Beethoven (1770–1827) composed the Coriolan Overture in 1807, based on a drama by Heinrich Joseph von Collin. The figure of the hero Coriolanus appears is numerous Roman historiographers, and even inspired Shakespeare. Beethoven is thought to have come across the story in the biographies of Plutarch. There were many legends about the courage, exceptional military prowess and oratorical skills of Coriolanus. The people, however, did not like him because he was arrogant and looked down on simple people. He successfully protected Rome from its enemies, yet he was not voted confidence in the consular elections. The offended Coriolanus was even banished from Rome. Revenge followed soon: Coriolan joined forces with his former enemies and led them against Rome. The encircled city sent envoys to its former commander, but Coriolanus was unyielding and declared that Rome must perish. Only when his wife and mother begged him to spare his native city did Coriolanus stand down. However, this cost him his life, for the people of Rome branded him a traitor and killed him.

Collin’s tragedy focuses on a single figure, the main hero, and the narrative is secondary. The text essentially consists of a series of Coriolanus’s self-deprecating monologues. The ending of the story is curious in that Coriolanus takes his own life, sensing that with his momentary lapse he had lost the battle against himself. There is no redemption, no liberating trumpet fanfare. Envisaging the fall of the hero, Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture is one of the composer’s most pessimistic scores.