Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
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- What you'll hear
- All about the music
- Take a listen
Energy. Vision. A night of bold ideas.
Who’s on stage
Our very own Royal Northern Sinfonia plus an old friend, former Music Director, Thomas Zehetmair.
What they’re playing
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The da da da daaa one. The word ’iconic’ gets over-used but this is one piece of music where it’s use is definitely justified.
Need to know
Price: £17 – £43
Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.
Discounts: Save if you’re local, unemployed, a first timer.
Age: Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Concert programmes: find out more about what you’ll hear in your free concert programme.
Programme
Franz Schubert comp. Zehetmair Scherzo from the ‘Unfinished’ Symphony (UK Premiere) (12’)
Karl Amadeus Hartmann Concerto funèbre (20′)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comp. Zehetmair Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, Cello and Orchestra (UK Premiere) (9’)
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 (25′)
Performers
Thomas Zehetmair conductor/violin
Royal Northern Sinfonia
What's happening in the music
Those four notes that open Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony are part of popular culture now. But imagine being there for the first performance back in 1808. They were a bold, brave move on Beethoven’s part. To the audience they, and the whole symphony, were revolutionary, new…maybe even a bit shocking.
Terrifying tunes
It’s not only Beethoven tonight. There’s Mozart, Schubert and a composer called Karl Hartmann. He’s not a household name, but his music is definitely worth a listen. Tonight’s featured piece is sombre, dark, intense and even perhaps a little terrifying…
Take a listen
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has featured in TV and film soundtracks including Howards End and Austin Powers, music for video games, and also, maybe most famously, in Walter Murphy’s disco version which featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
