It is always a joy to return to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven. This month’s champagne concert will be the third time in our symphonies for strings series to look again at compositions of this great German genius, the only composer to date to be so featured.
Beethoven composed a dozen overtures, works to open a program. The consummate craftsman, Beethoven wrote 20 sets of variations (totalling 234 variations!) as vehicles to display his virtuosity at the keyboard. Four times altogether, he turned for inspiration to the distinctive theme he employed for the Eroica Variations of 1802. The previous year, he used the same theme for The Creatures of Prometheus ballet music. That year too he employed it again in the seventh of his 12 Contradances. The following year, most famously, Beethoven took it up a fourth and final time for the finale of the Eroica Symphony.
The 15 Eroica Variations serve here as a splendid display piece for the artistry of the Tokyo Sinfonia players. It may sound strikingly familiar too to regulars in the Sinfonia audience. A great masterpiece, it has been performed previously in both our other regular series: FCCJ dinner-concerts, and Sinfonia Plus champagne concerts.
For Symphony for Strings, Tokyo Sinfonia has turned yet again to an overlooked and rarely performed syphonic work from the master’s pen, Beethoven's opus 16 quintet, originally scored for piano and winds, written when the 26-year-old composer was making a concert tour through Prague, Dresden and Berlin. The work was later re-scored by the composer for piano and strings. Once again it has been turned it into a feature work for the 19 strings of the Tokyo Sinfonia.
BEETHOVEN SERENADE CHAMPAGNE CONCERT
December 16, Wednesday, from 19:00 - doors open from 18:30 Oji Hall (Ginza) Namensfeier Overture, Op. 115 Eroica Variations, Op. 35 Symphony for Strings in E-flat Major, from Op. 16
Artists and Audienca champagne reception
TICKETS
Sinfonia direct: tickets@tokyosinfonia.com Peatix online: http://peatix.com/event/106819 Paypal online: http://www.paypal.jp
© Japan Today
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Robert Rÿker
Incidentally, December 16 is Beethoven's birthday. We'll all drink a champagne toast to the composer most loved in Japan.