Beethoven's Leonore Overtures 1-3

[lisa needs braces]

What are the differences between them? I know two of them are pretty similar as they both contain a certain sequence I always look forward to, but which is the odd one out? And what do you think of these works? Currently it seems the only time I hear classical music is when my alarm clock goes off in the morning, and this morning it was the Leonore overture No. 3 playing. It was glorious!

[Holden]

The odd one out is No 2 and I prefer it to 1 and 3. So did Bruno Walter in his classic recording with the Columbia SO couple with his equally famous Pastorale

[BachQ]

I prefer #3 ....... It's LvB's "final word" on the matter ........

[Hector]

I prefer #3 ....... It's LvB's "final word" on the matter ........

No, they found Leonore overture No. IV in a rat hole in a house in Vienna!

It was 'edited' by Malcolm Arnold.

I always thought that Leonore No I was the odd one out. II is the least played and III still gets played between the Fidelio acts.

[Cato]

...and III still gets played between the Fidelio acts.

I remember reading that Gustav Mahler started that tradition when he was conducting in Vienna.

In the 1990's I attended a Cologne Philharmonic concert with my son, where
Arvo Part's 3 symphonies alternated with the 3 Leonore Overtures.

Interesting that the Third Symphony of Part, like the Leonore III, was the best, although my son, age 10 at the time, liked the Second Symphony also, because it contained a part where the orchestra members get into a fight and walk out.   

[lisa needs braces]

The odd one out is No 2 and I prefer it to 1 and 3. So did Bruno Walter in his classic recording with the Columbia SO couple with his equally famous Pastorale

No, I think No. 1 may the odd one out. No. 3 is a revision of No. 2.

[Hector]

I remember reading that Gustav Mahler started that tradition when he was conducting in Vienna.

In the 1990's I attended a Cologne Philharmonic concert with my son, where
Arvo Part's 3 symphonies alternated with the 3 Leonore Overtures.

Interesting that the Third Symphony of Part, like the Leonore III, was the best, although my son, age 10 at the time, liked the Second Symphony also, because it contained a part where the orchestra members get into a fight and walk out.   

Didn't the Beethoven highlight the poverty of Part?

Having said that I bought a recording of the 3rd because it had enthralled me on the radio late one evening on a drive home.

[PerfectWagnerite]

N
I always thought that Leonore No I was the odd one out. II is the least played and III still gets played between the Fidelio acts.

I think that practice is rare nowadays. It used to get played before the final act but for some reason it never quite worked out. Some claimed that the dramatic and rather lengthy nature of III sort of made the final act anti-climatic. Personally I think III works much better in the concert setting.

[Cato]

Didn't the Beethoven highlight the poverty of Part?

Having said that I bought a recording of the 3rd because it had enthralled me on the radio late one evening on a drive home.

Yes, the Symphonies 1 and 2 of Part (umlaut not possible on my computer) were "weak" except for the tumultuous scherzo of the Second mentioned above.

The Third showed the composer's Renaissance renaissance.

Beethoven's 3 attempts at a Leonore overture were more muscular!

[Hector]

Yes, the Symphonies 1 and 2 of Part (umlaut not possible on my computer) were "weak" except for the tumultuous scherzo of the Second mentioned above.

The Third showed the composer's Renaissance renaissance.

Beethoven's 3 attempts at a Leonore overture were more muscular!

Strange, but not unusual, I have never been able to replicate the enjoyment of this work I had whilst driving.

[Cato]

Strange, but not unusual, I have never been able to replicate the enjoyment of this work I had whilst driving.

I have had the same experience: somehow the original impression of delight, power, etc, even with the same CD, is just not there!

Different emotional mood later...who knows!