Beethoven Eroica and Mass

Finchley Symphony Orchestra

In his third symphony, the ‘Eroica’, Beethoven revolutionised the form.  The sheer scale, the emotional power and range, are like nothing that had been heard before.  The first movement alone dwarfs many previous symphonies and is followed by a funeral march, a scherzo in which the French horns frolic, and an ultimately triumphant set of variations.     

The Mass in C major, written just a few years later, is often overshadowed by the huge Missa Solemnis but is arguably a more approachable work.  Featuring chorus, orchestra and a full set of four soloists it is at times serene, at times forceful.