Various Composers - Beethoven & The Italians (Enrico Onofri)

Information

CD1

• Luigi Cherubini - Médée: Overture
• Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
• Gaspare Spontini - Olimpie: Overture

CD2

• Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral"
• Gioachino Rossini - Guillaume Tell: Overture

CD3

• Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92
• Luigi Cherubini - Symphony in D Major

Munich Chamber Orchestra

Enrico Onofri, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: harmonia mundi

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Under conductor Enrico Onofri, the Münchener Kammerorchester explores the dynamic relationship between Ludwig van Beethoven’s symphonic works and contemporary early 19th-century opera. Heavily influenced by Luigi Cherubini, Gaspare Spontini, and Gioachino Rossini, Beethoven developed his musical language within a landscape where symphonic forms engaged in continuous dialogue with theatrical drama. By pairing Beethoven's major symphonies with Italian operatic overtures of the period, Onofri and the ensemble illuminate a shared theatrical urgency and dramatic intensity. This innovative juxtapositional approach reveals a fertile state of tension, offering a fresh, vibrant perspective on the dramatic underpinnings of Beethoven’s masterworks.

Italian violinist and conductor Enrico Onofri (b. 1967) is an acclaimed specialist in historically informed performance, exploring repertoire spanning the 17th through 20th centuries. Raised in Ravenna, he launched his career alongside Jordi Savall and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, subsequently co-founding Il Giardino Armonico, where he served as concertmaster until 2010. Since 2002, Onofri has conducted leading international chamber, symphonic, and early-music ensembles, holding positions with the Münchener Kammerorchester, Haydn Philharmonie, and Imaginarium Ensemble. A recipient of the 2019 Abbiati Award and multiple Diapason d'Or honors, he maintains an active opera schedule and launched a major classical symphonic recording series with Harmonia Mundi in 2025.