Beethoven, Overture to "König Stephan", Op. 117



In October 1811, a new German theater was due to be opened in Pest (now
part of Budapest); and Beethoven was commissioned to write the inaugural
music for the event. The King Stephen Overture, named after the Hungarian
King, begins with a slow introduction. Then follows a lively Hungarian tune
and a "Friss," a quick and melodic section of the "csárdás." Indeed,
Leonard Bernstein has described this overture as "a charmer and a
curiosity, a cross between Béla Bartók and Shortnin' Bread."
This recording is part of Leonard Bernstein's Beethoven cycle, recorded
primarily with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in the early 1980s.
Writing in The New York Times, critic John J. O'Connor stated: "As Mr.
Bernstein says, there is 'no single body of work in the universe of
orchestral music that is in any way comparable to this one.' Conducted with
intense dedication and soaring spirits by Mr. Bernstein, these recordings
are superb, both visually and aurally."





Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Title: Beethoven, Overture to "König Stephan", Op. 117
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
Video Director: Humphrey Burton
Genre: Concert
Length: 9 minutes
Cat.No.: A05500655
Gallery         DVD         



The DVD is also released within the complete "Beethoven / Bernstein" DVD package which is available in selected stores worldwide and through Amazon or JPC.