Episode #103
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique Plays Beethoven
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
John Eliot Gardiner conducts the ORR at Carnegie Hall
(NPR)
On Wednesday night, John Eliot Gardiner conducted the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique in three works by Beethoven: the Fifth and Seventh Symphonies and the Egmont Overture.
It was a generation ago that this period-instrument orchestra from London first took up Beethoven, seeking to re-establish the lost performance practices of the composer's time. Their lean and mean sound shocked some of the classical establishment as they went head to head with the great symphony orchestras. Yet today their approach been gradually integrated into the mainstream and many modern orchestras practice a more historically minded approach.
This concert is a chance to hear the ORR as they bring out the unique drama in three Beethoven classics.
Program Details
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Artistic Director and Conductor
ALL-BEETHOVEN PROGRAM
Our broadcast started at 8 pm and a live Web chat took place starting at 7:30 pm.
Some Highlights From Our Twitter Conversation (#CHLive):
No less than the greatest performance of the Beethoven's FIFTH I have ever ever ever ever heard. After knowing this piece for over 40 years, I have finally heard it for the FIRST TIME. It was played JUST as Beethoven wrote it. Halfway thru the last movement I started to cry, no I was weeping with joy, a feeling of arrival, of renewal, of rebirth. It's as if the soul of Beethoven was flowing through me and he was hearing it the way he wrote it - at last - at long last.... I cannot overemphasize how meaningful this was for me.
by Enrique Sanchez
Shout out to the principal players of the ORR who taught Philadelphians about Beethoven and their instruments! #CHlive
by atonalnyc via twitter
Practically came out of my chair for the last movement of Beethoven 5! #CHLive
by danielgilliam via twitter
These performances were a revelation -so beautiful, so clear, so pure. The reference to the oath sworn by the Frenchmen to defend their country reminds me that in World War II, the first four notes of Beethoven's 5th were used by the resistance to signify defiance -- the first four notes repeat the Morse code ...-, which stands for V and thus V for Victory. Thanks for a wonderful evening.
by Ruth Ryer
"@WQXRClassical: Wowzers. #chlive" Bravo. Applause. Amazing. Fifth Symph fresh and new reborn.
by abbyfarber via twitter
Here's the archive:
Follow WQXR
About Carnegie Hall Live
WQXR and Carnegie Hall in collaboration with American Public Media (APM) present a series of twelve national broadcasts live from Carnegie Hall. The 2012-13 season featured a range of orchestras, small ensembles and soloists including the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel; the pairing of American opera greats Renée Fleming and Susan Graham; and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, led by Daniel Barenboim.
Comments [15]
I listened to Beethoven # 5 the last 20 minutes and could not believe it was the same symphony I listened too over, and over, all these years! Bravo!!
A wonderful concert with the Orchestre Rev. et Romantique with Sir John Eliot Gardiner in very good quality. Thank You very much.
Ingo Wolff from Wolfsburg (Germany).
i have listened to so many versions of the 5th i have lost track. this one was absolutely beautiful and the playing was amazing!!! if only beethoven could have been here to conduct it maybe....
That Fifth is breathtaking to tears!
I can't get my computer to play any music!!!!!!!!!
Why not?????
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Abby
PS Does anyone know the whereabouts of James Gunsch (AKA James G.G.)?????????
I can't get my computer to play any music!!!!!!!!!
Why not?????
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Abby
PS Does anyone know the whereabouts of James Gunsch (AKA James G.G.)?????????
My neighbors were probably upset (assuming they did not listen) as I had the radio quite loud. The folks on the 2nd floor with whom I discuss opera quite a bit probably did not mind :)
This was a fantastic rendition of an often played piece.
I was listeing to the radio on my way home on the bus then in my car then at home. The performance was extraordinary! I also enjoyed Fred and Jeff's chat between performances a lot ,,, quite inforamtive as to the instruments used, the conductor's approach, and 'Beethoven was an African???' theory,etc. etc. Thank you!
What a treat to hear the performance last night. I was stuck in my car, and what would have been an unpleasant drive in traffic and rain turned into a wonderful listening experience for me. John Eliot Gardiner is a rock star! I wish I could have been there in person, but your broadcast was wonderful. Thank you!
These performances were a revelation. I loved the clarity and purity of the sound. The reference to the oath sworn by the Frenchman reminded me of the use of the first four notes of the 5th as a code of the resistance: in Morse code, the series ...- stands for V. Thus, V for Victory.
WOW!!! What an amazing performance!
I missed the beginning, but am listening to Symphony #5 right now.
I think Toscanini would have loved it.
I just LOVE the 3 pieces they are going to play. The Egmont Overture was the first Beethoven piece I played in a junior orchestra in NJ. I can still hum the 2nd violin part. I don't play anymore but I still love Ludwig. The "Magnificent Seven" is my husband's favorite, and I have a CD of Bernstein's last performance conducting it at Tanglewood. I know a lot of people don't like that version, but I love it so much. I also introduced my son to classical music during a long car ride by listening to this recording and discussing what Beethoven was trying to convey. Now my son and my morning ritual is that I drive him to school and we listen to WQXR - we try to guess the composer and the period of the piece. WQXR is truly part of my life - I grew up listening to it.
Being a digital revolutionary I applaud the virtual concert set up online... so IF I can't get a ticket outside Carnegie tonight THEN I'll log on! BUT wish me luck... I hope to be there in person given my Beethoven awareness meter is in the red zone :-)
Happy to be here w first live concert with you. Thanks.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.