Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 will be performed twice by the Orchestra of the Incarnate Word on Monday, February 26th at the McAllister Auditorium and on Saturday, March 3rd at the University of the Incarnate Word .
This work was premiered on December 8th, 1813 in Vienna conducted by Beethoven himself. It was first performed at a charity concert for soldiers wounded in the Battle of Hanau, the battle where the Bavarian’s had Napoleon on the run. The second movement, Allegretto the audience demanded to be immediately encored. Some of the best musicians of the day were performing in the orchestra. Violinist Louis Spohr along with composers Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Giacomo Meyebeer, and Antonio Saller, also bassoonist Anton Romberg, and the Italian double bassist Domenico Dragonetti whose playing Beethoven described as having ‘great fire and expressive power.” The Italian guitar virtuoso Mauro Giullani played cello.
There are 4 movments in the Seventh Symphony
I. Poco sostenuto-Vivace (A major)
II. Allegretto (A minor)
III.Presto-Assai meno presto (trio) (F major, Trio D minor)
IV. Allegro con brio (A major)
The work is known for its dance like rhythms and the dark and reflective second movement. Beethoven himself considered this work one of his best.