Customer Reviews

Keeping Score: Revolutions in Music - Beethoven's Eroica

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This dvd was given to me by friends who know I love to learn more and more about music.

It consists of a complete performance by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra of Beethoven's Third Symphony, "The Eroica,"

AND

Michael Tilson Tilson Thomas, conducting a movement by movement "tour" of Beethoven's Third. Tilson Thomas explains what was going on in Beethoven's life and provides various explanations of why the music is the way it is. Comments are added by some of the SFSO's musicians, including their approach to playing Beethoven.

I had long known of Beethoven's original intention of dedicating the symphony to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom Ludwig saw as "a leader come from the people." Later, of course, when Bonaparte crowned himself emperor, Beethoven literaly scratched out the dedication to Napoleon, and it has been hereafter know simply as the Eroica, or heroic symphony.

What I didn't know, which Micael Tilson Thomas explains, is that Beethoven was confronting the reality of his impending deafness, just at the time he was writing this symphony. He explains how the symphony includes Beethoven's anguish and (unfounded) shame at being a deaf musician. Yet he goes on to explain that Beethoven faces this demon, and the music tells us that he goes on with life. Thus Beethoven's Eroica is heroic in more ways than is commonly known.

It is a shame that more DVDs of this quality are not produced. A movement by movement explanation of a pioneering work in classical music history. MTT does a fabulous job of providing his personal insights into the music with a terrific musical ensemble. This is the "Big Picture" tour of the work, the great facade of the building and not necessarily the intricacies of its architecture. A detailed exploration of the nearly molecular construction of the music is not undertaken (it would take quite a few DVDs for that) but the overall storyline is beautifully explained. Beethoven's music has a poignancy that can't be denied; a sharing of thoughts and emotions with his audience that leaves both better off for the experience. I hope there will be more pieces such as this about Beethoven's music in the future. I heartily recommend this to any fan of classical music.

I was at one the performances they filmed for this wonderful DVD. The SF Symphony is my favorite band (this from an ol' Deadhead!), and MTT is brilliant! I hope he never leaves.

We have all heard the Eroica a million times before. How could there be anything new to hear in it? The SF Symphony succeeds. An example, there is a moment in the variations of the fourth movement when the first chairs, violin and viola, share a few fleeting mesaures, and you realize why Alexander Barantschik and Geraldine Walther are first chairs. What they do seems spontaneous and absolutely magical. The performance is filled with such moments.

I recommend all of the DVDs in the "Keeping the Score" series. The performances are more than first rate, and MTT supplies an insightful and informative lecture in each instance. They would have done Lenny proud.

After first viewing this production on PBS, I immediately ordered the DVD. I knew our eldest son, then a high school Senior and a horn player, might enjoy it. He certainly did! This is a must for people who can't get enough of "inside looks" at professional orchestras. Michael Tilson Thomas provides wonderful insight into Beethoven's life: both professional and personal highs and lows. The descriptions by the musicians of their parts would be inspirational for any young person involved in band or orchestra.

My first contact with classical music was with a music appreciation course in college. The instructor gave us LPs of three classical works: Beethoven's Eroica, Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, and a symphony by Cesar Franck. I was fascinated by Eroica and listened to it over and over.
Now with Michael Tilson Thomas' series Keeping Score, anyone interested in classical music can get a deep analysis of the major revolutions in classical music. There are 6 DVDs and several blu-rays available from KVIE in San Francisco and PBS. Season 1 includes Beethoven, Stravinsky and Copland. Season 2 features Berlioz, Ives and Shostakovich.
Beethoven's Third Symphony is a good place to start. Beethoven came to Vienna, the sophisticated music capital of the world as a rough youth from the hinterlands of Germany who had to prove himself. Thomas tells the story of Beethoven's encounter with a young rival who had mocked one of his compositions by improvising variations to the main theme. Beethoven totally destroyed him by turning the rival's score upside down and writing a new work based on it.
Thomas' commentary is anything but pedantic. He uses humor to make his point with references to Chuck Berry and Elvis. He explains the importance of Beethoven's impending deafness during this early period and tells how he overcame that handicap. By the time he completed his final symphony, the ninth, he was totally deaf.
Thomas illustrates his points by playing relevant passages from the symphony and concludes with a full performance by the San Francisco Symphony.
After watching this DVD you will want to see the other titles in the series.

This is definitely one of the best musical documentaries out there. It comes with a brilliant complete performance of the Eroica, following MTT's informative and often moving explanations of the work in the documentary half. The documentary unfolds in part through the lens of MTT's own journey to get so deeply inside this music as he has. The rich understanding he's developed comes through with resounding force in the full performance. Indeed, this performance is very much the heroic affirmation of life that MTT finds Beethoven expressing in the piece. Also worth mentioning is that the flute and oboe playing are magnificent!

MTT has a great idea with this series! I hope he continues with other releases similar to these (Berlioz and his "Symphonie Fantastique" is a logical place to continue). I would give MTT the Leonard Bernstein award in music education to "Keeping Score," if there was such a thing, and there should be! MTT should get the first award. This release makes a great companion to the BBC "Eroica," and indeed, I think that the Beeb DVD, along with this one, as well as the others in the "Keeping Score" series should be in every library in the land, as well as in any good school and college. The sound and picture quality are both excellent, and MTT is a great communicator of his wonderful subject, and I would say that you should buy this disc for the fascinating musical and armchair journey here alone! The other discs in this series are similar in concept, and are all highly recommended. Ten stars, if they had 'em...

Buy it.
You are going to be so glad you are using your money so well.
Regards to all.
Marcelo
p.s. - I would like to have some WAGNER as well - and altogether with Wagner, Liszt - and since we're on Liszt we could add his friend Chopin.
Ok - it's not going to stop if I don't force myself to.

I introduced my son when he was 6 years old to Beethoven via this recording. He loved it and he still loves it. I love this recording. We see it almost every month and always find something new in it. No words can describe the quality of this recording, the performance and description of Beethoven's life. This I believe is a must for every classical music lover.

This is a must-have resource for school music educators. It is enjoyable and students can easily assimilate the music history and European history-rich content.