Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Barbican, London

Like the most imposing of Georgian houses, the symphonies of Beethoven demand constant surveying and restoration. Of the conductors in charge of the world’s leading orchestras, Riccardo Chailly is especially keen to look afresh at tradition and it was only to be expected that a complete Beethoven symphony cycle from him would say something new and interesting.

After six years as Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the time was right. Chailly and this venerable orchestra are taking a cycle of the symphonies on tour to four cities in Europe and pairing the old with the new – five contemporary works commissioned specifically to match the Beethoven symphonies with which they are being heard.

The selected composers come from the relevant countries. The British and French will follow later – the tour is currently shuttling between London and Paris – but it is already clear the rules of the commission are being taking seriously. Carlo Boccadoro and Steffen Schleiermacher, the Italian and German composers, have both delivered bold pieces in the heroic Beethoven mould. In his offering Boccadoro packed in more ideas per minute than Beethoven ever allowed and made up in wealth of imagination what he might lack in discipline. Then Schleiermacher went off in the opposite direction, hammering out assertive Beethovenian chords but not following up with much more than dry theory.

In tone, at least, they accurately prefigured Chailly’s Beethoven. Chailly has refashioned the mellow, old Gewandhaus sound with a sharper focus – how often does a traditional symphony orchestra shine as clear a light through the music as this? – but the clarity and detail have come at the price of a rather unyielding modern glare. Bernard Haitink’s Beethoven cycle with the LSO a few years ago also aimed for drive and clarity, but managed to find room for a greater variety of expression.

Nevertheless, Chailly’s high-quality work in Leipzig always yields impressive results and much here was exciting. The triumphant finale of the Fifth Symphony, with its piping piccolo and blazing brass, will not be easy to forget. In the slow movement of the Seventh Symphony the orchestra sang with the lyrical passion of a fine Italian opera chorus. The cycle concludes with Symphony No.9 on Thursday.

www.barbican.org.uk