Adelaide Festival

Festival Review: The Sound Of History

The program was centred around the Heiligenstadt Testament, a letter Beethoven wrote to his brothers in 1802 when he was away from home, seeking relief for his chronic intestinal problems.

5

Presented by Richard Mills conducting the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra with presenter Sir Christopher Clark
Reviewed 7 March 2020

It was a magnificent evening of classical music further enhanced by Sir Christopher Clark’s wonderful introductions. The program was centred around the Heiligenstadt Testament, a letter Beethoven wrote to his brothers in 1802 when he was away from home, seeking relief for his chronic intestinal problems. As a enthusiastic, but not very knowledgable, classical music fan I really appreciated Clark providing an historical context for the various pieces.

Beethoven also speaks of his concern about his increasing deafness in the Testament yet, surprisingly, this is in relation to his social embarrassment at not being able to hear others speaking to him rather than how it impacted his music and composing. He had even contemplated suicide, ‘But only Art held back; for, ah, it seemed unthinkable for me to leave the world forever before I had produced all that I felt called upon to produce…’ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ludwig-van-Beethoven/Approaching-deafness#ref383693 .

The first half of the program was music from before, and during, 1802 written within conventional classical parameters, to which Beethoven never returned after the Heiligenstadt visit. Brett Dean’s Testament, which closed this section, included the unusual sounds of violins played with un-rosined bows – producing a sound which is barely audible – like scribblings. Clark described Dean’s work as a reflection on deafness. I didn’t enjoy this piece as much as Beethoven’s music. 

Beethoven was writing in a time of great turmoil in Europe. As a supporter of the French revolution and admirer of Napoleon he had originally dedicated his third symphony, ‘Eroica’, to the great man. However, he was so disgusted when Napoleon crowned himself emporer that the dedication was so violently scratched out that the manuscript was torn.

Musical experts have long debated to whom the symphony was dedicated – who was the hero of the title? Some have suggested it is Beethoven himself but having learned more about the turmoil in Europe at the time it was written, I think the hero(es) are we humans and our struggles, challenges and victories. As the incredible power of the music permeates one’s very being, I came away from the concert having experienced the power and joy of being alive.

Brett Dean has been hospitalised in Adelaide with Corvid19 and I would also like to wish him a speedy recovery and thank Richard Mills who stepped in to conduct the concert.

Reviewed by Jan Kershaw

Rating out of 5:  5 magnificent

One Night Only – Season Ended

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