Kitsch as a political tool

Wellington’s Victory (1813), Op. 91, is one of Beethoven’s most singular works. Composed to celebrate the Duke of Wellington’s victory over the French at the Battle of Vitoria, it was later transformed into a spectacular orchestral piece featuring fanfares, cannon fire, national anthems and patriotic melodies. The work also bears witness to the evolution of Beethoven’s relationship with Napoleon: from the youthful admiration that had inspired the Third Symphony, the Eroica — originally entitled Sinfonia Bonaparte — to the disappointment that followed Napoleon’s self-proclamation as emperor. Although today it is considered a minor and kitsch work, Wellington’s Victory enjoyed enormous success and represents a valuable musical document of European history.