Members of the Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL); Jeremy Denk, piano; David Hyde Pierce, host Program Mozart (arr. Hoffmesiter) Sonata Op. 11, K. 331 Beethoven (arr. Ries) Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" About the Program Classical music lovers have come to know Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony not only for it's remarkable melodies, but as a musical symbol of "victory of idealism over political power." By withholding the dedication of this symphony to Napoleon Bonaparte, Beethoven encapsulated the cultural spirit of defiance that surrounded the fall of the French Revolution. With such a reputation comes a myriad of interpretations, each grander than the next. In an arrangement by Beethoven's close friend and pupil Ferdinand Ries, OSL musicians are joined by guest artist Jeremy Denk, and will examine the intricate music behind this monolith of the late classical era. The Flute Quartet in D Major, K. 295, Mozart's first attempt at composing for this instrumentation, was written for amateur Dutch flutist Ferdinand de Jean. What started as an enthusiastic commission for a young Mozart became a burdensome endeavor for the composer, and in the end Mozart was forced to accept only about half the commissioning rate for the piece. However, the resulting product remains a delight to experience! The energetic opening Allegro is followed by a beautiful, haunting Adagio movement, which is boldly interrupted in its final cadence with the final Rondo movement.
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