“Everything was just a disaster. Most likely, people who survived it, when they walked out of there, they were completely confused and bewildered. There is something really attractive about the total excess of it.” – Esa-Pekka Salonen

Listen to Esa-Pekka Salonen, our Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, talk about why he’s reconstructing one of the most famous concerts ever: Beethoven’s legendary 1808 concert in Vienna. The concert was plagued by mishaps and ran for four hours, but those who were there heard the premieres of some of the greatest music of all time: Beethoven’s 5th and 6th Symphonies and the 4th Piano Concerto, performed by Beethoven himself.

You can join us for a reconstruction of this concert in March 2020, conducted by our Principal Conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen.

14 March 2020, The Anvil, Basingstoke: https://www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/2658/basingstoke_beethoven_250

15 March 2020, Royal Festival Hall, London: https://www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/2528/beethoven_1808_reconstructed

Watch our animated film telling the story of this concert in our podcast feed.

Vienna, 22 December 1808. Franz and Katarina are on their way to hear a concert that the famous composer and pianist, Ludwig van Beethoven, is putting on at the Teater an der Wien. They are in for a night they will never forget.

Discover the story behind one of the most famous concerts of all time in our animated film. You can join us for a reconstruction of this concert in March 2020, conducted by our Principal Conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen.

14 March 2020, The Anvil, Basingstoke: https://www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/2658/basingstoke_beethoven_250

15 March 2020, Royal Festival Hall, London: https://www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/2528/beethoven_1808_reconstructed

Listen to Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, talk about why he wanted to reconstruct this famous concert in our next podcast, also out today.

In 2020 we mark 75 years since the Philharmonia Orchestra was founded - three quarters of a century of brilliant live music-making, definitive recordings, technological innovation and artistic adventure.

Our Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, reflects on the founding ethos of the Philharmonia and how it has continued to attract the finest musicians to play in its ranks.

Discover our concert series here: http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/POat75

Watch more films about our story here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqR22EoucCycOGFfrFJY587duxWWBYhvu