Coriolan in C Minor

Coriolan was an exiled Roman general of the 5th century BC who was said to have joined forces with his former enemies, the Volsci, against his home city. His story was told in a play by Viennese writer Heinrich Joseph von Collin in 1804; three years later Beethoven wrote an Overture based on it. The snarling C minor chords and stabbing interjections of the opening depict the character of Coriolan, vengeful and aggressively seeking retribution. Soon a milder second theme appears in E major as Coriolan’s mother entreats him to abandon his attack on Rome. Her influence initially seems to prevail, but his anger rages again, and the music is wrenched between his thirst for war and wiser counsels of peace. Under immense strain, Coriolan’s will is finally broken as his C minor motif splinters to useless pieces. His personal capitulation seems total as the Overture fades rapidly away to silence.