What is the Right Pace to Perform Beethoven?

by Tucson Symphony
What is the Right Pace to Perform Beethoven?

Beethoven’s tempos have been a topic of debate for many years. There is a chance that the Beethoven music we know and love should be performed differently. The markings from his scores suggest that he wanted his music performed with faster tempos than orchestras typically use today. There are many theories out there as to why this might be the case. Could it be because of a faulty metronome? Was it due to his hearing loss? WNYC’s Radiolab has looked into this debate extensively and poses a new solution for the debate.

Listen to the podcast then listen to your conductor, José Luis, weigh in on the debate. Which tempos do you prefer? Let us know by emailing support@tucsonsymphony.org.

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