Beethoven Héroique - Fray / Equilbey

A monumental season opener. Carried by the unprecedented power of a double orchestra, Beethoven breaks the mould: from imperial brilliance to heroic epic, music becomes revolution. Beethoven to open the season — and no ordinary Beethoven at that.

The breath of the Emperor and the heroic momentum resound here within the powerful setting of a double-orchestra performance. In the first half, Piano Concerto No. 5, known as "The Emperor", composed in 1809 as Vienna was under bombardment by Napoleon's troops.

The piano emerges immediately, without waiting for the orchestra, establishing a new relationship — no longer confrontation, but dialogue between soloist and orchestra. David Fray takes it on here for the first time.

With the Third Symphony, the "Eroica", individual momentum expands into a vast collective epic, carried by the combined forces of Insula orchestra and Insula camerata – the period-instrument orchestra founded by Laurence Equilbey and her academy of young musicians, brought together for this rare, large-scale double-orchestra setup.

Leading them, Laurence Equilbey, whose dedication to Beethoven on period instruments lies at the very heart of Insula orchestra's artistic project since its founding — and who approaches this programme here with the strength and conviction of a conductor at the height of her art.

This concert is performed on period instruments. Duration: 2h with interval