Beethoven wrote this ouverture and several other numbers as stage music for Goethe's drama "Egmont", which has as its subject the uprising of the widely Protestant Netherlands against the occupation by the Spanish branch of the Catholic Habsburgians in the second half of the 16th century, with the Count Egmont as its main hero, who fought heroically against the invaders, but got caught and sentenced to death by being publicly decapitated. This character was based on the historical Count Lamoral de Egmond (1522 - 1568). ( The suddenly abrupting line in the first violins at 7:10, followed by a general pause of the whole orchestra, symbolizes the death of the hero, while the following triumphant coda of the piece foreshadows the uprising and final victory of the people against the Spanish invaders.) On the way to the scaffhold Goethe let him shout a fiery speech at his surrounding folks, in which he motivates them to never give up in fighting the foreign oppressors: "Freunde, höheren Mut! Im Rücken habt ihr Eltern, Weiber, Kinder! Und diese treibt ein hohles Wort des Herrschers, nicht ihr Gemüt ! Schützt eure Güter! Und euer Liebstes zu eretten, fallt, freudig, wie ich euch ein Beispiel gebe! (" Friends, higher courage! You are backed by parents, wives, children ! Whereas those are driven by an empty word of their ruler, not by their souls! Protect your goods! And in coming to rescue your dearest, die, joyfully, as I am about to give you an example !") Beethoven, having himself partly Flamish roots (his name giving it away of course), was naturally deeply moved by this sujet and as an admirer of the poet Goethe also very motivated to compose the music for this stageplay. The subject of the play, the brave fight of a people against a foreign oppressor, was especially relevant at the time, since just shortly before Napoleon and his armies had conquered and occupied Vienna, Beethoven's living place since 1792. So he would give only his very best efforts and at the end he was indeed really satisfied with his work and regarded the music as some of his best and most accomplished. He would also send a copy of the score to Goethe in Weimar, asking him very humbly for his opinion about the composition, but sadly the pretty haughty poet never answered him personally, even though in later years he would praise how perfectly Beethoven had captured his intentions in the so called "melodrame" of the play. ("Süßer Schlaf, du kommst wie ein reines Glück! / "Sweet Sleep, you are coming as a pure bliss! ") While the other numbers of the music are seldomly played in concerts today, the ouverture became a popular concert piece of Beethoven's on its own, and it is widely considered as one of the most brilliant examples of his often so called "Heroic Style" of his middle period as a composer.
Zubin Mehta always had a certain elegance that I lreally enjoy watching. (I say "had" because he's retired from conducting, though he's still with us!)
Retired ? Slowed down ( by his standards ) and doesnt hold a full time post ( except in Florence, I think) but ...... hasn't retired.... in fact, he is in LA this month conducting the LA Phil.....
i plan to listen toBeethoven’s egmont oveture on 22nd June 2024 at yokoyama minato mirai hall😊 in addition, Beethoven’s symphony No.４＆７ at same hall i’m looking forward to listen toBeethoven’s symphony No.４，７＆ Egmont Overture🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 i’m interested in th youtube❤
Taking it slower gives more opportunity to savor every note and instrument. It's like letting a good piece of Chocolat melt in mouth rather than chewing and swallowing quickly
My favorite conductor. Zubin makes any orchestra sound better. And Egmont is one of Beethovens masterpieces.
Beautiful 🌹.
Beethoven wrote this ouverture and several other numbers as stage music for Goethe's drama "Egmont", which has as its subject the uprising of the widely Protestant Netherlands against the occupation by the Spanish branch of the Catholic Habsburgians in the second half of the 16th century, with the Count Egmont as its main hero, who fought heroically against the invaders, but got caught and sentenced to death by being publicly decapitated.
This character was based on the historical Count Lamoral de Egmond (1522 - 1568).
( The suddenly abrupting line in the first violins at 7:10, followed by a general pause of the whole orchestra, symbolizes the death of the hero, while the following triumphant coda of the piece foreshadows the uprising and final victory of the people against the Spanish invaders.)
