The whole world celebrates the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven, and the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra celebrates its 40th anniversary. At the beginning of the new season, we invite you to the birthday celebration of the Viennese master at the NFM and at the same time to the Leopoldinum anniversary concert.
It is hard to believe that Beethoven, while composing the Ninth Symphony, was deaf. For this reason, he could not conduct the world premiere and stood on the stage behind the conductor, watching the orchestra. After the last sounds were heard, the composer did not hear the loud applause that was heard in the hall, he did not turn to face to the audience until Caroline Unger, who performed the alto part, came over and turned the composer towards the auditorium so he could see how much his work had pleased the listeners.
The greatest fame was brought the last symphony completed by Beethoven by the finale cantata, Ode to Joy, to the words by Friedrich Schiller, popularized also as the anthem of the European Union. This is one of those motifs of classical music that everyone has heard, even if used in pop culture. Beethoven, moreover, excels among the authors of the catchy ‘hits’, which will be heard during the 16 concerts of the Beethoven Cycle at the NFM. The Ninth is the first vocal and instrumental symphony in history. The real and alleged behind-the-scenes of this groundbreaking work inspired the plot of the Copying Beethoven directed by Agnieszka Holland starring Ed Harris as Beethoven.
One of the most important works of classical music will be performed by the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra on the occasion of its anniversary, under the baton of its artistic director Joseph Swensen, and the impressive finale will be sung by soloists and the NFM Choir.
