Beethoven 7 en Julia Hagen speelt Saint-Saëns

Beethoven's Symphony No. 7

Beethoven's Seventh Symphony is all movement. Richard Wagner called it 'the apotheosis of dance'. For after a stately opening, it is all rousing rhythm, from the extremely agile and dance-like first movement to the infectious scherzo and the energetic finale. But the absolute highlight remains the second movement, the Allegretto. That moving procession of improbable beauty is still one of the most beloved slow movements in Beethoven's oeuvre and forms the climax of the Oscar-winning film classic The King's Speech .

Julia Hagen plays Saint-Saëns

Julia Hagen is a scion of a distinguished family of string players: as the daughter of Hagen Quartet cellist Clemens Hagen, the apple does not fall far from the tree. She is known for her natural playing, warmth, vitality, and the courage to take risks—all qualities that fit perfectly in Saint-Saëns' First Cello Concerto . Camille Saint-Saëns had a great fondness for the cello. Think of the immortal cello hit The Swan , his cello sonatas, and his two phenomenal cello concertos: Saint-Saëns may well have written his most beautiful notes for this string instrument. The First Cello Concerto consists of only one movement, yet it contains everything that makes a cello concerto so beautiful: singing melodies, energetic movement, and intense lyricism. It is therefore regarded as one of the most beautiful cello concertos of the Romantic era.