Beethoven in Boston

From Brian Stuart, Associate Director of Marketing

If you ever wondered why Beethoven is the only composer with his name engraved in Symphony Hall, Friday night was your answer. Beethoven fans had an embarrassment of riches as we at the Handel and Haydn Society and our friends at the Boston Symphony Orchestra both performed Beethoven programs earlier today. Indeed, we both performed Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto! This did not go unnoticed at our concert and indeed we had more than a few people who took advantage of the chance to hear Beethoven on modern instruments with the BSO in the afternoon and then on period-instruments with Handel and Haydn Society in the evening. Its an unusual opportunity to see the differences and contrasts between modern and period-instruments with two world-class ensembles in the same day and in the same building. and its a testament to Boston's supportive classical music lovers that there were people intrepid enough to take in such a unique double-bill. Those I spoke with at our concert on Friday seemed really happy to have this chance and enjoyed both concerts.

I only heard our concert in the evening and was absolutely thrilled by everyone on stage. The conductor Grant Llewellyn brings so much life to Beethoven's music and its just great to see our orchestra so up to the task. Grant spoke about the athletic demands of the Seventh Symphony, and they were very much on display. They absolutely tore through the final movement and a heart-stopping pace. I know some people think of classical music as rather staid or sedate, especially the presumed esoterica of period-instruments, but you wouldn't think that after Friday's concert. Bravo to our players to being up to such a challenge and diving in with such vigor.

Bravo also to our fortepiano soloist, Kristian Bezuidenhout. This was his third time with Handel and Haydn and I certainly hope not the last. He's such a great interpreter of the classical repertoire and really quite eloquent about it. He stuck around after the concert to take questions from the stage and discussed his perspectives on performing Beethoven's Piano Concertos on the fortepiano and how it differs from the modern Steinway that the BSO used earlier in the day. (Indeed, it was still sitting backstage throughout the concert!) He made a great point about how the fortepiano Beethoven composed would have a much different dynamic balance that a modern piano would have with the orchestra. Rather than being capable of overpowering the orchestra, it really blends into it, often fighting for attention. This drama and struggle was on good display in Kristian's performance and you could really hear the interaction with the fortepiano and the orchestra. Special kudos to R. J. Regier of Maine who built the fortepiano used in these performances. Really a great instrument.

The players and staff of Handel and Haydn have had a very busy week and most of us get to rest up a bit on Saturday before the final performance on Beethoven. It should be just as much of a treat as the first, so I do hope you can make it out to Symphony Hall this Sunday at 3pm and take it in. If you can't make, you will still have a chance to hear the Seventh Symphony on WGBH, 89.7 on November 18.