Orchestra plays Beethoven for free, manager bursts into tears

Orchestra plays Beethoven for free, manager bursts into tears

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norman lebrecht

March 15, 2020

The French period instrument orchestra Les Siècles learned yesterday that half of its Beethoven symphony cycle had been cancelled due to Coronavirus. The musicians went ahead and played the 5th and 7th symphonies last night with François-Xavier Roth at the Opéra Royal de Versailles to an empty hall.

The performers, who are all freelance, knew they were not being paid.

During interviews in the intermission, the general manager couldn’t help bursting into tears.

The video will remain up for a year.

 

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