Gods and Heroes

Prometheus brought fire to mankind, angering the tyrannical father of the gods, Zeus. In Ludwig van Beethoven’s overture to the ballet “The Creatures of Prometheus”, sparks fly in the frenzied string section. Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto in C major also has fire and verve, along with many very intimate moments, such as in the floating Largo. Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski will explore the emotional depth of this luminous work and bring out the playful lightness of the composition in the rondo finale. Quite different is the dramatic “Eroica”, in which Beethoven pushes boundaries. The composer withdrew the dedication to Napoleon Bonaparte after his coronation as emperor. After the opening movement, reminiscent of French revolutionary music, the weighty funeral march and an exuberant scherzo, Beethoven reprises his own “Prometheus” music in the finale.