Venue(s):
Steinway Hall
Price: $0.50
Event Type:
Orchestral
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
28 November 2015
“Philharmonic Rehearsal this aftn. Beethoven’s lovely D. Symphony (No. 2). Then came an ‘overture’ that was utter rubbish and rot—idiotic—flashy--spasmodic and offensive. I do not know who is responsible for it. It seemed mere useless noise--specially offensive and irritating after the Symphony. Of course the great feature of that symphony is its Larghetto. The finale is brilliant, but I have never quite grasped it. Certain critics call it the greatest of all Finales. Perhaps. On the whole I incline to rank No. 4 above No. 2--tho the first four phrases of No. 2’s larghetto and a single phrase of its first movement are most precious and must be classed among Beethoven’s [illeg.] No. 2 seems to me among the second-class symphonies, beautiful as it is. It is not of like grade with the C minor, the Eroica, or the A major.”