Beethoven was commissioned to write his first stage work - a ballet score for 'Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus' (The Creatures of Prometheus) - for the dancer and choreographer Salvatore Viganò, nephew of composer Luigi Boccherini. In the myth, Prometheus is punished by Zeus for stealing fire for the benefit of mankind; in the allegorical ballet, Prometheus brings enlightenment ideas of art and science to humanity. The overture remains popular and the finale - the theme of which Beethoven was later to use in his 'Eroica' Symphony - offers a heroic conclusion.
1) Ouverture (Adagio - Allegro Molto Con Brio) ()
2) Introduzione 'La Tempesta' (Allegro Non Troppo) ()
3) I. Poco Adagio ()
4) II. Adagio - Allegro Con Brio ()
5) III. Allegro Vivace ()
6) IV. Maestoso - Andante ()
7) V. Adagio - Andante Quasi Allegretto ()
8) VI. Un Poco Adagio - Allegro ()
9) VII. Grave ()
10) VIII. Allegro Con Brio ()
11) IX. Adagio - Allegro Molto ()
12) X. Pastorale. Allegro ()
13) XI. Coro Di Gioja. Andante ()
14) XII. Solo Di Gioja. Maestoso - Allegro ()
15) XIII. Terzetto I Grotteschi. Allegro - Comodo ()
16) XIV. Solo Della Cassentini. Andante - Adagio - Allegro - Allegretto ()
17) XV. Coro E Solo Di Vigano. Andantino - Adagio - Allegro ()
18) XVI. Finale. Allegretto - Allegro Molto ()