ROMANTIKUS IDEÁLOK - Beethoven / Takács-Nagy Gábor - L/2

Beethoven: Egmont-overture
Beethoven: Symphony No 2 in D major
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 (Heroic Symphony)

Gábor Takács-Nagy

 

Beethoven's biographers cite his love of freedom as one of the maestro's most characteristic qualities. He was a firm believer in the freedom of individuals and peoples, as well as the freedom of the creative artist. This is the fundamental principle underlying the overture to Egmont, the beginning of the piece he composed in 1809 for Goethe's drama. Symphony No. 3, which was given the epithet Eroica (Heroic), has a similar spiritual background. While originally he intended the piece to be a tribute to Napoleon, seen as a champion of freedom, after being disappointed to learn that he had crowned himself emperor, Beethoven dedicated the piece to all human beings who fought heroically for noble causes. Symphony No. 2 was premiered in 1803; a work of cheerful optimism, even though Beethoven was aware of his incurable ear disease at the time of its composition. The significance of this piece within his oeuvre is the use of his own means of expression, omitting the stylistic features he had learned from his maestro.