In her own words :Judi Dench； Beethoven's Eroica - A film by Simon Cellan Jones - BBC 2003

 

Beethoven's Eroica - A film by Simon Cellan Jones - BBC 2003 

The Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique is lead by John Elliot Gardiner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtA7m3viB70  Complete

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vg-ngFcpxE Only Symphony 

It is 9 June 1804. At the palace of Prince Lobkowitz, Beethoven is conducting the first performance of his Third Symphony, the Eroica. And through this film we attend the performance. Through the exchanges between the characters represented, their words but also their expressions, we are reminded of the complete novelty of this symphony: its length, its unusual accents, its intense emotion and, of course, the disrupted musical rules. During the interval, Beethoven takes the advantage to speak privately with Josephine von Deym. The romantic life of the master is then presented. Haydn has the last word. When speaking of the music, he concludes: "From today, everything is different". 

The camera moves through the orchestra, lingering on a detail, that we may participate in the music together with the musicians. The film is remarkably well made.  Eroica was directed by Simon Cellan Jones, and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique is lead by John Elliot Gardiner. Ludwig van Beethoven is performed with spirit by Ian Hart. He rejoices, he becomes sad, he catches fire, casting looks - severe or rougish - and his anger all show a very endearing and appealing Beethoven. Leo Bill plays a Ferdinand Ries ill treated by his master. The women are played by Fenella Woolgar, as Princes Lobkowitz, Clair Skinner is Countess Brunswick and Lucy Ackhurst is Josephine von Deym. Jack Davenport is prince Lobkowitz and Frank Finlay is Joseph Haydn.

In her own words;

Judi Dench

"Don’t prioritise your looks my friend, as they won’t last the journey.

Your sense of humor though, will only get better with age.

Your intuition will grow and expand like a majestic cloak of wisdom.

Your ability to choose your battles, will be fine-tuned to perfection.

Your capacity for stillness, for living in the moment, will blossom.

Your desire to live each and every moment will transcend all other wants.

Your instinct for knowing what (and who) is worth your time, will grow and flourish like ivy on a castle wall.

Don’t prioritise your looks my friend,

they will change forevermore, that pursuit is one of much sadness and disappointment.

Prioritise the uniqueness that make you you, and the invisible magnet that draws in other like-minded souls to dance in your orbit.

These are the things that will only get better."

Credits: Donna Ashworth