Beethoven 6 and 7

This season, Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations continue their fascinating and revealing adventure with Beethoven’s symphonies with their approach to the Sixth and Seventh, two works that illustrate Beethoven's outstanding ability to look forward to the future while drawing on past traditions. The Sixth Symphony, “Pastoral”, seems to revisit common Baroque themes from a highly romantic and novel viewpoint (one that was to become highly influential). These themes include the bucolic, rural life and the crack of thunder and lightning in a storm. The same applies to the next work, but now through the medium of dance. The Seventh Symphony is the apotheosis of rhythm, a suite of dances moulded into a symphony. Like the Third and Fifth, it demonstrates Beethoven’s mastery in exploiting a melodic cell or a rhythmic gesture to the full, an ability that, taking a great leap forward in time, allies him with Stravinsky.

PROGRAM