This Sunday, April 27, the OMA – Orquestra de la Marina Alta presents an innovative and ambitious performance at El Poble Nou in Benitatxell: a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in its version for "Harmonie" (1816).
At 18:00 p.m. in the Church of Santa María Magdalena, this version, which was approved by the composer himself at the town's XNUMXth Spring Concert Series, will premiere, continuing to delight the Marina Alta audience at subsequent events.
With the programming of this work, the OMA symbolically begins the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's (1827-2027) death, with the aim of taking his music beyond the large concert halls, making it heard throughout the region and bringing it closer to all audiences.
Harmonies (or Harmoniemusik) were wind ensembles that became very popular in Central and Western Europe, especially in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Their sound, ideal for outdoor events, made them a common accompaniment for noble celebrations and other public events.
This version not only offers a new way to listen to one of Beethoven's most celebrated symphonic works, but also connects with the historical tradition of the 19th century, when these versions of great works allowed great music to be spread to communities that could not access large cultural centers.
The concert is part of a series that reinterprets the concept of "Harmoniemusik" in a contemporary sense, within the framework of concert studies and cultural democratization. It is an opportunity to experience a unique, intimate, and deeply meaningful musical experience.
"Poble Nou de Benitatxell is one of the places where we hold an annual concert, which has not failed even during the pandemic, and we want to present this project here as a way of thanking the City Council for its loyalty and support of our orchestra," said OMA director Francesc Estévez.
The orchestra conductor also highlighted the uniqueness of this version of the symphony, which "is one of the most select." "All of Beethoven's great patrons had their Harmonie group and could listen to his music. At that time, there were no record players, no Spotify, no YouTube, so when these upper classes wanted to listen to music, they needed a group of musicians to perform it. In this case, of Beethoven's nine symphonies, the only one made for these groups is the Seventh."
As the Councilor for Culture, Jorge Pascual, pointed out, "We are very grateful to have the OMA in El Poble Nou de Benitatxell because it is a landmark in the region. We always support it because it is a way to listen to classical music and reach all audiences. We are delighted to be able to host the premiere of this project, which launches this year to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's death."
