Friday, September 12, 2003 20:00
Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
Coriolan Overture, op. 62 ▍Symphony Nº 1 in C major, op .21
▍ Piano Concerto Nº 5 in E-flat major, op. 73, (“Emperor”)
Piano: Boris Berezovsky ▍Conductor: En Shao
The Coriolan Overture is a descriptive independent concert overture, recounting the life of Coriolanus, an arrogant, strong-willed commander of Rome. It has been said that this overture was actually a self-portrait of the composer.
Beethoven created five piano concertos in total. In 1809, when Napoleon conquered Vienna, Beethoven began to write the last of his piano concertos, which is also regarded as the most splendid and imposing of the five. However, it was not until Napoleon was defeated three years later that this work was first performed by his student Czerny. During the performance, a French military officer was so excited that he shouted out that this piece was the “emperor” of piano concertos, which was said to be the origin of the name “Emperor”.