THE WIRELESS ORCHESTRA, conducted by John ANSELL; ISABEL I'ANSON (Soprano) ; WOLF WOLFINSOHN (Violin)
BEETHOVEN wrote at various times four different Overtures to his one Opera.
Fidelio (at first called Leonora), and of one of these two versions exist. The present one, generally reckoned the greatest, is a very long Overture, fully developed on symphonic lines - too extended for use as a theatre Overture, perhaps, but a magnificent concert piece. There is a short slow Introduction, and then the vigorous main body of the Overture begins. There are two chief tunes-the very soft and mysteriously opening one, and a succeeding smoothly-flowing one.
Note the dramatically interrupting Trumpet-call in the middle of the Overture (generally performed, in the concert room, by a player out of sight, behind the Orchestra) ; this represents the crucial moment in the play, when the Minister of State appears - just in time to save the hero from execution.
THE Hymn to St. Cecilia, in the form in which it is most frequently heard, has solo portions for Violin, Harp and (if it is available) Organ. Its chief theme, given out after a brief introduction, is developed to a strong climax, to which succeeds a more tranquil section.
(Solo Violin: WOLF WOLFINSOHN)
About thirty years ago Sir Edward Elgar spent a holiday in Bavaria, and gave expression to his memories of that pleasant time in a Suite for Chorus and Orchestra, which he called From the Bavarian Highland..... Later he made an orchestral arrangement of three Dances from the Suite.
The First is just a gay Dance. The Second is a Lullaby. The Third is called The Marksmen, and shows us a lively scene of a village shooting-match.
The Eighth is the shortest of all Beethoven's Symphonies (excepting the First), and one of the most consistently gay.
The FOURTH MOVEMENT is much longer than any of the other three.'
There are two Main Tunes.
The First is the sparkling one with which the Movement opens, the Second the more sustained, song-like one, introduced by the First Violins, and then taken up by Flute and Oboe.
Out of these two Tunes the whole Movement grows.
The orchestration is vivid and interesting, and sometimes humorous.
