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- Beethoven, Ludwig van
Duration: 18 minutes
Description: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) composed his FANTASIA FOR PIANO, CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA (CHORAL FANTASY), Op. 80, in 1808 as a dazzling finale for his now-legendary marathon benefit concert at Vienna’s Theater an der Wien, a program that also premiered the FIFTH and SIXTH SYMPHONIES. Written in great haste for the occasion, the CHORAL FANTASY brings together piano soloist, vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra in a unique hybrid of concerto, song cycle, and symphonic finale. It opens with an improvisatory-style piano introduction before unfolding into a series of variations on a gentle theme that ultimately blooms into a radiant choral conclusion. The text, by poet Christoph Kuffner, celebrates the unifying power of art and joy, foreshadowing the message Beethoven would later explore more fully in the “Ode to Joy” of the NINTH SYMPHONY. Premiered on December 22, 1808, with the composer himself at the piano, the Choral Fantasy remains a fascinating and exuberant work. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.2.0.0: Timp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set): Solo Pno in set: Mx Chor. Reprint edition.