Post by Richard on Jun 6, 2005 15:15:41 GMT
Hello music lovers! 
I'm not sure if Beethoven really belongs on the Forum, but this was an interesting experience that I stumbled across by chance yesterday afternoon.
I was on a bus going round Hyde Park Corner at about 4:20pm when I noticed a large stage set up next to the Wellington Arch, and a few hundred people were sitting on the grass. I decided to investigate, and I found the BBC Concert Orchestra were about to play two works by Beethoven, and the concert was to be broadcast live on Radio 3. It was a free concert, so I joined the crowd. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif 
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif That's me in the middle!
The concert started at 4:30, and the first piece was a work called "Winter Ballet". I hadn't heard it before, but it was delightful. This was followed by the main event, a performance of "Wellington's Victory". Wellington and the British were represented by Beethoven's arrangement of "Rule Britannia", while Napoleon and the French were represented by "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"!
(I think the tune must have had a previous life in France!) The British were on the left of the stage, and the French were on the right. They used big bass drums for cannons and football rattles for gunfire. It was a Battle Royal, and at the final victory we were treated to Beethoven's version of "God Save the King".
The sound quality wasn't up to Concert Hall standard, particularly with all the traffic noise, but it was a very entertaining half hour. It was good to see so many young people sitting in the audience, which proves that classical music has a bright future!
Next stop Hampton Court on 15th June. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
See you there,
Richard
I'm not sure if Beethoven really belongs on the Forum, but this was an interesting experience that I stumbled across by chance yesterday afternoon.
I was on a bus going round Hyde Park Corner at about 4:20pm when I noticed a large stage set up next to the Wellington Arch, and a few hundred people were sitting on the grass. I decided to investigate, and I found the BBC Concert Orchestra were about to play two works by Beethoven, and the concert was to be broadcast live on Radio 3. It was a free concert, so I joined the crowd.
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif 
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif That's me in the middle!The concert started at 4:30, and the first piece was a work called "Winter Ballet". I hadn't heard it before, but it was delightful. This was followed by the main event, a performance of "Wellington's Victory". Wellington and the British were represented by Beethoven's arrangement of "Rule Britannia", while Napoleon and the French were represented by "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"!
(I think the tune must have had a previous life in France!) The British were on the left of the stage, and the French were on the right. They used big bass drums for cannons and football rattles for gunfire. It was a Battle Royal, and at the final victory we were treated to Beethoven's version of "God Save the King". The sound quality wasn't up to Concert Hall standard, particularly with all the traffic noise, but it was a very entertaining half hour. It was good to see so many young people sitting in the audience, which proves that classical music has a bright future!
Next stop Hampton Court on 15th June. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
See you there,
Richard
