Conductor, Ian Whyte
Goethe was one of Beethoven's great idols, and his poem ' Egmont ' inspired Beethoven to write an overture and nine incidental numbers. The overture is probably the most perfect of all Beethoven's concert overtures.
Beethoven wrote to Goethe telling him that ' You will shortly receive from Leipzig through Breitkopf and Hartel the music to " Egmont "-Glorious Egmont, with which, through you, I was again impressed with the same warmth as when I read it, and have set it to music. I should much like to know your opinion of it ; even blame will be profitable for me and for my art, and will be as willingly received as the greatest praise.'