THE Lecture

Crescendo's own musicologist, Dr. Marcel Zwitser of Utrecht in the Netherlands, gave the first of two lectures to be presented at Crescendo this year. This one is on Beethoven and the evolution of his third symphony, Eroica.

Fascinating as always, Marcel speaks with few notes, very directly, and tells an interesting story about this pivotal third symphony. 

Naturally, we heard some musical excerpts in the course of the lecture, live, presented by our great favorite, Polina Kulikova, fresh from her Carnegie debut last spring.

So, who is the hero of Eroica? Many suppose it was Napoleon, but Beethoven scratched out the dedication to Bonaparte after the latter declared himself emperor.

Marcel's conclusion is, Beethoven himself!