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Beethoven and Dussek

Academy of Ancient Music

,Barbican Hall
Richard Egarr and Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry joins AAM as it begins our Beethoven 250 anniversary celebrations with the complete incidental music for Goethe’s play Egmont.

Alongside Egmont, AAM perform the modern premiere of the Mass by his scandalous Czech contemporary Dussek. Recently rediscovered by the Academy of Ancient Music’s own music director Richard Egarr, and heard here for the first time since the 19th century, Dussek’s Mass throws fascinating new light on a musical pioneer whose expressive works anticipate the Romantic style of Chopin and Schumann.

While the Overture to Egmont has become a concert hall staple, it is relatively rare to have the chance to hear a performance of the complete incidental music. Beethoven lover Stephen Fry narrates this music into which the composer channelled his fury at Napolean’s tyrannical progress through Europe. It is an impassioned, heroically defiant musical expression of the triumph of freedom over oppression.

Tagged with: Classical music Academy of Ancient Music Beethoven 250 More...

The performance is expected to finish around 9.30pm, including a 20 minute interval.

Programme

Beethoven Egmont (complete)
Dussek Mass in G

Performers

Academy of Ancient Music
Richard Egarr director
Stephen Fry narrator
Choir of AAM
Chen Reiss soprano
Stefanie True soprano
Helen Charlston mezzo-soprano
Gwilym Bowen tenor
Morgan Pearse bass

Pre-concert talk

There will be a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm, free to all ticket holders.

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an orchestra playing classical music in the barbican hall in central london

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