Day 34: Beethoven overtures (Fidelio and Leonore 2)

Day 34: Beethoven overtures (Fidelio and Leonore 2)

This is music from my childhood! As well as going to the NewTheatre in Cardiff to see D’Oyly Carte, we were also regulars at the WNO seasons, and I distinctly remember seeing Fidelio. This led me to investigate Beethoven’s other overtures, only to discover that he wrote 3 overtures for his opera Fidelio, each called Leonore (numbers 1, 2 and 3) (after the character in the opera called Leonore, who disguises herself as Fidelio), before settling on the Fidelio Overture.

The overture, Fidelio, is a fairly light work which introduces the opera, but seems not to contain any thematic relationship to the plot. Leonora 2, however, follows the course of the plot with the trumpet signalling the announcement of the sudden change towards a happy ending.

The Fidelio Overture was performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tamas Pal, while Leonore 2 was performed by the Dresden Phil, conducted by Herbert Kegel.

   

Day 24: Weber Clarinet Concerto no.1

Day 24: Weber Clarinet Concerto no.1

Oh wow! This really takes me back! To my teens!! I have memories of playing this for one of my clarinet exams; but how much beautifully does Emma Johnson play it than I?! This CD was obviously bought for the familiarity of something I could play, and for the performer who had just won the BBC Young Musician of the Year * competition! Can’t remember the exact year, but it was probably 1984.

Carl Maria von Weber ** (1786-1826) was a contemporary of Beethoven (1770-1827), although to me his music is slightly more reminiscent of the style of Mozart, and he was taught at one time by Haydn’s younger brother, Michael. The concerto is fairly typical of the Classical period, following the traditional concerto form – three movements, fast-slow-fast – and is scored for instruments typical of the time. Although I’ve said it is Mozart in style, apparently, new styles of writing appear in the first movement, although the final movement is more conventional (according to the CD insert).

As I’ve said, my recording is of Emma Johnson, and she is accompanied by the English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Schwarz.

* Sorry to quote wikipedia at you, but this really is the best link to the competition that I can find on the internet.

** Now, the librarian in me would like your opinion about this website, please; it's not one I've come across before and I haven't had a chance to evaluate it yet. Thanks.

Day 6: Beethoven Pastoral Symphony

Day 6: Beethoven Symphony no. 6, The Pastoral

What a perfect day to be listening to Beethoven’s 6^th symphony – The Pastoral! Fabulous sunshine interrupted by rain storms!

This is significant because this symphony was really the first of its type. Although Beethoven is a classical composer, he pushed the boundaries of classical music, so this symphony has 5 movements, unlike a more traditional classical symphony that would have 3 or 4. Also, this is one of the first pieces of music that isn’t just music to listen to: This symphony tells a story, the story of a day in the countryside.

Beethoven actually gave some indication of the story behind the music in the directions for each movement:

1^st movement - Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country

2^nd movement – Scene at the brook

3^rd movement - Happy gathering of country folk

4^th movement – Thunderstorm and storm

5^th movement - Shepherds' song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm

This really is the first example of what we now call programme music. And, it’s so lovely! You can really hear the countryside in the melodies and you really feel you want to rush indoors when you hear the approaching storm! This stuff makes you want to listen to it carefully; definitely not background music!

I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for a Beethoven symphony as when I was a child we had a black boxed set of the complete symphonies on vinyl - The Klemperer ones (with Otto, I think he was conducting the Berlin Phil) which were regularly on the turntable. The version I listened to today was the von Karajan (Herbert, conductor of the Berlin Phil!) interpretation, which is also rather good!

Just out of interest, Klemperer also did a fantastic recording of Mozart 38.

Look out for the final recording of this week and recommendations for listening based on this week's pieces!