'Coriolan' - an Overture from Beethoven op. 62

Worcester Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, March 11th, 2023
Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
The painting is not of Beethoven but rather the actor who played the tragic hero 'Coriolan' in the Shakespearean tragedy around 1776. painting: John Philip Kemble as Coriolanus in "Coriolanus" by William Shakespeare, Portrait painter: Thomas Lawrence (1798)
The overture's structure and motifs are closely aligned with the themes of the play. The primary theme in C minor captures Coriolanus' determination and aggressive demeanor, as he prepares to attack Rome. In contrast, the softer theme in E-flat major portrays his mother's emotional appeals for him to reconsider. As the story progresses, Coriolanus becomes swayed by his mother's pleas, but his past actions prevent him from turning back. Tragically, he takes his own life, unable to reconcile his conflicting loyalties. -Roderick MacDonald