Many know that Beethoven composed one opera only: Fidelio. Fewer know that he composed one ballet only: ‘The Creatures of Prometheus’. The overture to the ballet is often played as a stand-alone item as it will be at this first concert of the CCSO season. It is an orchestral showpiece, setting the mood for even greater virtuosity in Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
photograph: Daniel Delang
Mendelssohn was the soloist at the 1831 première, captivating the audience with his astonishing technique, described by a contemporary as ‘…a quicksilver touch with fingers that could sing’. It was a favourite of Mendelssohn’s great contemporary, Franz Liszt. Florian Mitrea, the hugely talented Rumanian pianist, now living in the UK, will surely create as great a stir as he did with his previous visit to Cambridge.
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, the Eroica, was an astonishing ground-breaker in its time: around twice as long as any earlier symphony and furnished with a heart-rending funeral march followed by a frantic scherzo. It ends with a monumental finale built on a theme from an earlier work – yes, ‘The Creatures of Prometheus’. This is a classic of a classical concert, definitely not to be missed by serious music lovers.
Ticket Information
Admission: £18, £16 (concessions), £8 (students), £5 (under 14)
- Online
- Phone: 01223 300085 (12:30 - 16:00 on Monday, 12:30 - 19:00 Tuesday - Friday, and 15:00 - 19:00 on Saturday).
- In person: ADC Box Office, Park St, Cambridge, CB5 8AS – just off Jesus Lane