CONCERT QUICK GUIDE
Luigi Cherubini Overture from Les deux journées (Der Wasserträger) 9 min
Cherubini was in his late 30s, in 1799–1800 when he composed this work. Cherubini was most famous for his operas, particularly Medea. Beethoven, hardly the most generous soul, regarded Cherubini among the very finest composers of the age. They met when Cherubini was in Vienna. Also while he was in Vienna, Napoleon, who was residing there at the time, made Cherubini Vienna’s director of music. Cherubini was admired and feared, owing to his unrelenting standards in the craft of composition. Although once regarded even by Chopin as one of history’s greatest composers, most of his music is unknown today. Cherubini spent nearly his entire career in Paris.
Anton Reicha Symphony No. 3 U.S. Premiere
Movements Introduction: Allegro (fast) 12 min Adagio (slow) 8 min Menuetto: Allegro (fast) 8 min Finale: Allegro vivace (lively and fast) 8 min
Written at age 38, in 1808 Reicha was one of the finest exponents of long-standing and widely admired Bohemian (now Czech) musical culture. Reicha befriended Beethoven both in Bonn (they were born in the same year) and in Vienna. He studied under Antonio Salieri (as did Schubert), and became a colleague of Cherubini’s on the faculty of the conservatory in Paris. He resisted the publication of his music, which has only helped his achievements as a composer to fall into obscurity.
Intermission 20 minutes
Take a selfie! @TheOrchNow #TheOrchNow Text TON to 33233 to join the TŌN email list and be entered to win a $250 American Express gift card! 1 Ferdinand Ries Symphony No. 3 U.S. Premiere Piers Lane, piano Movements Allegro con moto (fast, with motion) 13 min Larghetto con moto (fairly slow, with motion) 5 min Rondo: Allegro molto (very fast) 11 min
Written at age 41, in 1786 Ries received piano instruction from Beethoven, and made his debut performing Beethoven’s C minor Piano Concerto, No. 3. He also worked as Beethoven’s secretary and copyist, and following the latter’s death, Ries co-wrote with Franz Wegeler an important early biography of the great composer. Beethoven’s fame caused many to exaggerate their relationships with him, but Ries had no need to: Beethoven genuinely admired the musical gifts of his friend and colleague. Ries spent time in England and played a role in the commission Beethoven received for what would become the 9th Symphony.
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5
Movements Allegro con brio (fast, with spirit) 8 min Andante con moto (moderately slow, with motion) 10 min Allegro (fast) 5 min Allegro (fast) 10 min
Written in Beethoven’s mid-30s, in 1804–08 The opening four notes of this symphony need no introduction. They are part of popular culture. But they also represent a historic break in how we think about music. They ushered in the era of romanticism. No work in the classical musical world is as well-known or has been used for so many disparate purposes. Excerpts became from a rallying cry for Allied troops during World War II. Beethoven develops the four notes into an economical, unified, and revolutionary four-movement musical argument: a sonic drama unlike any before it. Echoes of the 5th can be heard in the symphonies of subsequent composers, from Schubert to Mahler.
All timings are approximate THEORCHESTRANOW.ORG 2