Beethoven’s 19th century classical and romantic music is coming to Memorial Hall.
The Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, an acclaimed orchestra from the United Kingdom, specializes in playing Beethoven exactly the way it was composed, played and heard in the 19th century before the composer became deaf.
They will be in Chapel Hill for a two-day performance Saturday and Sunday on their first stop of a four-city U.S. tour.
The orchestra uses some instruments that have been preserved from the 19th century, including Baroque violins and woodwind instruments — like clarinets — without modern mechanisms.
Emil Kang, executive director for the arts, said the opportunity to experience Beethoven’s music the way he heard it is an exclusive opportunity.
“I can’t think of a better ensemble for this orchestra to play,” he said. “It represents the pinnacle of all orchestra performances.”
The orchestra will play four of Beethoven’s symphonies over two nights nearly 20 years after their celebrated recording of Beethoven’s entire collection of symphonies.
This tour marks the first performance of the symphonies since the recordings were made.
“You can imagine being in Germany in 1808, as Beethoven heard it,” he said.
