Nikolaus Harnoncourt will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most influential musicians of our time, and his importance cannot possibly be summed up in a few words. His death early this year, and his absence from the world of music in years to come, have effects that cannot yet be properly assessed or even contemplated. All those who knew Harnoncourt well and valued his work know how he was driven by the passion for doing things differently and starting again from the beginning, and the “intermediate stage” of a rare collaboration with the Vienna Philharmonic in Beethoven is thus of the very greatest interest.