear. The orchestra is not especially renowned for this repertoire; it's not rehearsing for a recording; audience demand can't be overwhelming, because while there was a decent turnout, there were still several seats to be had.
A better reason would be that a conductor wanted to attempt the challenge of revealing something fresh about these works, something best conveyed by hearing them back-to-back. For all his long experience and intricate knowledge of them, Kurt Masur doesn't seem to be that conductor.
However, one wouldn't necessarily have thought that from hearing the First Symphony alone. In this, Masur's fast-as-possible tempos gave the outer movements a sense of dynamic urgency, although he didn't inject enough humorous charm to sustain the quirky second movement for quite so long. There was some fine string playing, too, and the fleeting violin interjections in the third movement could hardly have been better done.
Yet through the Second Symphony and, more tellingly, the usually gripping Third, a pattern began to emerge. Masur assuredly brings out the details of Beethoven's writing, but the crucial sense that these are part of an overarching structure, part of phrases that expand limitlessly, was less in evidence. Without this, there was simply not enough tension to keep these long movements alive. Moreover, though the strings (and especially those violins) were on fantastic form, the horns were decidedly not, and Masur settled too often for colourless playing from a wind section that we know can sound more persuasive.
If audiences want a competent but uneventful reminder of how Beethoven's symphonies go, this cycle will probably do nicely. But for those who want more - and there is much, much more to be had - then this is not an encouraging start.
· Series continues tonight; the remaining symphonies are performed on January 19 and 22. Box office: 08703 800 400.
