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Beethoven Symphony No 3 CBSO Birmingham Symphony Hall **** THIS double bill of Beethoven is part of
the on-going CBSO/THSH Beethoven Cycle which began earlier this season
and runs into 2013. And while some of the pieces may be lesser known,
Beethoven's Third Symphony, The Eroica, is surely one of his most
famous. And justly so. Dedicated to ‘a great man' it is
one of the composer's great symphonies and CBSO, under the baton of
music director Andris Nelsons, gave justice to all its nuances. Nelsons' enthusiasm was perfect for the
exuberance of its opening before moving into the more sombre, even
languorous, funeral march. A lively scherzo then runs into the finale
which gradually builds in intensity until its final punch. The story behind the Eroica makes the piece all
the more interesting. The story goes that the symphony was initially
inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte as an ideal hero. But when the French
leader declared himself Emperor Beethoven was so disgusted and
disillusioned he flew into a rage and destroyed the title page. And so the name of Bonaparte was replaced by
Eroica and the individual was replaced by the ideal. Beginning the evening, we heard Beethoven in a different vein with his Concerto for piano, violin and cello in C major. Soloists Lars Vogt on piano, Baiba Skride on violin and Daniel Muller-Schott on cello were in balanced harmony as the central role switched back and forth between their instruments and the orchestra. The soloists are also to be commended for
performing free of charge as this concert was a fund-raiser for the CBSO
Benevolent Fund which provides support and financial assistance to
current and retired CBSO members. CBSO also plays The Eroica on Saturday evening
(Dec 15) with an introduction to the work presented by BBC's Stephen
Johnson. Diane Parkes
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