Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Beethoven 9 - First london performance

I came across this wonderful article while searching the web:-

http://www.bl.uk/eblj/2010articles/pdf/ebljarticle42010.pdf

Beethoven 9 was commissioned by the Philharmonic Society in London. Its first performance was on the continent, but the first London performance was 21 March 1825. There is a wonderful account on p16 about the booking of the bass player. Negotiations with Dragonetti stalled when he asked for 10 guineas to do the gig, and Anfossi was booked instead. He played the recit in the last movement as a bass solo!!

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