IN celebration of its 25th anniversary, the ESO is performing the complete symphonies of Beethoven.

Also, in a pre-concert series of contemporary music, Harrison Birtwistle's aubades and nocturnes from The Io Passion was performed.

Newsreader John Suchet, who has written a trilogy of books about Beethoven, introduced the programme with eloquence.

William Boughton was conductor and to pursue authenticity, natural horns were played.

In Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67, the presence of the reiterating rhythmic four-note motif dominated the first movement and continued to be felt throughout this work of heroic magnitude.

The ESO's was an expressive and beautifully wrought interpretation. Solo episodes were executed superbly, notably those by the woodwind section during the andante.

Seductive low strings, then horns coloured the third movement and the finale was a blaze of wonderful, powerful playing, with some vital inserts by the piccolo.

Symphony No.6 in F major, Op.68, Pastoral showed Beet-hoven's love of the countryside. Reminiscences of cheerful country-dances in allegro ma non troppo, then gentle loveliness within andante molto moto as splendid melodious violins intoned against a pulsating background.

Tuneful woodwind emulated bird-song. A storm approached in the allegro as drums rolled and brass expounded, but accomplished string playing was lyrical. With the end in sight, orchestral playing dazzled, lower strings were resplendent and an exquisite diminuendo was achieved for this particularly insightful delivery.

JILL HOPKINS