Beethoven's Coriolan Overture - Classical Music Concert Program Notes
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EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General) North American (US General American - GenAM)Transcript
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Beethoven's Coriolanus overture was inspired by the proud and reckless personality of the roman general Coriolanus, depicted in the writings of Plutarch Shakespeare and the german playwright Heinrich von Colin. The story varies a bit by author, but what struck Beethoven was how Coriolanus leads the roman armies to victory and then when his ego rubs members of the roman senate the wrong way, he is banished, but later returns to lead the armies of his former enemies against Rome. Only the entreaties of his mother, his wife, and finally his young son caused Coriolanus to relent and surrender to an inevitable, tragic end. Beethoven considered, but did not complete an opera about Coriolanus, but he did leave us this concert overture.