Beethoven and Antonio Salieri
Did you know? Shortly after arriving in Vienna in 1793, young Beethoven took lessons in vocal composition and Italian opera from none other than Antonio Salieri. Yes, that Salieri! 👀 At the time, mastering vocal writing was crucial for any composer hoping to succeed in Vienna’s competitive music scene, where opera reigned supreme. 🎭 But unlike the dramatic feud portrayed between Salieri and Mozart in the movie Amadeus (which is more fiction than fact), there’s no sign of animosity between Salieri and Beethoven. In fact, Salieri often attended performances of Beethoven’s works, including his monumental Missa solemnis #AntonioSalieri #beethoven #amadeus
Czerny's first impression of Beethoven
When Carl Czerny was about 10 years old, his father took him to meet Beethoven for the first time. Impressed by the his talent, Beethoven accepted him as a student. Czerny later recalled his first impression of the composer as "dressed in a dark grey morning coat with tousled, coal-black hair cut à la Titus" Beethoven reminded him of Campe’s Robinson Crusoe. To the young Czerny, he appeared like a wild, shipwrecked hero, rugged, intense, untamed and larger than life. #Beethoven #carlczerny #musichistory #classicalmusic #robinsoncrusoe
Leonard Bernstein on Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Leonard Bernstein’s words about Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony feel more relevant than ever in today’s divided world. At a time when social, political, and cultural barriers often seem insurmountable, Beethoven’s music remains a rare force that unites people across differences. Beethoven’s music continues to inspire hope, freedom, and connection, proving that true artistry transcends time and speaks to the very core of what it means to be human.
In a 1807 notebook entry, Beethoven reflected on his Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, better known as the Pastoral Symphony, noting that anyone familiar with rural life could understand its essence without the need for descriptive titles. He emphasized that the symphony conveys emotion rather than acting as a literal musical depiction. Unlike later composers such as Hector Berlioz and Franz Liszt, who provided detailed explanations of their music’s meaning, Beethoven was reluctant to offer a step-by-step interpretation of his Pastoral Symphony. For its premiere, he reinforced this idea by including in the printed program: “More an expression of feeling than of painting."