Beethoven's 'Coriolan Overture' was written for Heinrich Joseph von Collin's 1804 tragedy 'Coriolan', which premiered in Vienna in 1807.
Composition History
Beethoven initially intended to dedicate his Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica', to Napoleon Bonaparte, but furiously rescinded the dedication when Napoleon declared himself Emperor.
Critical Reception
At its public premiere in 1805, Beethoven's 'Eroica' Symphony was met with mixed reviews, with some critics suggesting it should be shortened and made clearer.
Compositional Technique
The 'Eroica' Symphony's finale is a set of variations on a contredanse melody that Beethoven previously used in his 1801 ballet, 'The Creatures of Prometheus'.
Performer Biography
Iván Fischer, the conductor of this album, is a visionary musician who has developed new concert formats and reformed the structure and working methods of the symphony orchestra.
Notable Performances
The 'Coriolan Overture' was first performed privately at the palace of Prince Lobkowitz a month before its public premiere as a prelude to the play, giving birth to the genre of the concert overture.
Performer Biography
The Budapest Festival Orchestra, co-founded by Iván Fischer in 1983, is the youngest ensemble to be ranked among the world's top ten symphony orchestras.
