Fun Facts about Composer Ludwig Beethoven
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The creation of Symphony No. 5 took a total of four years, ranging between 1804 and 1808. Beethoven was simply overwhelmed with composing many of his other classic pieces to finish No. 5 in a timely manner.
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Unfortunately, now one of the world’s most recognizable symphonies with its striking four opening notes, Symphony No. 5, debuted in 1808 to a less than optimal public response.
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Richard Wagner considered Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 to be the “apotheosis of dance,” claiming it could be danced to by anyone, young or old.
Interested in learning more about this legendary composer? Check out a recent article with even more fun facts!
(Photo credit: Sasha Onyshchenko).
With National Ballet Day approaching on February 7, audiences are invited to experience a thrilling classical dance set to music by one of the most iconic composers of all time. Québec’s first professional ballet company, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, debuts at the Center for the Arts on February 10 with Dancing Beethoven. Combining technical novelty with theatrical verve, the performance promises an enchanting evening of dance for all ages.
Created in 1957 Montréal by the remarkable ballet advocate Ludmilla Chiriaeff, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens has evolved into a company of over 50 Canadian and international dancers with hopes to incorporate the spirit of classical ballet into all genres of dance. Now led by artistic director Ivan Cavallari, the company continues to explore creative approaches to ballet. As Cavallari mentions in a 2017 interview with CBC, “We keep changing, keep moving, we keep adding to ourselves. One can't be perfect, but one can be creative.” Catch a preview of the spectacular skills of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens below.
In addition to providing artistic excellence all around the world, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens is a major advocate for the benefits of dance therapy, even opening its own National Centre for Dance Therapy in 2013. Since its beginning, the Centre’s primary goal has been developing and offering dance for wellbeing and therapeutic purposes, emphasizing the importance of providing these services to a diverse range of vulnerable and marginalized people. Through the expertise of trained professionals and healthcare workers, the Centre continues to educate internally and externally, developing conversation around dance therapy and its benefits.
For its Center for the Arts debut, the ensemble pays tribute to the musically monumental works of Beethoven with its program, Dancing Beethoven. The evening opens with one of the world’s most recognizable symphonies, Symphony No. 5. with choreography by American choreographer Garrett Smith. Using the iconic opening—four striking notes that symbolize fate knocking at the door—the piece expresses the liberation of accepting one’s individuality. Completing this double bill is a work set to Beethoven’s stirring Symphony No. 7, featuring choreography by the late Uwe Scholz and showcasing the ensemble’s precision, energy, and artistry. Watch a special interview with artistic director Cavallari about the impact of Dancing Beethoven on the company and its dancers.