Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was written during the bombardment and occupation of Vienna by Napoleon’s troops, its iconic opening theme representing ‘fate knocking at the door’.
The Fifth Piano Concerto’s nickname of ‘Emperor’ wasn’t Beethoven’s own, yet it quickly caught on, thanks to the work’s heroic and lofty writing. Performing the concerto is Yevgeny Sudbin, hailed by The Telegraph as ‘one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century’.
7pm: Free early concert: Schoenberg’s Ode to Napoleon
(This event is free but ticketed – see event information page for details.)
A performance of Schoenberg’s setting of Byron’s 'Ode' for narrator, string quartet and piano. Written while in exile in America during the Second World War, it was designed to show allegiance...
Transcending musical boundaries trumpeter Alison Balsom plays and directs a programme including works by Corelli, Tartini, Bach, Albinoni, Vivaldi and Handel.
Riccardo Minasi conducts Beethoven's Violin Concerto, with the American violinist Benjamin Beilman, and Mendelssohn's 'Italian' Symphony. Cherubini's Overture to Médée opens the concert.
Symphonies by Haydn and Beethoven frame arias from some of Mozart's most popular operas, with soprano Lucy Crowe, under the baton of Christopher Warren-Green.
A world premiere by Cheryl Frances-Hoad in which LCO is joined by participants from Music Junction, plus Haydn's 'Military' Symphony and overtures by Beethoven and his contemporary Catel.
