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gonetomorrow said:


Overture to Beethoven's Fidelio - his only opera. Superbly filmed.
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Composing opera was never Beethoven's strongest suite, which is why he only ever composed one.
He found the format to be frustrating, and I think it took him years to finish his solo opera attempt.

He stuck to the more complex format, classical music, and left the light, fluffy stuff to the Italians. 🤣
Which is why you'll find Italian composers like Verdi doing the complete opposite, composing multi operas, but only piece of real classical music during his lifetime.
Not that I'm taking a sly dig at the Italians, mind you...
 

Tommy Chong said:
Composing opera was never Beethoven's strongest suite, which is why he only ever composed one.
He found the format to be frustrating, and I think it took him years to finish his solo opera attempt.

He stuck to the more complex format, classical music, and left the light, fluffy stuff to the Italians. 🤣
Which is why you'll find Italian composers like Verdi doing the complete opposite, composing multi operas, but only piece of real classical music during his lifetime.
Not that I'm taking a sly dig at the Italians, mind you...
Click to expand...
I think Fidelio was quite in tune with his political thinking. We saw it at Glyndebourne in 2005 and the release of the prisoners from their captivity was something exceptional.
 
gonetomorrow said:
I think Fidelio was quite in tune with his political thinking. We saw it at Glyndebourne in 2005 and the release of the prisoners from their captivity was something exceptional.
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That makes sense, mate...
Beethoven was an early 1800s rebel, by all accounts.

There's a story of him taking a stroll with a mate in one of Vienna's public parks, when all of a sudden, a couple of members of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire's royal family showed up. As was the custom back then, everybody had to bow down before them.

Beethoven didn't, and instead, when they turned their backs and started walking away, he gave them an early 1800's version of 'Jog on', with two fingers turned up. 🤣
 
Tommy Chong said:
That makes sense, mate...
Beethoven was an early 1800s rebel, by all accounts.

There's a story of him taking a stroll with a mate in one of Vienna's public parks, when all of a sudden, a couple of members of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire's royal family showed up. As was the custom back then, everybody had to bow down before them.

Beethoven didn't, and instead, when they turned their backs and started walking away, he gave them an early 1800's version of 'Jog on', with two fingers turned up. 🤣
Click to expand...
It doesn't surprise me. He was very intolerant as a person. And quite the businessman.
I have a book of his letters. The ones to his publisher in Edinburgh are almost as though he writes today.
 
gonetomorrow said:
It doesn't surprise me. He was very intolerant as a person. And quite the businessman.
I have a book of his letters. The ones to his publisher in Edinburgh are almost as though he writes today.
Click to expand...
He was a very difficult person to deal with as well...
Like DaveK I'd imagine, only without any discernable talent or musical genius. 🫢
 


I always thought 'Drift Away' was originally done by Dobie Gray. I found the original, sung by the guy who wrote it. A superb rendition!

 

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