Ludwig van Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony was completed in 1812, at a time in which family troubles and increasing deafness might have overwhelmed a less determined composer. Whatever his anxieties, this is a work of clear optimism and one which Beethoven held in high esteem, reportedly declaring it ‘so much better’ than the more popular Seventh. Filled with Beethoven’s signature hallmarks, the Eighth Symphony is both an affectionate look back to Haydn and Mozart, and a symphony with subtle innovations and elements that foreshadow the Ninth Symphony. This acclaimed recording was admired by Gramophone for its ‘lucid and multi-dimensional’ orchestral textures.