Special tickets

A Beethoven concert always is a great event. Tickets for seats in the orchestra let the music feel... After these personal concert impressions here a some facts:

Classical music

Heavy individual expression is typical for Beethoven's music. Listen to Beethoven with eyes closed. Critics write of "Power of the Rhythm", "melodic expansion", "dynamic contrasts". Whether piano concert or orchestral concert - Beethoven is a wonderful experience. There are innumerable festivals, matinees or concert evenings, where Beethoven's works are performed.

Beethoven paved the way for the two musical currents of the 19th century:

• the conservative line with Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schumann
• the newgerman school with Liszt, Richard Strauss, Wagner

The ten Symphonys

The first symphony (op.21 C major), dedicated to Baron van Swieten, Beethoven wrote in 1799 under the impression of the French revolution. Parallel to the "Heiligenstaedter Testament" 1803 Beethoven completed his second symphony (op.26 D major).

In August 1804 he finished the third symphony "Eroica" (op.55 E flat major) and was originally called ,,symphony eroica, composta per festeggiare il souvenire di un grand Uomo" (composes to celebrate the memory of a great man). Critics and audience mentioned the work as too complex, too long and at all against morality. Originally Beethoven dedicated this work to Napoleon, but he withdrew the dedication as Napoleon was crowned to emperor on May 20, 1804 and the Duke from Enghien was murdered on March 21, 1804. He now dedicated the work to his sponsor Prince Lobkowitz.

The fourth symphony (op.60 B major) Beethoven composed in 1806, rather unknown because very simply and short held, nevertheless it was a public success. The fifth symphony (op.67 C-Moll) was written 1808, unusual instruments such as piccolo and trombones were included. Famous is his sixth symphony, called Pastorale" (op.68 F major), 1808 and the theme is about humans and nature. 5th and 6th symphony were first performed on December 22, 1808 in Theater an der Wien.

The seventh symphony (op.92 A major) developed 1811-1812 and was first performed with "Schlachtgemaelde Wellingtons Sieg bei Vittoria (op.91)" (around Wellington's victory in the battle near Vittoria). Napoleon's Russia-war ended in a disaster (1812 in Moscow) and the public was enthusiastic about the musical conversion of the Napoleon's defeat.

1814 was the fist performance of Beethoven's 8th symphony (op.93 F major), which already was finished in 1812. Beethoven praised it as his best work, the audience was not as enthusiastic.

1824 he wrote the 9th symphony (op.125 D-Moll), which needed a never before so big orchestra including a choir. The choir final forms the toned "Ode an die Freude" (Ode to joy) by Friedrich Schiller, a poet of the German classical period. The premiere was on May7, 1824 in the Kaernthnerthor theatre. For the 10th symphony only an announcement Beethoven's is known, a gentle introduction in E flat major and a Allegro in C-Moll was planned; we do not know more about it.

Beethoven's sonatas

Beethoven composed 32 pianosonatas. They resulted probably partially from improvisation. Worth mentioning are

• the Sonate Pathetique (op.13), published 1799 and dedicated to the Prince Karl Lichnowsky, the biggest sponsor Beethoven's,
• the Mondscheinsonate (op.27/II) (Moonshine-sonata), published 1801 and dedicated to his piano pupil Julietta Giuccariardi

Operas

Beethoven wrote two operas, only "Fidelio" is worth mentioning. This opera was first performed on November 20, 1805 in Theater an der Wien and was an ordered work by this theatre. "Leonore" fell into oblivion.

Other works

Beethoven wrote 16 string quartets, some overtures and masses. The piano tune "Fuer Elise" (for Elise) is famous, possibly dedicated to Therese Malfatti.

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