‘Friends, protect what’s important to you and follow my example: die joyfully in battle to save those who are dearest to you.’ Count Egmont, champion of freedom, has been betrayed – and now he faces certain death. When Beethoven discovered Goethe’s play, he set it to some of the most inspired music he ever wrote. The Â鶹ԼÅÄ Philharmonic presents a rare complete performance of Beethoven’s 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’ of Haydn’s little volcano of a symphony; and pianist Javier Perianes brings out both the brightness and shade of Mozart’s most tender piano concerto.
