Eroica - A Triumph For The Bbc

[camerata]

Kudos to the BBC for coming up with Eroica and putting it out on DVD. It's a dramatization of the first rehearsal of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony, the one that marked the end of the Classical Period and the beginning of the Romantic Period in music. Beethoven was a republican and an admirer of Bonaparte, so he originally called it the Bonaparte Symphony, only changing it to Hero Symphony when he heard with disgust that Bonaparte had proclaimed himself Emperor.

In the film we see the contempt of Beethoven for the conservative Austro-Hungarian aristocracy and their fear of lack of order and "turbulence," qualities evident in the revolutionary new symphony. The centrepiece of the film is a performance of the symphony played on the original instruments of the time by a real orchestra, as we see the reactions of the listeners from housemaids to crusty old aristos, and Beethoven's lover. It's one of the most powerful performances I've ever seen on film, despite the weird-sounding period instruments. It's conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, who also conducted the soundtrack for Amadeus.

Starring Ian Hart as Beethoven, and stalwarts like Frank Finlay (as Haydn) and Tim Pigott-Smith, this one is a treat for music lovers. The menu has an option to watch just the performance of the symphony without any interruptions. Available at Gramophone in Siam Paragon, 1400 baht.

[suegha]

Sounds excellent, I will try to get a copy.