BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, November 10, 1820

At 4 PM today, Franz Xaver Gebauer conducts Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at one of his series of Concerts spirituels in Vienna, promoting German music at a time when Italian opera is all the rage. Gebauer is one of Beethoven’s most consistent supporters and makes sure that his symphonies are regularly heard.

Source: Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung (1821) pp. 172-176, summarizing the 1820-21 season of the Concerts sprituel.

Attached is Teodor Currentzis and Music Aeterna’s stunning rendition of the first movement of the Fifth.

My review of Currentzis’ recording can be found at http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/May/Beethoven_sy5_19075884972.htm