Beethoven was commissioned to write his first stage work—a ballet score for Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (‘The Creatures of Prometheus’)—for the dancer and choreographer Salvatore Viganò, nephew of composer Luigi Boccherini. In the myth, Prometheus is punished by Zeus for stealing fire for the benefit of mankind; in the allegorical ballet, Prometheus brings Enlightenment ideas of art and science to humanity. The overture remains popular and the finale—the theme of which Beethoven was later to use in his ‘Eroica’ Symphony—offers a heroic conclusion.
Tracklist
Artist details
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus), Op. 43
1 Overture 05:25
2 Introduction 02:14
3 Act I: Poco adagio 03:39
4 Act I: Adagio - Allegro con brio 02:25
5 Act I: Allegro vivace 02:03
6 Act II: Maestoso - Andante 01:21
7 Act II: Adagio - Andante quasi allegretto 09:06
8 Act II: Un poco adagio - Allegro 01:40
9 Act II: Grave 09:40
10 Act II: Allegro con brio - Presto 04:34
11 Act II: Adagio - Allegro molto 05:05
12 Act II: Pastorale: Allegro 02:51
13 Act II: Coro di Gioja: Andante 00:31
14 Act II: Solo di Gioja: Maestoso - Allegro 03:11
15 Act II: Terzettino, Grotteschi: Allegro 04:35
16 Act II: Solo della Signora Cassentini: Andante - Adagio - Allegro - Allegretto 06:11
17 Act II: Coro e Solo di Viganò: Andantino - Adagio - Allegro 04:52
18 Act II: Finale: Allegretto - Allegro molto 06:52
