DA KING -
5th & 7th Symphonies -
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra -
Carlos Kleiber
One of the best versions of
DA 5th you will hear.
And interesting story.
Étienne Méhul who was the most popular composer of
Operas in
France at the time of
Napoleon....also composed other styles....including
5 Symphonies. He was also the first composer which the term
Romantic was used in reference to his works.
Now....back to the story.
Imagine if you will....
His
1st Symphony was composed the same year as
DA KING's 5th Symphony. Of
DA KING's symphonies only his
1st and
2nd had been performed in
France by this time. I should also add they never met and
DA KING initially started working on the
5th four years before and he would work on it off and on until finally finishing it in
1808.
Now if you know the
5th (and
WTF? doesn't know the
5th....especially is most famous theme?)....if you can find a copy of
Méhul's 1st Symphony give it a listen....but especially the
4th movement and listen to one hell of a
coinkydink.
