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Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Peter Hanson | ... | Wranitzky |
Jack Davenport | ... | Prince Lobkowitz | |
Leo Bill | ... | Ries | |
Ian Hart | ... | Ludwig van Beethoven | |
Trevor Cooper | ... | Otto Fisher | |
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Sarah Ford | ... | Frau Fisher |
Fenella Woolgar | ... | Princess Marie Lobkowitz | |
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Victoria Shalet | ... | Kirstin |
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Celina Liesegang | ... | Stella |
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Jacob Engelberg | ... | Franz |
Jonathan Aris | ... | Paul Dorfmueller | |
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Ian Thompson | ... | Albrecht Dorfmueller |
Tim Pigott-Smith | ... | Count Dietrichstein | |
Robert Glenister | ... | Gerhardt | |
Joseph Morgan | ... | Matthias |
On June 9, 1804, Ludwig van Beethoven and his pupil Ries assemble a group of musicians to give the first performance of his Third Symphony, 'Bonaparte', to his patron Prince Lobkowitz and his guests, including hypercritical Count Dietrichstein, in Vienna. The piece provokes political arguments among players and audience as to whether Bonaparte is a tyrant, or, as Beethoven believes, a liberator. The composer is also rejected by his former love, the recently widowed Josephine von Deym, though the visiting elder statesman of composers Haydn pays him a strange compliment. Leaving the gathering, Beethoven confesses to Ries that he is losing his hearing and later he reads that Bonaparte has declared himself the French emperor. As a result he will lose all respect for Napoleon and will change the symphony's title to 'Eroica'. Written by don @ minifie-1
Eroica is a well done blending of film and symphony concert. Beethoven was a rebel pushing against the social status quo in his life and with his music. How we hear this symphony today is so completely different that it is nearly impossible to imagine how it seemed to those hearing this kind of music for the first time. This film helped me to do that.
I have had the great honor of performing this masterpiece when I was a student at Duquesne University, so it's always like coming home when I hear this piece. This film gave me an opportunity to visit it with fresh eyes and ears.
One thing I have to complain about is the usual one, the violas nearly always get short shrift when orchestras are filmed, but this is a small oversight in view of the entire movie.
Well done!