Insights. Emperor concerto

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Description: Beethoven began composing his ‘Emperor’ Concerto in 1809, while Vienna was under invasion from Napoleon’s forces for the second time. In 1805 the French had left the city demoralised and its monarchy with only a rump of its former power. The self-appointed French ‘emperor’ had brought to an end the 1000-year-old Holy Roman Empire; the former Emperor Francis II found himself reduced merely to Emperor Francis I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Now, in the War of the Fifth Coalition, Napoleon was turning 20 howitzers against the city walls. Beethoven was living at the time in a top-floor apartment in an imposing block owned by Baron Pasqualati – right beside the ramparts. He had to seek shelter in the basement of his brother Kasper’s home, pressing pillows to his ears to protect any vestige that remained of his hearing. “The whole course of events has affected my body and soul,” he wrote. “What a disturbing, wild life around me; nothing but drums, cannons, men, misery of all sorts.” But the expense of the war and the disastrous inflation that followed, devaluing Austria’s paper currency to about a fifth of its former value by 1811, ruined almost everyone. By the end of 1812 Lobkowitz had fled the city, pursued by creditors; Kinsky, having proved in any case an unreliable contributor, had been killed in a riding accident; the Archduke alone remained (and even he could not pay the full amount he had promised). It was fortunately to him – a fine pianist and the composer’s student as well as friend and patron – that Beethoven had dedicated the ‘Emperor’ Concerto. In the years after the premiere Beethoven shared the general hope that the Congress of Vienna would turn out a progressive force in Europe. Before long he realised it had been one more failed hope, like the French Revolution, like Napoleon. There is a story that at the premiere of the 5th Concerto a general in the audience shouted out, 'Vive l'Emp[ereur'. Beethoven had spoken to his friends of moving to Paris, which symbolised the future of Europe, the centre from which freedom and humanity would be nurtured. He wrote to his publisher, Breitkopf & Haertel, 'Since I last wrote to you...how much has happened - and far more evil than good! As for the demons of darkness, I realise that even in the brightest light of our time these will never be altogether chased away'.

Egmont

Overture

RPO001 Symphony No. 6 in F, Op. 68 (Pastoral), Egmont, Op. 84
Overture

Recording identifier: rw2147485387 Label: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Catalogue number: RPO001 Conductors: Mark Ermler Producer: Alan Peters Engineer: Keith Grant Recording date: 2000-01-01 Performance timing: 588 Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Leader: Jonathan Carney (Violin) Recording location: All Saints Church, Petersham, Surrey

RPO001
Overture

RPO001
Symphony No. 6 in F, Op. 68 (Pastoral), Egmont, Op. 84

09:47

Recording identifier: rw2147485387 Label: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Catalogue number: RPO001 Conductors: Mark Ermler Producer: Alan Peters Engineer: Keith Grant Recording date: 2000-01-01 Performance timing: 588 Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Leader: Jonathan Carney (Violin) Recording location: All Saints Church, Petersham, Surrey

09:47
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Piano Concerto No. 5

Allegro

RPO075 Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 (Emperor)
Allegro

Recording identifier: rw2147484296 Label: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Catalogue number: RPO075 Conductors: Howard Shelley Producer: Engineer: Recording date: Performance timing: 593 Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Leader: Recording location: CTS Studio's

RPO075
Allegro

RPO075
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 (Emperor)

19:17

Recording identifier: rw2147484296 Label: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Catalogue number: RPO075 Conductors: Howard Shelley Producer: Engineer: Recording date: Performance timing: 593 Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Leader: Recording location: CTS Studio's

2

19:17
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Battle Symphony

RPO091 Symphony No. 4 in B flat, Op. 60, The Consecration of the House, Op. 124, Battle Symphony, Op. 91 (Battle Symphony)
Recording identifier: rw2147485543 Label: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Catalogue number: RPO091 Conductors: Barry Wordsworth Producer: Alan Peters Engineer: Dick Lewzey Recording date: Performance timing: 931 Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Leader: Jonathan Carney (Violin) Recording location: CTS Studio's

RPO091
RPO091
Symphony No. 4 in B flat, Op. 60, The Consecration of the House, Op. 124, Battle Symphony, Op. 91 (Battle Symphony)

15:31

Recording identifier: rw2147485543 Label: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Catalogue number: RPO091 Conductors: Barry Wordsworth Producer: Alan Peters Engineer: Dick Lewzey Recording date: Performance timing: 931 Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Leader: Jonathan Carney (Violin) Recording location: CTS Studio's

15:31
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String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95

I. Allegro con brio

cwlTemp005 Beethoven: Complete String Quartets Vol. 3
I. Allegro con brio

Recording identifier: Label: Catalogue number: Conductors: Producer: Engineer: Recording date: 2019-04-20 Performance timing: Ensemble: Leader: Recording location:

cwlTemp005
I. Allegro con brio

cwlTemp005
Beethoven: Complete String Quartets Vol. 3

04:29

Recording identifier: Label: Catalogue number: Conductors: Producer: Engineer: Recording date: 2019-04-20 Performance timing: Ensemble: Leader: Recording location:

3

04:29
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Piano Sonata No. 10

Allegro

FC16612 Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat, Op. 22, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique), Piano Sonata No. 9 in E, Op. 14 No. 1
Allegro

Recording identifier: rw2147484052 Label: Forlane CI Catalogue number: FC16612 Conductors: Producer: Ivan Pastor Engineer: Jean-Martial Golaz Recording date: 1989-01-01 Performance timing: 214 Ensemble: Leader: Recording location: Salle Adyar, Paris

FC16612
Allegro

FC16612
Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat, Op. 22, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique), Piano Sonata No. 9 in E, Op. 14 No. 1

04:37

Recording identifier: rw2147484052 Label: Forlane CI Catalogue number: FC16612 Conductors: Producer: Ivan Pastor Engineer: Jean-Martial Golaz Recording date: 1989-01-01 Performance timing: 214 Ensemble: Leader: Recording location: Salle Adyar, Paris

2

04:37
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Egmont

Piano Concerto No. 5

Battle Symphony

String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95

Piano Sonata No. 10

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