Beethoven, Symphony 7/1 A major Op 92, Christian Thielemann, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

01 Poco sostenuto -- Vivace, Beethoven, Symphony 7/1 A major Op 92, Christian Thielemann, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, in 1811, was the seventh of his nine symphonies. He worked on it while staying in the Bohemian spa town of Teplice in the hope of improving his health. It was completed in 1812, and was dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries.

At its debut, Beethoven was noted as remarking that it was one of his best works. The second movement Allegretto was the most popular movement and had to be encored. The instant popularity of the Allegretto resulted in its frequent performance separate from the complete symphony.
The work was premiered in Vienna on 8 December 1813 at a charity concert for soldiers wounded in the Battle of Hanau, with Beethoven himself conducting and double featured with the patriotic Wellington's Victory. The orchestra was led by Beethoven's friend, Ignaz Schuppanzigh, and included some of the finest musicians of the day: violinist Louis Spohr. Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Antonio Salieri, Anton Romberg, and the Italian double bass virtuoso, Domenico Dragonetti, whom Beethoven himself described as playing "with great fire and expressive power". It is also said that the Italian guitar virtuoso Mauro Giuliani played cello at the premiere. The piece was very well received, and the second movement, the allegretto, had to be encored immediately. Spohr made particular mention of Beethoven's antics on the rostrum ("as a sforzando occurred, he tore his arms with a great vehemence asunder ... at the entrance of a forte he jumped in the air"), and the concert was repeated due to its immense success.

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in A, 2 trumpets in D, timpani, and strings.

The Seventh Symphony is in four movements:
I. Poco sostenuto -- Vivace
II. Allegretto
III. Presto -- Assai meno presto (trio)
IV. Allegro con brio

After a long, expanded introduction, marked Poco sostenuto, the first movement is in sonata form, and is dominated by lively dance-like rhythms.

Performance time lasts approximately 37 minutes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Beethoven
• Symphony
• Christian
• Thielemann
• Vienna
• Philharmonic
• Orchestra

[MrThreshold2009]

someone duzz 2 nasty stinkin farts @ 0:30! LOL!

[LYTT10I03]

Is that music of the purest understanding of everything?

[abaris123]

The performance isn´t great, let's say is just good, and the horns; well i must say THEY ARE FANTASTIC,the best i think, but I felt strings a little bit low. I know this will make people angry but it's Beethoven you got to be more savage, more noisy..I love Thielemann's Wagner, but his Beethoven bored me, i just don´t feel the crescendos's go further... i know you must be saying "poor guy he knows nothing" but i rather stay with or Kleiber´s conduction. cuz' to say Karajan is to say the obvious

[minmin261203]

you cannot fault this in any way. an awesome performance!

[horfelix]

magnificas trompas!

[Dogaradodia]

Certified Intergalactic! Hallelujah! Allahu Akbar!