JAN JOSEF LIEFERS is reading! at Philharmonie Berlin

About the Event

Two masterpieces of music history brought together: The program features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, one of the most famous works of the Classical period.

No other work has so powerfully demonstrated how music can transform existential questions of struggle, hope, and triumph into sound. Even the striking opening motif—often referred to as the “Fate motif”—is among the most recognizable musical phrases of all time. Ludwig van Beethoven composed the symphony during a time of personal crisis, marked by his progressive deafness. It was precisely this that allowed him to develop a musical expressiveness unprecedented at the time. From the dramatic opening in C minor to the radiant finale in C major, a musical journey unfolds from darkness into light, one that continues to move audiences around the world to this day.

In contrast, we present Camille Saint‐Saëns’ famous *The Carnival of the Animals*, a work of rare emotional depth and imaginative musical imagery. With his *Grande fantaisie zoologique*, Saint‐Saëns created in 1886 a musical kaleidoscope that is as virtuosic in its composition as it is playfully tongue‐in‐cheek. In short, characteristic movements, various animals are humorously portrayed—from majestic lions and elegant swans to spirited fossils. With subtle wit, Saint‐Saëns incorporates numerous musical allusions, parodies well‐known melodies, and quotes works by prominent composers as well as his own Danse macabre. He originally wrote the piece as private entertainment for friends, fearing that the humorous work might damage his reputation as a serious composer. Yet it was precisely this playful lightness that made The Carnival of the Animals one of his most popular works.