On the way to the scaffhold Goethe let him shout a fiery speech at his surrounding folks, in which he motivates them to never give up in fighting the foreign oppressors:
"Freunde, höheren Mut! Im Rücken habt ihr Eltern, Weiber, Kinder! Und diese treibt ein hohles Wort des Herrschers, nicht ihr Gemüt ! Schützt eure Güter! Und euer Liebstes zu eretten, fallt, freudig, wie ich euch ein Beispiel gebe!
(" Friends, higher courage! You are backed by parents, wives, children ! Whereas those are driven by an empty word of their ruler, not by their souls!
Protect your goods! And in coming to rescue your dearest, die, joyfully, as I am about to give you an example !")
Beethoven, having himself partly Flamish roots (his name giving it away of course), was naturally deeply moved by this sujet and as an admirer of the poet Goethe also very motivated to compose the music for this stageplay.
The subject of the play, the brave fight of a people against a foreign oppressor, was especially relevant at the time, since just shortly before Napoleon and his armies had conquered and occupied Vienna, Beethoven's living place since 1792.
So he would give only his very best efforts and at the end he was indeed really satisfied with his work and regarded the music as some of his best and most accomplished.
He would also send a copy of the score to Goethe in Weimar, asking him very humbly for his opinion about the composition, but sadly the pretty haughty poet never answered him personally, even though in later years he would praise how perfectly Beethoven had captured his intentions in the so called "melodrame" of the play.
("Süßer Schlaf, du kommst wie ein reines Glück! / "Sweet Sleep, you are coming as a pure bliss! ")
While the other numbers of the music are seldomly played in concerts today, the ouverture became a popular concert piece of Beethoven's on its own, and it is widely considered as one of the most brilliant examples of his often so called "Heroic Style" of his middle period as a composer.
Zubin, the maestro, is unparalleled!!!!!
MARVELOUS MEHTA !
Zubin Mehta always had a certain elegance that I lreally enjoy watching. (I say "had" because he's retired from conducting, though he's still with us!)
Watchful elegance.
Retired ? Slowed down ( by his standards ) and doesnt hold a full time post ( except in Florence, I think) but ...... hasn't retired.... in fact, he is in LA this month conducting the LA Phil.....
@@sivakumarvakkalanka4938 I stand corrected! But he did retire in 2019 from his decades-long position with the Israel Phil, a major retirement indeed.
Despite having cancer and hip ailments, this week he is conducting orchestra in Bombay.
Wow!
Wonderful performance 😅
The late great Roland Koloff on timpani. RIP
Might you have the rest of the concert? I would love to hear the Trumpet Shall Sound and Till especially.
The Trumpet Shall Sound is here -> ruclips.net/video/OM2yUH3E4JA/видео.html
i plan to listen toBeethoven’s egmont oveture on 22nd June 2024 at yokoyama minato mirai hall😊
in addition, Beethoven’s symphony No.４＆７ at same hall
i’m looking forward to listen toBeethoven’s symphony No.４，７＆ Egmont Overture🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
i’m interested in th youtube❤
EXCELLANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The very best performace of this famous piece of Beethoven. A sense of timing that is unique.
I think the tempo is fine.
How does anyone even follow the conductor??
Taking it slower gives more opportunity to savor every note and instrument. It's like letting a good piece of Chocolat melt in mouth rather than chewing and swallowing quickly
Conducted in 3 from top to botom. Way too slow. Great orchestra!
Beautiful but way to slow. Yet again another conductor ignoring Beethoven's Metronome markings.
Scott Cook Exactly. It’s way too slow. Toscanini had a much better idea how to conduct Beethoven.
That's a little like saying Tom Brady can throw the football better than your son.
Yet Klemperer who actually did it slower maintains a huge intensity that makes it thrilling or at least meaningful. It's not just tempo that matters.
There are no Metronome markings in Egmont, only in his symphonies
best rendering by lorin mazal this is slow and not powerful
Conducted in 3 from top to bottom. Way too slow.
Un dirijor sub-mediocru si o orchestra dezlanata
😳
great conductor!