![]() "It totally and utterly affects me emotionally."įor some the piece brings back memories of loved ones. "It contains every element of Beethoven's greatness, the magic of ensemble, individual moments of profound reflection and something of which I have never tired in over 6 decades since first I heard it aged 9," said one voter from Bowral, NSW. Voters around Australia gave many reasons for why this was the music they can't live without. In 2001's original Classic 100 it came in fourth, and rose to second place in 2010's countdown "10 years on." The concerto has appeared in eight previous Classic 100 countdowns, but only once before has placed first, in 2007's Classic 100: Concerto. "What a destructive, disorderly life I see around me," Beethoven wrote to his publisher in 1809, "There’s nothing but drums, cannons and human misery in every form." At one point during the premiere in 1811, a French soldier was reported to have called out, "C’est l’Empereur!" and the nickname has stood ever since. Beethoven started composing the work in 1809, as Napoleon’s armies began their occupation of Vienna. The second Classic 100 to take place during the pandemic, perhaps there was a synergy for some, with the Fifth Piano Concerto composed by Beethoven in virtual lockdown. In 2020, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, featuring the well-loved "Ode to Joy", took out the top spot, with the "Emperor" coming in next place. The "Emperor" Concerto's win comes off the back of 2020's Classic 100: Beethoven poll, dedicated solely to the music of Beethoven in the year commemorating the 250th anniversary of his birth. To celebrate 20 years of the Classic 100, ABC Classic opened voting up to the full history of classical music and asked voters: What's the music you can't live without? This year's countdown was only 415 votes shy of beating the record set by 2019's Classic 100: Composer. ![]() The 20th anniversary countdown was one of the most popular on record, with more than 127,000 votes cast. ![]() The votes have been counted and Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Emperor" Piano Concerto is officially the music Australia can't live without, in the 2021 Classic 100.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |