Eroica

Soubasse

New member
Last year, I decided to introduce to my Yr 9 class a unit on Beethoven's superlative 3rd Symphony and, having just come into possession of the BBC/Opus Arte film Eroica, realised it would be a good way of putting the work into it's historical context. I further decided it would be worth keeping in the syllabus.

Re-watching it this year and it has lost none of its great appeal to me, it still seems fresh (and I'm still looking forward to being able to view it at least once a year!)

The acting is superb, particularly the ways the various actors are seen reacting emotionally to the music. Given how important this was to Beethoven, it really lifts it. Ian Hart portrays an excellent Beethoven and that fact that he was facially very similar to many of the portraits of Ludwig at that time again lifts the presentation that much more.

Although there were a few dramatic licences taken with the appearances of some characters, and Beethoven's treatment of the title page upon hearing that Napolean had declared himself Emporer, historically it mostly appears quite accurate in the context of the first "private" performance of this marvellous work.

The performance itself by the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique is also superb, aided by the period instruments giving another sort of "freshness" to it all.

I love this film and cannot recommend it enough to anyone who may not have seen it yet.
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Matt - how wonderful! The Erocia is a product of a mind so amazing as to be as unfathomable as the universe itself. I know the recording you speak of, OReR, I own it. In fact I think Anima Eterna's Beethoven cycle is worth a listen to, too. Also on period instruments, of course. You've prompted me to play this amazing work (which I've had the honour of playing at least twice - viola when I was a professional orchestral musician, which I'm not any longer, just a bad (wicked?) organist).
 

Soubasse

New member
Well one of the (admittedly few) regrets I have about being an organist (apart from being one here) is not being able to take part in such splendid orchestral performances as the 3rd (rarely compensated for by the occasional Saint-Saens/Resphighi/Strauss/Holst, etc performances).

Check out the film though if you can find it, it's marvellous!
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
As to your obviously distaste with being organist where you are ... maybe you should keep your eye open for the position of Cathedral organist at the Anglican Cathedral in Sydney. Apart from the vile Archbishop (who needs to break off and form his own religious movement - oh, yeah, I forgot! there is one already, it's called "happy clappy fundamentalism") the job comes with one of the most beautiful organs in the country, it's also the little brother of the monster next door (see my avatar) but you knew this, of course.
 
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