Thrice hurray for Beethoven!

Orlando pays tribute to Beethoven with performances of two brilliant compositions from the early 19th century and his later revolutionary song cycle about heartbreak at the hands of an unreachable lover. Presumably these tragic songs are based on Beethoven’s own sad experiences. The usual selection from the six string quartets of Beethoven’s op.18 is limited to numbers 1 and 4. As far as Orlando is concerned, that is not the case, the other four quartets will also be featured in the coming years, tonight you will hear the sixth.

The second symphony in this form (set for piano trio) can again be called ‘unknown’. At first it seemed as if this was an adaptation of Beethoven himself, but it can be assumed that his pupil Ferdinand Ries had a hand in it and that the version was revised again by his other famous pupil, Carl Czerny. Beethoven was apparently pleased with it, otherwise it would not have appeared in print at the time. The result is so convincing that the original symphonic orchestration is almost lost by ear. Who knows, you might hear this music for the first time tonight?

Source : Theater aan het Vrijthof Website