4th concert of the 2026/2027 Orchestral Cycle

STUTTGART CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Thomas Zehetmair, conductor
Lucienne Renaudin Vary, trumpet
Mojca Bitenc, soprano
Aleš Valič, narrator

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26
Joseph Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major, Hob. VIIe/1
Ludwig van Beethoven: Incidental Music for Goethe’s tragedy Egmont, Op. 84

On the anniversary of Beethoven’s death (March 1827), we will honour one of the great spiritual connections in the history of art – the bond between composer Ludwig van Beethoven and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Beethoven deeply admired Goethe and set his texts to music with great inspiration. His devotion is reflected in the fact that he refused payment for composing the music to Egmont, creating it “purely out of love for the poet’s works, which bring me happiness.”

Today, concert audiences most often hear only the famous overture from Egmont. On this anniversary, we wish to correct this by presenting the complete incidental music for Goethe’s work that so strongly inspired Beethoven’s creative genius. The full score will be accompanied by carefully selected excerpts from the original text in a new translation prepared specifically for this performance, interpreted by Aleš Valič, leading actor of Ljubljana Drama Theatre. We also look forward to the appearance of one of Slovenia’s leading younger sopranos, Mojca Bitenc, in the solo vocal part.

The first half of the evening will offer insight into some of the most exciting achievements on today’s international classical music scene. Joining the outstanding Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra will be the rising trumpet star Lucienne Renaudin Vary from France, recipient of the 2025 Opus Klassik Award for Instrumentalist of the Year.

Tribute to Beethoven: Goethe’s and Beethoven’s Egmont
Mojca Kranjc

The historical Count Lamoral of Egmont was a general and one of the most influential statesmen in the Spanish (Habsburg) Netherlands during the mid-16th century. Loyal to his sovereign, King Philip II of Spain, he opposed the Inquisition and the removal of rights from the Dutch estates. Accused of treason by the king’s envoy, the Duke of Alba, he was sentenced to death by beheading in a controversial trial. His execution became one of the sparks that ignited the Eighty Years’ War, which ultimately led to Dutch independence from Spanish rule.

More than two hundred years later, Egmont’s life inspired Goethe, who was particularly moved by Egmont’s refusal to flee despite warnings from friends. Instead, Egmont trusted in justice and sought peaceful solutions to conflict. Goethe saw in him the heroic image of a noble man willing to sacrifice himself for the freedom of his people.

Goethe had already envisioned musical accompaniment for the drama, and over twenty years later Beethoven was invited by Vienna’s Burgtheater to compose original music for the play. He gladly accepted, as Goethe’s ideas resonated deeply with his own political beliefs.

In Slovenia, Egmont has been staged twice, both times at Ljubljana Drama Theatre. The second production, in 1950, directed by Dr. Branko Gavella, featured Beethoven’s music performed live by the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Jakov Cipci.

For this performance, the connecting narration is based on a text prepared in 2019 for the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn by dramaturge Tilmann Böttcher and actor Matthias Brandt. Unlike previous adaptations, their version consists exclusively of quotations from Goethe’s play, carefully shortened and dramaturgically arranged so audiences unfamiliar with the story can easily follow it.

Programme booklet 2026/2027

Tickets:
Regular price: €29
Pensioners and disabled visitors: €21
Students and pupils: €7

Family ticket: €26 (adult), €7 (child)