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Beethoven Egmont Overture Program Notes and Sheet Music

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Overture to Goethe's Egmont, Op. 84

While not a symphony, Beethoven's Overture to Goethe's Egmont is a masterpiece of dramatic intensity and a powerful example of the composer's ability to encapsulate an entire narrative within a concise orchestral form. Composed in 1810, this overture is part of a larger set of incidental music written for a revival of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 1787 play, Egmont.

A Collaboration of Giants: Beethoven and Goethe

The pairing of Beethoven and Goethe, two titans of German culture, was a natural fit. Beethoven deeply admired Goethe's work, particularly his dramatic and philosophical depth. Goethe's Egmont tells the heroic story of Count Lamoral of Egmont, a Dutch nobleman who defies the tyranny of the Duke of Alba and the Spanish Inquisition during the 16th-century struggle for Dutch independence. Egmont's ultimate sacrifice for freedom and justice, despite his impending execution, inspires his people to rise up and fight for their liberty.

Beethoven was immediately drawn to the play's themes of heroism, defiance against oppression, and the triumph of liberty over tyranny—themes that resonated profoundly with his own democratic and revolutionary ideals. He composed the Overture, along with nine other pieces of incidental music (including songs, entr'actes, and a "Symphony of Victory"), to enhance the dramatic impact of the play. The premiere of the Egmont incidental music, with the Overture, took place on May 24, 1810, at the Hofburgtheater in Vienna.

A Musical Drama: From Oppression to Triumph

The Overture itself is

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    Egmont-op84   
    Composed in 1810.
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