The Most Famous Concert Beethoven Ever Gave — What Can We Learn From It?

In 1808, Beethoven gave what is now considered his most famous concert — the legendary academy where the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies were premiered.
Today, this concert is often used as evidence in tempo debates: if the concert was so long, Beethoven’s metronome marks must have been wrong… right?

In this podcast teaser, Stefan and I take a closer look.

We discuss why concert duration is a far weaker historical argument than many assume, how modern concert logic is projected backwards onto early 19th-century practice, and why durations are repeatedly invoked only when metronome marks become uncomfortable.

Topics include:
• what was actually played in the 1808 concert (and what probably wasn’t)
• why programs, pauses, cuts, repeats, and improvisation matter
• how duration data is selectively used in tempo debates
• and why metronome marks remain the only source that truly fixes tempo

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Substack:
https://wimwinters.substack.com/p/the...

If you enjoy deep dives into Beethoven, tempo, and historical performance practice, the full conversation is waiting for you there.


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Check out our CD/Vinyl recordings here: ▶https://www.authenticsound.org/record...
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