Relayed from The Queen's Hall, London
(Sole Lessees, Messrs. Chappell and Co., Ltd.)
Beethoven Concert
ROBERT EASTON (bass)
HARRIET COHEN (pianoforte)
THE B.B.C. SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
(Principal Violin, CHARLES WOODHOUSE)
Conducted by Sir HENRY WOOD
Part I
ORCHESTRA
Symphony No. 1, in C
1. Adagio molto, Allegro con brio; 2. Andante cantabile con moto ; 3. Minuetto e Trio; 4. Finale: Adagio, Allegro molto e vivace
It is an understood thing that some time during every season of Promenades the whole nine Beethoven symphonies shall be performed-not, however, necessarily in chronological order.
This programme contains two of them, the first and the monumental fifth. Beethoven is thought to have begun his first symphony when he was about twenty-five, but he was thirty before it was first performed in 1800. The music seems simple and straightforward enough to us now, but in those days it was considered by the critics to be daringly modern. The introduction upset them to start with, for Beethoven had been a little unconventional in the matter of keys, running through three of them in the first three bars. But it is all very jolly music, though not of course mature Beethoven.
ROBERT EASTON AND ORCHESTRA
Arias (Fidelio)
I. Life is nothing without money; 2. Ha! What a day is this!
The plot of Beethoven's one opera, Fidelio, is this: Florestan is unjustly held in confinement by his enemy Pizarro, a prison Governor. In his dungeon he is being starved to death, when his wife, Leonora, discovers where he is. Disguised as a boy, and calling herself Fidelio, she secures a job as assistant to the Gaoler. The Minister of Justice, Fernando, hearing rumours of unjust imprisonment, announces his intention of visiting Pizarro. The Governor determines to do away with his enemy Florestan at once and is on the point of stabbing him, when Fidelio, armed with a pistol, saves her husband's life. Trumpets are heard, the Minister arrives and all is well.
The first of these two arias is sung by Rocco, the gaoler. His daughter Marcelline is enamoured of the disguised Fidelio, who dare not reveal her identity as Leonora, and has to pretend to acquiesce in a proposed betrothal of the young people. Rocco is quite in agreement with the suggestion, but not without warning the pair that though love is well enough, money is all important. He delivers his little philosophical homily in this song.
The second aria is sung by Pizarro towards the end of the Prison Courtyard Scene in Act i. He has just had word that the Minister, suspicious of the treatment meted out to prisoners, is coming in person on a visit of inspection. Pizarro decides to take immediate action and dispose of his hated enemy Florestan, who is anyhow thought to be long dead, before the arrival of the Minister. He gloats in his triumph over the prisoner and the thirst for vengeance he is about to satisfy.
HARRIET COHEN AND ORCHESTRA
Concerto No. 2, in B flat
1. Allegro con brio; 2. Adagio; 3. Rondo : Molto allegro
ORCHESTRA
Symphony No. 5, in C minor i. Allegro con brio ; 2. Andante con moto ; 3. Allegro ; 4. Allegro
Tickets can be obtained from [address removed] and usual agents.
Prices (including Entertainments Tax)
7s. 6d., 6s., 5s. (reserved), 3s .(unreserved) Promenade (payment at doors only) 2S.