Conducted by Zubin Mehta, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra plays Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93.
On December 24, 2011, one of the best orchestras in the world today, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a concert conducted by the Indian conductor Zubin Mehta (he is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra) in Tel Aviv (Hangar 11). They were joined by the internationally-renowned soloists Julian Rachlin, Evgeny Kissin, and Vadim Repin in a spectacular programme of Saint-Saens, Bach, Chopin, Chausson, and Beethoven.
Published by EuroArts Channel.
Beethoven’s eighth is the shortest of his symphonies, hence Beethoven fondly referred to it as “my little Symphony in F,” distinguishing it from his Sixth Symphony, the “Pastoral”, a longer work also in F. It perfectly fits the pattern of 18th century classical symphony.
It is performed in public at a concert in 1814 in Vienna that also included the Seventh Symphony, which had been premiered two months earlier, and Wellington’s Victory. Beethoven was growing increasingly deaf at the time, but nevertheless led the premiere. Reportedly, “the orchestra largely ignored his ungainly gestures and followed the principal violinist instead.”
the symphony is in four movements:
- 00:07 Allegro vivace e con brio – in the form of a sonata with the first theme in a ternary rhythmical pulsation of great lyricism, presented without an introduction, conferring the whole moment a festive allure. The second theme is rendered by the primary and secondary violins, at first as a slow movement and then more and more severe. Through its tempo, but especially through its ternary rhythm, this part acquires a prevailing dancing nature, apparently attempting to reconstruct the atmosphere and sonority of the minuet at its beginnings.
- 09:53 Allegretto scherzando – as a humorous note, a jesting tone, a lyrical musical theme, but elegant nevertheless. The commentators of that time assert that Beethoven composed this part as a dedication to his friend, Johann Nepomuk Melzel, the inventor of the metronome and of other acoustic devices Beethoven used.
- 13:44 Tempo di Menuetto – It is based on the theme of an Austrian dance with a clear folkloric twist, in a slow movement, which evokes the atmosphere of popular parties rather than that of Viennese salons.
- 18:37 Allegro vivace – It is brilliantly composed in a rondo-sonata form and has the same humorous character as the second part.
Sources
- Symphony No. 8 (Beethoven) on wikipedia
- Symphony No.8 on All About Beethoven.com
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