Kirill Karabits says 'Beethoven sealed the deal with BSO'

The Ukraine-born maestro took up his post in 2009 and his very first decision was to ask the players to perform a cycle of Beethoven symphonies over three successive seasons.

“My greatest personal experience with Beethoven will always be connected to the BSO,” the conductor told the Echo from his home in Paris at the weekend.

“The first project I suggested was the nine symphonies. It was a bit banal I suppose because everyone does Beethoven.

“But I felt if we could convince each other in that music, then it would be a great start to our relationship and put a huge piece of my future in place. And that is exactly what happened.”

Fast forward eleven years and Karabits is indeed still very much here.

He said: “You know, that was the smartest thing I have ever done. That project set the orchestra on fire and it probably remains the most important thing we have done together. I can still feel the impact of it even now.”

This may be a tale told before (although it was new to me) but it is more apposite than ever in 2020 as the world celebrates Beethoven 250, the anniversary of the birth of the towering composer in 1770.

Unsurprisingly Karabits is not an especially big fan of anniversaries.

He believes the music and achievements of a giant figure like Beethoven should be celebrated all the time. As indeed they clearly are.

“I am a bit sceptical. We should remember and talk about people not only in their anniversary year.

“Our life is richer because of Beethoven and classical music would not be as we know it without him.

“His music is always being played and he is always being talked about so I suppose this year gives us even more reason to do that.

“It would also be a great opportunity to show some of his lesser known works.”

Karabits says Beethoven’s symphonies can be challenging and require an orchestra to ‘jump into the fire.’

But the BSO always rises to the challenge.

“We know well that they play without hesitation or fear for the conductor. They are one of the most courageous orchestras I have ever seen in my life. They can be pushed as hard as you want.”

In terms of Beethoven’s legacy, Karabits says Beethoven took classical music to its final stage. From the Third Symphony onwards the music bridged the classical era to the romantic.

The Third Symphony has been called “the greatest single step made by an individual composer in the history of the symphony and in the history of music in general.”

His music had a huge influence on the 19th century and subsequent composers such as Brahms and Schuman struggled with what to write. Beethoven had done it all.

“They did not know what was left to write and express in their music. How could they follow that? Even Brahms 1st Symphony was called Beethoven’s Tenth.”

His music had a strong influence on 20th century composers too, like Mähler.

“The music of the past two centuries would not be the same without Beethoven that’s for sure,” said the conductor.

And although he lived through some of Europe’s most turbulent times, Beethoven’s music does much more than just reflect the history of those times, insists Karabits.

It captured themes of romance, drama and emotion that are just as relevant today.

“That is why it is so alive even now,” he said.

Was Beethoven the greatest? As opposed to Mozart for instance.

The conductor says he struggles with comparisons.

“But of course he was an immense figure and one of very few people who had an influence on everything that came after. There is no doubt about that.”

◾️See Bournemouthecho.co.uk for full interview.

◾️The BSO celebrates Beethoven 250 at Lighthouse on Wednesday with the 1st and 3rd (Eroica) Symphonies and Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto on the programme.

The orchestra also plays the two symphonies in a Beethoven Weekender programme at the Barbican on Saturday February 1 which also features the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and City of Birmingham Orchestra. The weekend features all nine symphonies.