Mephistopheles
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Beethoven’s Last Night (2000)
THE GRAVEYARD IS FILLED WITH IMPORTANT MEN
WHO COULD NOT BE SPARED BUT WERE IN THE END
AND SO I WHISPER NOW IN YOUR EAR
In 2000, Trans-Siberian released their third album and first non-Christmas album, Beethoven’s Last Night, that supposes what it might have been like if Beethoven, on his last night on Earth was visited by Mephistopheles and his minions to collect his soul. Wanting to avoid eternal damnation, the bargaining begins, as does the story.
In this song we learn of the great deceiver and the argument he makes as to the legacy of all men. Death comes for us all, even the greatest of men who ever lived end up in the graveyard.
I absolutely love the relish of the role that Jon Oliva, original lead singer of Savatage takes in embodying the role of the Devil throughout the album.
Most people only know TSO for their Christmas music, but this story is just as magical in the way that it handles the last hours of who the mind behind TSO, Paul O’Neill describes as “the world’s first Heavy Metal rock star.”
To hear the full Twenty-Five Days of TSO Playlist on Google Play Music, click the link below.