The Story of the Symphony Andre Previn with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra leader BARRY GRlFFTIHS
The symphonies of Beethoven are the most securely established of all orchestral works, yet they were often greeted with as much amazement as respect. 'On the strength of the Seventh Symphony' - the work performed in tonight's programme - 'Beethoven should be locked away in a madhouse,' said Weber, the composer of Der Freischiitz. Other critics declared that
Beethoven 'must clearly have been drunk to have composed such absurd, untamed music-the acme of shapelessness.'
In the second programme of the series, Andre Previn demonstrates how Beethoven brought to the symphony an unprecedented power and dynamism. But how did
Beethoven set to work, and to what extent was he affected by the outward idealism of the French Revolution and the inner, personal reality of his own incurable deafness? Vision mixer ANGELA WILSON
Videotape editor ROGER HARVEY Designer KEITH HARRIS
Lighting KEN MACGREGOR Sound RAY ANGEL
Written and directed by HERBERT CHAPPELL
Book (same title) £13.95 available from booksellers.