鈥楩riends, protect what鈥檚 important to you and follow my example: die joyfully in battle to save those who are dearest to you.鈥� Count Egmont, champion of freedom, has been betrayed 鈥� and now he faces certain death. When Beethoven discovered Goethe鈥檚 play, he set it to some of the most inspired music he ever wrote. The 麻豆社 Philharmonic presents a rare complete performance of Beethoven鈥檚 score for Egmont: music of visionary power and tragic grandeur, narrated tonight by actor Malcolm Raeburn. Juanjo Mena completes the programme with the storm and stress鈥� of Haydn鈥檚 little volcano of a symphony; and pianist Javier Perianes brings out both the brightness and shade of Mozart鈥檚 most tender piano concerto.
