Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre | Classical Music Lecture Series 1: "Beethoven 1-9"

Description

Beethoven created a music world of infinite possibilities, so it stands to reason that his contribution to the symphony as a genre could not have been a mere handful.  Indeed, with him on board, the symphony was no longer the same: its expressive range expanded tremendously, and his nine symphonies became sources of inspiration and drive for later generations of composers.  And yet, even for one as great as Brahms, he only found the courage to publish his first symphony in his forties, which goes to show that creative drive can also be a source of pressure.

Over five consecutive weeks, join us on an immersive journey as we explore musical elements, compositional techniques, and the contexts behind specific works, and uncover what Beethoven intended to communicate in his symphonies — and how he has continued to touch countless hearts of music lovers.

Lecture 1: 8 Oct 2025 (Wed)

…Inheriting the Past

Symphony No. 1 in C

Symphony No. 2 in D

Lecture 2: 15 Oct 2025 (Wed)

Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, “Eroica”

Symphony No. 4 in B-flat

Lecture 3: 22 Oct 2025 (Wed)

Symphony No. 5 in C minor

Symphony No. 6 in F, “Pastoral”

Lecture 4: 29 Oct 2025 (Wed)

Symphony No. 7 in A

Symphony No. 8 in F

Lecture 5: 5 Nov 2025 (Wed)

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, “Choral”

Ushering in the Future…