The Hallé – Beethoven’s Eroica

Berlioz’s overture, Roman Carnival, incorporating themes from his opera Benvenuto Cellini has all the vibrancy and exuberance of Rome en fête. It’s conducted by Estonian, Kristiina Poska, Chief Conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, who is directing the Hallé for the first time. In Schumann’s romantically lyrical Cello Concerto, written in a fortnight’s burst of inspiration, she’s joined by the orchestra’s principal cello, Nicholas Trygstad. Although Beethoven dedicated his revolutionary Third Symphony to Napoleon, the composer angrily withdrew it after his hero declared himself Emperor. Its subsequent title, ‘Eroica’, nevertheless reflects the character of a work that in its daring and ambition changed the course of music history. Criticised at first for its length, Beethoven retorted: ‘If I write a symphony an hour-long it will be found short enough.’

Berlioz – Overture: Le carnival Romain
Schumann – Cello Concerto
Beethoven – Symphony No.3, ‘Eroica’

Conductor
Kristiina Poska

Featuring:
Nicholas Trygstad, cello