Beethoven: Overture to "Egmont" | Marek Janowski & Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Behind Ludwig van Beethoven's "Egmont" Overture, Op. 84 lies a story of oppression and the struggle for freedom. The composer wrote it for Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play of the same name. In this video, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra led by Marek Janowski presents the well-known work on January 22, 2013 at the Berlin Philharmonic.

First came the drama, then the music. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published "Egmont: A Tragedy in Five Acts" in 1788. A year later, Napoleon called for the French Revolution under the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." Such ideals were shared by Ludwig van Beethoven — and he, too, was disappointed when Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor and marched into the composer's adopted home of Vienna in 1809.

Beethoven (1770-1827) is said to have gladly accepted the commission from the Vienna Burgtheater to compose incidental music for Goethe's Egmont. Afterall, Beethoven was a major fan of the poet. Opus 84 premiered on June 15, 1810.

Goethe's drama tells the story of the heroic Count Egmont of Flanders who called on citizens to rise up against Spain's occupation of the Netherlands in the 16th century. In the end, Egmont paid for the fight for independence against the Spanish Duke of Alba with his life. In the end, however, freedom prevails — at least in the dying hero's vision.

From the onset, Goethe intended for his work to have music and wrote in musical sequences at various points in the play, including music between acts and songs sung by the main protagonists. In the years that followed, there were many compositions for Goethe's "Egmont," some of which are long lost, but the best known is Beethoven's musical accompaniment — particularly the overture. The solemn opening chords of the piece reflect the gloomy despondency of the citizenry, followed by fast-moving strings with timpani, which suggest a call to resistance and struggle. At the end, brass instruments joyfully sound in triumphant victory.

Detached from the play, the overture has emerged as a separate orchestral piece and is now one of Beethoven's most frequently performed works. It is part of the repertoire of many orchestras around the world. It's often played by the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra, for example. For many, "Egmont" symbolizes the uprising against injustice and reflects society's awakening.
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