The Concert Company La Filarmónica presents Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on Wednesday 22 November at 7.30 p.m. in the Symphonic Hall of the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid.
Rossini’s triumphant arrival in Vienna in 1822, where he quickly won the public’s favour, coincided with Beethoven’s twilight. The Italian composer had just arrived in the city when he visited the maestro, who received him cordially. Despite this, it is documented how little appreciation Beethoven’s genius showed for Rossini’s talent.
A few years later, on 7 May 1824, Beethoven premiered the Ninth Symphony at the Imperial Court Theatre. Although it was a huge success with his faithful, his secretary Schindler informed him that evening that there were few tickets sold for the next day’s performance and suggested that to attract audiences he should include in the programme… arias by Rossini.
The organisation of the premiere of the Ninth Symphony cost Beethoven 2,200 guilders, a fortune for the time. He would probably be very happy today to see his symphony become the most popular work in the history of music. But nothing will ease either the pain of having to include works by Rossini in the programme or the frustration of having to cover the lack of support from the Viennese public with his money.
The Orchestre National de Lyon, together with the Orfeón Catalán, conducted by Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, will perform the concert programme with soprano Miah Persson, mezzo-soprano Virginie Verrez, tenor Dovlet Nurgeldiyev, and baritone Oliver Zwarg.
The concert programme is completed by the “Blumine” from Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major “Titan”; Heimliche Aufforderung, op. 27/3, Zueignung, op. 10/1 (orchestration by Robert Heger), Morgen !, op. 27/4 and Cäcilie, op. 27/2, by Strauss. Tickets can be purchased at this link.
