A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ruins of Athens, The

by George Grove

RUINS OF ATHENS, THE. A dramatic piece (Nachspiel) written by Kotzebue, and composed by Beethoven (op. 113), for the opening of a new theatre at Pesth, February 9, 1812, when it was preceded in the ceremony by 'King Stephen' (op. 117). It contains an overture and 8 numbers, and was probably composed late in 1811. The 'Marcia alla turca,' No. 4, is founded on the theme of the Variations in D, op. 76, which was composed two years earlier. The March and Chorus, no. 6, were used in 1822, with the Overture, op. 124, for the opening of the Josephstadt Theatre, Vienna. The Overture to 'The Ruins of Athens' and the Turkish March were published in 1823, but the rest of the music remained in MS. till 1846.

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