Two of Beethoven's most powerful orchestral works get vigorous, refined performances from skilled Czech and Slovak orchestras, but music is only part of this disc's attractions. More important is the splendid panorama of Paris and Versailles presented for nearly an hour. While the orchestras play Beethoven's musical essays on heroism, the camera wanders from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, Sacré Coeur, Les Invalides, the Bibliothèque Nationale, and the Arc de Triomphe; it browses the city's open-air markets and bookstalls, views the Seine's bridges and busy boat traffic, the city's wonderful variety of parks and fountains, its drivers and pedestrians. It's almost like being there. The pictures' flow seems correlated to the music's mood, pace, and dynamics. The Eroica is a logical choice for a musical journey through Paris because the Symphony No. 3 was inspired by Napoleon, who shows up in portraits and memorabilia during the slow movement. --Joe McLellan
