¡Viva Beethoven!: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2
Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar / Gustavo Dudamel
The kick-off to an exceptional week of concerts
Beethoven set the music world in 1800 into a commotion with his Symphony No. 1. Gustavo Dudamel, Principal Conductor of Orquesta Sinfonica Simón Bolívar, will do everything to ensure that the revolutionary explosive force of this work is still heard today.
Never before had a composer begun a piece with dissonance and discord. Never before had a symphonist so matter-of-factly pulled the wind instruments into action. And in light of the wealth of ideas and colours, even the critics of that time spoke of it as being a wonder. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 is even grander: a lively, ingenious work with a delicate second movement and an immensely powerful finale.
Dudamel feels at home with Beethoven, who he admires as a »revolutionary«. Dudamel’s 2006 debut CD contains Symphonies No. 5 and No. 7, and at the beginning of 2016, his interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 was released. Both CDs feature his long-time collaboration partner: the Orquesta Sinfonica Simón Bolívar.
Performers
National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
conductor Gustavo Dudamel
Programme
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
– Interval –
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sinfonie Nr. 2 D-Dur op. 36