Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”: Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic

The Romantic era in music may have begun, unofficially, with the ferocious opening hammer blows of Beethoven’s Third Symphony. As the story goes, this monumental and revolutionary music was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte. When Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804, Beethoven reportedly scratched out the dedication on the title page (shown above) and re-dedicated the Symphony to the Hero (“Eroica”), exclaiming

So he is no more than a common mortal! Now, too, he will tread under foot all the rights of Man, indulge only his ambition; now he will think himself superior to all men, become a tyrant!

In fact, this is music so groundbreaking and cosmic that even a figure as ambitious as Napoleon pales in comparison. The “Eroica” transformed the symphony to an entirely new scale and dramatic weight. Its jarring dissonances and off-center rhythm still feel “modern,” and seem to anticipate the discordant sounds of the twentieth century. There are strange moments of haunting mystery, such as the “false” horn entrance in the first movement.

Leonard Bernstein, the last century’s consummate music educator and passionate cheerleader, provides us with a fascinating analysis of Beethoven’s “Eroica.” He discusses the first movement’s displaced accents, which frequently tear apart the underlying feeling of three, and the way the music develops with a sense of inevitability from a supremely simple musical idea. He outlines the drama of the second movement, in which a sombre funeral march is interrupted by a heroically transformative fugue. He points out the intense, quiet, pent-up energy of the Scherzo, which suddenly explodes with full fury. He shows how a simple, tip-toeing, even “trivial” motive in the final movement provides the foundation for a vast array of adventurous variations.

All of this drama comes to life in Bernstein’s 1978 concert recording with the Vienna Philharmonic. This film begins with three minutes of additional commentary by Bernstein, and then plunges us headlong into the music:

https://youtu.be/-Ie6tfedTM4

Recordings

  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica,” Vienna Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein Amazon
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica,” New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein Amazon
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica,” Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner Amazon

About Timothy Judd

A native of Upstate New York, Timothy Judd has been a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section since 2001. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, studying with world renowned Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa.

The son of public school music educators, Timothy Judd began violin lessons at the age of four through Eastman’s Community Education Division. He was a student of Anastasia Jempelis, one of the earliest champions of the Suzuki method in the United States.

A passionate teacher, Mr. Judd has maintained a private violin studio in the Richmond area since 2002 and has been active coaching chamber music and numerous youth orchestra sectionals.

In his free time, Timothy Judd enjoys working out with Richmond’s popular SEAL Team Physical Training program.

1 thought on “Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”: Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic”

  1. To ~ Timothy Judd

    This topic is ageless and fascinating!!! Having seen last week end’s revisit to the Leonard Bernstein famed ‘Young People’s Concerts’, televised on CBS TV
    weekly programme’s in the late ’50’s and 60’s, it was truly moving to go back
    to. Time of Earnest in America ~ In so doing, an entire generation & 1/2 were
    treated to the highest form of Culture, learning classical, romantic & even jazz
    Musical Concepts from America’s most adored Music Class Teacher, Maestro
    Leonard Bernstein with the New York Philharmonic plus grand soloist’s and to become Acclaimed Artist’s including Andre Watts, Pianist & Christa Ludwig,
    Viennese born Mezzo Soprano ‘star’ of the Vienna State Opera + her husband Walter Berry ~ Bernstein’s Beethoven ‘Eroica’ was revelatory & not intended to be strictly “romantic”. His Third Symphony is a Diary of the Time’s he lived in, brilliantly etched yet stretched for poetry of utter Love from the vulnerable
    part of Beethoven’s Soul, deliberately kept in tact yet restricted from those he
    probably felt were not fully capable of accepting & feeling his tenderness ~ A
    comment on the Violin Network seemed shallow in expressing the thought of
    Ludwig van Beethoven ‘not being a Romantic.’ It’s very possible & probable
    LvB didn’t pay much attention to labels for he was far too engaged & involved
    in creating ‘sound paintings’ reflecting his perception of the Times and with
    uncanny accuracy ~ (Read Tim Judd’s descriptions of Beethoven’s ‘sixth sense’
    view/s re Napoleon’s future behaviour. LvB knew his ‘customer’s’, and How!!

    Thanking Timothy Judd for carrying the Beethoven Mantle whilst aligning it to
    this Centennial Celebratory Year of Leonard Bernstein’s Birth, as is said just a bit “across the pond”, Carry on, ole’ chap!!!

    Musically yours ~

    Elisabeth Matesky / Chicago

    Reply

Leave a Comment