British première of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
The British première of
History
Background
Ries wrote to Beethoven on behalf of the Philharmonic in 1817, inviting him to London; the Society would pay him 300 guineas to stay for the season, and he would compose two symphonies for the Society. However, the visit did not take place. In 1822 Beethoven, considering a visit to London, wrote to Ries inquiring what remuneration the Society would give for a symphony; Ries forwarded the inquiry to the Society.[3]
Later that year the Society decided to offer £50 for a new symphony. The minutes stated: "10. November 1822. Resolved that an offer of £50 be made to Beethoven for a M[anu].S[cript]. Sym[phony]. He having permission to dispose of it at the expiration of Eighteen Months after the receipt of it. It being a proviso that it shall arrive during the Month of March next."[3]
Beethoven wrote to Ries several times during 1823, that completion of the new work was delayed. The manuscript was complete by April 1824; Neate confirmed receipt in December.[3] Neate invited Beethoven to London for the 1825 season to conduct the symphony, offering 300 guineas for him to bring two new compositions; however, no visit took place. Meanwhile, the symphony had been performed in Vienna, on 7 May 1824.[4]
Concert
The first part of the concert on 21 March 1825 consisted of a symphony ("Sinfonia Letter T") by
The second part consisted of the new symphony by Beethoven. The programme described the work: "New Grand Characteristic Sinfonia, MS., with Vocal Finale, the principal parts of which to be sung by
The leader of the orchestra was Franz Cramer, and the conductor was Sir George Smart.[5] The text of "Ode to Joy" in the last movement was sung in Italian, the translation having been added in London.[3]
Reviews
The reviewer in The Harmonicon wrote: "In the present symphony we discover no diminution of Beethoven's creative talent; it exhibits many perfectly new traits, and in its technical formation shews amazing ingenuity and unabated vigour of mind. But with all the merits that it unquestionably possesses, it is at least twice as long as it should be.... The last movement, a chorus... does not... mix up with the three first movements.... What relation it bears to the symphony we could not make out; and here, as well as in other parts, the want of intelligible design is too apparent.... [W]e must express our hope that this new work of the great Beethoven may be put into a more produceable form; that the repetitions may be omitted, and the chorus removed altogether...."[5]
The reviewer in The Quarterly Musical Magazine & Review wrote: "...[I]ts length alone will be a never-failing cause of complaint... as it takes up exactly one hour and twenty minutes... which is not compensated by any beauty of unity of design, taking the composition as a whole.... The fourth and last movement... is one of the most extraordinary instances I have ever witnessed, of great powers of mind and wonderful science, wasted upon subjects infinitely beneath its strength. But... parts of this movement... are really beautiful... — but even here, while we are enjoying the delights of so much science and melody... we are snatched away from such eloquent music, to rude, wild and extraneous harmonies.... I must consider this new symphony as the least excellent of any Beethoven has produced, as an unequal work, abounding more in noise, eccentricity, and confusion of design, than in those grand and lofty touches he so well knows how to make us feel...."[6]
References
- ^ Paul Nettl. "Ries" and "Neate, Charles" in Beethoven Encyclopedia. Philosophical Library, New York. 1956.
- ^ Legge, Robin Humphrey (1897). Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 52. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 389–390. . In
- ^ a b c d The Philharmonic Society: The Ninth Symphony (1) Beethoven-Haus Bonn. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ The Philharmonic Society: The Ninth Symphony (2) Beethoven-Haus Bonn. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ RIPM.
- RIPM.