John Fiore, the conductor, began his career at 14 as a pianist and répétiteur for the annual Wagner Ring Cycle at Seattle Opera.
Performer Biography
Christina Landshamer, the soprano on this recording, has performed with major orchestras worldwide and is also recognized as an ideal Lied interpreter.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beethoven claimed he wrote the incidental music for "Egmont" "purely out of love for the poet" Goethe, whom he revered, and therefore would not accept payment.
Historical Context
Beethoven composed his incidental music for Goethe's play "Egmont" around 1809, a time when Vienna was occupied by French forces under Napoleon, fostering a spirit of resistance.
Composition History
Beethoven was commissioned by Vienna's imperial Hofburg Theatre to compose incidental music for Goethe's play "Egmont", which premiered in Mainz in 1789.
Notable Performances
The Viennese premiere of "Egmont" on May 24, 1810, initially went ahead without Beethoven's music, as he was only ready in time for the third performance.
Compositional Technique
Unlike typical incidental music of his time, Beethoven's four entr'actes in "Egmont" are integral to the drama, not merely interchangeable pieces to bridge scene changes.
