Beethoven 250 | Symphony Series 07: THE HANOVER BAND - BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7 in A Major Op.92

Beethoven 250 | Symphony Series 07: THE HANOVER BAND - BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7 in A Major Op.92
The Hanover Band plays Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 as part of their Beethoven 250 celebrations at Stationer’s Hall.
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Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony was composed between the years 1811 and 1812. It received its first public performance on 8 December 1813 together with the ‘Battle’ Symphony at a benefit concert in aid of Austrian and Bavarian troops wounded at the battle of Hanau.
Louis Spohr recalls a later performance of the Seventh Symphony given in the Redoutensaal in Vienna on 29 November 1814: “The concert organised by his friends enjoyed a most brilliant success. The new compositions were exceptionally well received, particularly the Symphony in A major, the wonderful second movement was encored and also made upon me a deep and lasting impression. The execution was a complete masterpiece, in spite of the uncertain and frequently laughable direction of Beethoven”. Beethoven’s hearing by this time had failed him, he could no longer hear the music. At a rehearsal of the Symphony he managed to plough through, however, he was ten to twelve bars in front of the orchestra at the end of the Symphony. The poor man was astonished when he expected the orchestra to be playing fortissimo that it was only pianissimo. “He looked around him in affright, and only recovered himself when at length the long expected forte began, and was audible to himself”.
Spohr’s reminiscences give us a dramatic insight into Beethoven’s manner of conducting. Beethoven had accustomed himself to indicate expression to the orchestra by all manner of singular bodily movements. So often as a sforzando occurred, he tore his arms, which he had previously crossed upon his breast, with great vehemence asunder. At piano he crouched down lower and lower as he desired the degree of softness. If a crescendo then entered, he gradually rose again and at the entrance of the forte jumped into the air. Sometimes, too, he unconsciously shouted to strengthen the forte”.
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BEETHOVEN 250 - An online festival of Beethoven’s Symphonic and Chamber Music brought to you by The Hanover Band & Consone Quartet.
Recorded during these unprecedented times at Stationers’ Hall in the City of London and the orchestra’s home in Arundel in West Sussex, during August and September 2020, the series celebrates the Orchestra’s 40th Anniversary year and Beethoven’s 250th Birthday.
Watch a new performance premiered every week, from Wednesday 23rd September to 16th December 2020, on our website or on The Hanover Band's TH-cam channel.
For further information and to make a donation to help us continue our work, please visit thehanoverband.com/
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[@scottmiller6495]

Absolutely Superb !!!!!

[@albertoruvalcaba4003]

I like totally this performance. What a great recording and sound!

[@micolsen9824]

I treasure my Hanover Band Beethoven box.

[@Potomac123456]

Fantastic music and great musicians.

[@phileo_ss]

This piece was immensely popular in Japan 14 years ago due to a television drama series. And I have loved it ever since. It is a totally different experience to actually see people playing it instead of just listening to it on CD. Thank you!

[@user-jp9js9th8o]

the every best interpretation of Beethovens oevre - vivid, stark, emotional and convincing: only the Hanover Band can realize this approach...oevre

[@GiuseppeFochesato]

Great orchestra, amazing project cycle, almost a live. (after 250's year I hope there will be a rediscovering about others Beethoven's contemporaries).

[@Biscuit761YT]

This is sounding and looking superb.

[@gemstone212121]

03:30 Introduction to #7 ;;
04:25 I. Poco sostenuto ;;
18:42 II. Allegretto ;;
27:00 III. Presto ;;
37:07 IV. Allegro con brio

[@damnedseagull6194]

Bravo 👏👏👏

[@user-pi2tl8iu6z]

참 좋습니다!

[@michaelanzelino5068]

First Movement @4:25
Second Movement @18:41
Thrid Movement @27:03
Fourth Movement @37:07

[@1mctous]

I'm curious to know how many string players Beethoven had assembled in Vienna for the 7th symphony's premiere. This Classical-era (mostly) gut stringed choir simply can't produce enough sound for the finale although they do very well throughout the first 3 movements. The historical wind instruments complement the small string choir with astounding finesse.

[@RodCorkin]

The period instrument orchestras today are often smaller in size than could be available at the time of composition, not just in Classical times but Baroque times too. They are small today for financial reasons I am pretty sure of that. It depends on the size the venue too but I don't like the strings to swamp the sound in any case.

[@thehanoverband5860]

On this occasion of course social distancing also put a limit on the number of people we could fit into the hall safely

[@1mctous]

@@thehanoverband5860 6-6-4-4-2 would be a Bach-sized string section.

[@RodCorkin]

@@thehanoverband5860 I pretend not to notice that indignity you are subjected to, but at least you are not wearing masks like some performers I've witnessed, that would be the final straw.

[@moltzer]

@@RodCorkinWould've been the nail in the coffin, indeed.

[@Sshooter444]

Not a fan of the Conductor. Performance was lethargic