Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is believed to be a Romantic manifesto of the artist’s powerful spirit struggling with inexorable destiny. This superb work will be played by the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic under the baton of maestro Christoph Eschenbach. In the first part of the concert we will listen to a work by another Viennese Classicist – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, featuring Elena Bashkirova, winner of an International Classical Music Award, well known as a promoter and founder of the Jerusalem International Festival of Chamber Music. 

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 13 in C major K 415 was written from 1782 to 1783, that is at the beginning of his Vienna period. The piece is one of Mozart’s three concerti to be performed either with orchestra or string quartet. The Wiener Zeitung noted its publication, and the composer wrote about these works in a letter, claiming that their biggest advantage was a “felicitous combination of the too easy with the too difficult; they are so brilliant, pleasing on the ear, natural, but not bland. There are a couple of fragments to ravish only connoisseurs, but those are written in such a way as to make the lesser educated feel enjoyment, even if not knowing why.”

Although Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony continues to impress with its flowing narrative and economy of the means used, the work on it lasted four years, no less. The composer struggled obstinately with the matter, introducing endless amendments and revisions. Alternative sketches for various fragments of the work have survived, including as many as fourteen versions of the second movement’s opening. The Romantic tradition (nourished by commentators whose predilections for drama were reflected in their writing) bestowed on the famous opening bars the name of  “fate motif”. Yet we cannot be sure whether this was the author’s intention, as reliable sources are missing. The “fate motif” story was spread by Beethoven’s assistant, hardly a trustworthy witness. The composer’s student Carl Czerny meanwhile claimed that the source of inspiration was a yellowhammer’s song heard by Beethoven during a walk. No matter which is true, struggle with fate or birdsong, the formal perfection and importance of The Fifth in the history of music cannot be questioned.