Beethoven’s Eroica – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

The historical and the heroic meet for an evening of bold musical flavours and a mixture of melodies as the Philharmonic Orchestra take you on a journey of strife, struggle, freedom and fervour.

Blending the new and the familiar, conductor Joshua Weilerstein leads the auditorium through renditions of ‘Ethiopia’s Shadow in America’ (Florence Price), Violin Concerto (Samuel Barber) and Symphony no.3 ‘Eroica (Ludwig Van Beethoven).

The enthusiasm for the music is clear as he steps out.

Passionately describing the background to Florence Price’s 1932 symphony, he tells us that she was one of the first female black composers to have their work published and played to an audience. Much of her work was lost for a long time, being rediscovered in 2009, and has therefore not been heard.

Brought up in an America where racism was rife and often violent, ‘Ethiopia’s Shadow in America’ was Price’s reflection on the discrimination and prejudice faced by Black Americans at the time.

There is a distinct character and mood to each of the three movements. The first begins with a mournful melody that sets the tone for the piece.

It is sombre. It is poignant. It is soulful.

There is a tenderness in the way Weilerstein moves as he conducts. Although he oozes energy, it is spent in a gentle, sensitive way across Price’s three movements. He has a control about him that echoes the emotion of the journey the movements portray, taking the audience through a lilting melody that represents the hope and resilience of the black community in the second movement to a triumphant celebration of pride and strength for the third.

The second pre-interval piece recited is Barber’s ‘Violin Concerto’. For this, rising star Johan Dalene joins the stage to take on the solo. With an unassuming demeanour, he navigates the three movements with ease, displaying the lyrical soul of the violin.

From the way he holds his body and instrument to the way he draws sound from it, Dalene is committed to giving himself to the music.

The title performance of the evening comes with impeccable timing and a tremendous showcase of intensity and restraint. Originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, Beethoven composed Eroica in 1803-04 and consists of four movements.

The first, characterised by driving energy and dynamic contrasts, coveys the effect of epic conflicts. The promise of triumph is suggested through bold notes and a brashness, providing a stark contrast to the funeral march of the second movement.

Picking up the momentum again, the third movement places the tone back on the battlefield and there is an almost calamitous impression in places – the orchestra played this very well with the sense of chaos coming across strongly alongside the weary toil on emotions.

As the finale approaches, there is anticipation for how this depicted story will end. The orchestra are absorbed, and Weilerstein is oscillating between light open hops and bounces to gentle, leaning in conducting. He is one who uses his whole body to conduct. There is some sense of the music being channelled through him. The evening’s programme requires skill in not giving too much too early and in conveying the emotional coils of each piece, and this is done very well.

Reviewer: Ezzy LaBelle

Reviewed: 29th March 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★