Beethoven's Last Night

Near the year 2000, co-founder / director of Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), Paul O'Neil, created stimulating fiction, which was driven by Hard Rock / Metal variables, about one of the greatest composers of all time: Ludwig Von Beethoven. Within Beethoven's character, O'Neil enrolled TSO and the listeners into a sort of hallucination world of the famous composer. This world involved the completed manuscript of the Tenth Symphony and the trading of Beethoven's soul to the clutches of Hell.

This year, under BMG & Tonpool, TSO's third album, Beethoven's Last Night, was resurfaced as a reminder of a great classic musical piece in the vein of several theater acts as The Who's Tommy, Queen's Mama Mia and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera. However, in contrast to those other prominent theatrical monuments mentioned, you are talking here about a rather Metalized release, which involves some figures from the Metal world, including ex-members of the late Savatage. That is why the re-releasing this album was so important -- it should have received a lot more attention the first go-around.

Throughout the theatrics, it is hard not to experience suspense, even though most of the stories regarding the bargaining of the soul with the Devil ends up in the hero's favor. This tale is filled with interactions and intrigues between the main characters: Beethoven (young & old), the evil Mephistopheles, Twist, Fate, The Muses, and Theresa. Every single interaction or solo act of thoughts and emotions were performed by the singers as if they are actors, and all were followed by well-suited musical passages. The result was astounding. Although the music itself, especially the guitar riffs, are pretty simple, you can't ignore the amount of energy devoted to the keyboards and orchestra. In the end both electric and classical instruments fulfilled some of Beethoven's greatest works.

It is very hard to pinpoint something that what was bad in this release, because you can't discourage any effort that was made here. But like in every release, no matter how strong it is and how close it is to perfection, not every track here is outstanding. Beethoven's Last Night is filled with the dramatic nature of great tracks such as "The Moment", "Vienna", "Misery", "Mozart / Figaro", "The Dreams Of Candlelight", "What Is Eternal", "A Last Illusion", "Requiem (The Fifth)", and "I'll Keep Your Secrets". With such finesse and talented composing, you can't argue. Whoever longed for a Metal opera, and not of the kind Avantasia would do, you will find a new comfort zone here.

Written by me on www.metalexpressradio.com

Beethoven's Last Night is Trans-Siberian Orchestra's masterpiece. A concept album about Beethoven's last night on earth, told through re-visions of the master composer's own works, the album tells a tale of internal conflict, deceipt, emotional ultimatums, and ultimately poses the question: Would you give up all you accomplished in your life, for a chance to live again?
The material is some pretty heavy stuff, and not something that I think most bands would be willing to tackle. But the power-prog band Savatage, most of whose members make up TSO, have a history of creating ambitious concept albums, telling stories of very human struggles, in a very human way, with godly musicianship.
Although for the most part there is no real 'orchestra' here, these guys have a way of creating that same all-encompassing beautiful effect with their guitars, drums, and keyboards. And the vocals. The instruments are beautiful, the musical compositions are beautiful (specially since most of 'em were crafted by Mister Beethoven himself), but the vocals are what stand out most on this album. There are over 10 different vocalists here, including a choir, and each one does their job magnificently. It all gives one the feeling of attending a Broadway musical, just as much as it gives the 'laying in the hammock listening to music' feeling. I should mention, however, that a good deal of this album is NOT metal. In fact, Savatage connections aside, this band is really just as much metal as it is a multitude of other genres. So for those who listen to their music thinking 'It's metal! It''s not metal! IS it metal?', you will not enjoy this album. 'Tr00ness' is abandoned to make way for unharnessed musical genius here, and it is all certainly for the best.
Enjoy.