Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

The fiery and gifted young maestro might have chosen lesser-known Latin American works for his debut on Deutsche Grammophon. Instead he opted for two of the most fequently recorded staples of the repertory: Beethoven’s Fifth and Seventh Symphonies. The gamble has certainly paid off. The members of the Caracas-based Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra … combine youthful enthusiasm, technical finesse and mature profundity: a rare combination, and an ideal one to capture the urgency and optimism of Beethoven’s Fifth. From the works sinister opening motif through the lyrical second movement to the spirited final allegro, there is a refreshing sense of excitement. Since this is, presumably, the first time most of theses young musicians have played the work, their polished reading is all the more impressive. In Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Mr. Dudamel again elicits gorgeous phrasing from strings and winds. The hused, beautifully shaded Allegretto is particularly lovely, and the spirited Allegro comes off with unbridled brio. Record Review / Vivien Schweitzer, The New York Times / 27 August 2006