Feature: Music and Politics
As the UK recovers from the firework celebrations of November 5th, the old joke about Guy Fawkes being the only person ever to have entered the Houses of Parliament with honest intentions comes to mind. Over the centuries music has celebrated, commented upon and occasionally satirised political situations, so here's a selection which offers a view from each of these perspectives. Play now 
Beethoven: Symphony No.3 'Eroica'
Beethoven originally intended his third symphony to be a celebration of Napoleon's revolutionary ideals, but the composer removed the dedication in disgust at his subsequent imperial aspirations. This extraordinarily expressive work is here performed with great passion by the RPO under Herbig. You can also download the score.
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks
Originally written in celebration of the end of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1749, this work remains the definitive musical expression of political confidence (although Guy Fawkes might have had other ideas 150 years earlier!).
Gilbert and Sullivan: Iolanthe
The grand British tradition of not taking one's political leaders terribly seriously has never been better conveyed than in this popular comic opera, which ends with the entire membership of the House of Lords being transformed into fairies. The sooner the better, perhaps...
Sousa: The Liberty Bell
The Beethoven of the marching band, Sousa's unique skills as an arranger for this hitherto unsophisticated resource have never been surpassed. This classic piece, which has also been arranged for symphony orchestra, perfectly expresses the optimism invested in American democracy.
Handel: Arias for Durastini
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson provides a strikingly accomplished interpretation of these arias from 'Giulio Cesare', (Julius Caesar), whose political life fascinated everyone from Shakespeare to Hollywood.
Gilbert and Sullivan: The Mikado
A second selection from the Savoy Operas which casually ridicules everything from state executions to ill-informed political understanding.
Abel 'Lewis Allan' Meeropol: Strange Fruit
Billie Holiday sings this scathing indictment of the oppression of African-Americans, depicting the lynchings carried out by the Klu Klux Klan.
Anon: Song of the Liberty Bell
Not the same as Sousa's tune, but a folk melody on the same theme played by Yo-Yo Ma.
