Beethoven’s 1808 Academy Concert
Thomas Hengelbrock
In the Beethoven Anniversary Year of 2020, Thomas Hengelbrock and the Balthasar Neumann Ensembles focus their attention on a very special event: the »Academy«, as the concert was called, on 22 December 1808 in Vienna’s Theater an der Wien, at which Beethoven gave the first performances of no fewer than four of his own works on a single evening. The internationally acclaimed Balthasar Neumann Ensembles and soloists under Hengelbrock’s baton invite you to attend a faithful reconstruction of this memorable concert.
The programme of the 1808 concert can be heard in its entirety: the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, the Piano Concerto No. 4 and the Choral Fantasia op. 80, as well as the concert aria »Ah! Perfido!« and parts of the Mass in C major. For a total of nearly four hours – not unusual in earlier times – Hengelbrock and his musicians follow in Beethoven’s footsteps at the Laeiszhalle. It goes without saying that they play on original instruments, with Kristian Bezuidenhout at the pianoforte, one of the world’s most sought-after specialists for historic keyboard instruments.
Performers
Balthasar-Neumann-Chor und -Solisten
Balthasar-Neumann-Orchester
Katarina Karnéus mezzo-soprano
Kristian Bezuidenhout Hammerklavier
director Thomas Hengelbrock
Programme
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 »Pastorale«
Ah perfido! / Szene und Arie für Sopran und Orchester op. 65
Gloria aus Messe C-Dur op. 86 für Soli, Chor und Orchester
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
– Interval –
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Sanctus und Benedictus aus Messe C-Dur op. 86 für Soli, Chor und Orchester
Fantasy for Piano, Choir and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80
Encore:
Joseph Haydn
Stimmt an die Saiten / Chor aus dem Oratorium »Die Schöpfung« Hob. XXI:2
Series
Thomas Hengelbrock
Spotlight
Ludwig van Beethoven