Beethoven Unleashed - Creating The Myth

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2020

The Aftermath Of War

20200810

Donald Macleod explores how the after effects of Napoleon's invasion of Vienna including crippling economic sanctions and devaluation of the currency, impacted Beethoven's life and work.

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon's second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn't the only thing to afflict the composer either; alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed Immortal Beloved'.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.

Fantasie in G minor, Op 77

Anna Tsybuleva, piano

Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 `Emperor` (2nd and 3rd movements)

Clifford Curzon, piano

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Pierre Boulez, conductor

Piano Trio No 7 in B flat major, Op 97 'Archduke' (4th movement)

Isabelle Faust, violin

Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello

Alexander Melnikov, fortepiano

Egmont Overture, Op 84

Munich Philharmonic

Christian Thielemann, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.

2020

Keep Calm And Carry On

20200811

In the face of enormous challenges Beethoven keeps writing new music but, with inflation in Vienna running wild, who can afford to pay him for his work? The composer is still suffering from poor health and on the advice of doctors travels to the spa at Teplitz to recover.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.

To the Blackbird; The Dairy House (26 Welsh Songs, WoO 155)

Lynne Dawson, soprano

Alida Schat, violin

Jaap ter Linden, cello

Bart van Oort, piano

Sonata No 26 in E flat major, Op 81a `Les Adieux` (2nd and 3rd movements)

Paul Lewis, piano

Incidental Music to King Stephen, Op 117 (Overture & Victory March)

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Anja Bihlmaier, conductor

Christ on the Mount of Olives, Op 85 (Final Trio and Choruses)

Keith Lewis,tenor

Maria Venuti, soprano

Michel Brodard, bass

G䀀chinger Kantorei

Bach-Collegium Stuttgart

Helmut Rilling, conductor

Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (3rd movement)

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Riccardo Chailly, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.

2020

'only In The World Of Ideals'

20200812

Beethoven is courting and has marriage on the mind. He might be slowing up creatively, but reviews and images of the composer begin to build up a romantic mythology of the composer.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.

String Quartet No 10 in E flat major, Op 74 `Harp` (4th movement)

Endellion Quartet

Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 `Für Elise`

Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 -(2nd movement)

Vienna Philharmonic

Carlos Kleiber, conductor

String Quartet No 11 in F minor, Op 95

Busch Quartet

Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (4th movement)

Wiener Philharmoniker

Rafael Kubelik, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.

2020

Immortal Beloved

20200813

Donald Macleod explores the mysteries behind the woman Beethoven called his Immortal Beloved'. Who was she and what did this love affair, and the loss of it, mean to Beethoven?

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.

An die Geliebte, WoO 140

Olaf B䀀r, baritone

Geoffrey Parsons, piano

Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (1st and 2nd movements)

Berlin Philharmonic

Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Piano Trio in B flat major, WoO 39

Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Itzhak Perlman, violin

Lynn Harrell, cello

An de Ferne Geliebte, Op 98

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone

Jorg Demus, piano

3 Equali for Four Trombones, WoO 30

Michael Buchanan, trombone

Kasia Wieczorek, trombone

Eroica Berlin, trombone

Jacob Lehm, trombone

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.

2020

05 LAST

Annus Horribilis

20200814

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven life during the year 1812, when heartbreak was followed by a relentless piling up of other misfortunes and misery for the composer. It was also the year when Beethoven met one of the other towering figures of the age - Goethe.

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon's second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn't the only thing to afflict the composer either, alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed Immortal Beloved'.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.

Kennst du das Land, Op 75 No 1

Ann Murray, mezzo soprano

Iain Burnside, piano

Violin Sonata No 10 in G major, Op 96

Jennifer Pike, violin

Tom Blach, piano

Meeresstille und Gluckliche Fahrt, Op 112

Monteverdi Choir

Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique

Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor

Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 (4th movement)

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Richard Hickox, conductor

Freudvoll und Leidvoll (Incidental Music for Egmont, Op 84)

Gundula Janowitz, soprano

Berliner Philharmoniker

Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2020	01	The Aftermath Of War	20200810	Donald Macleod explores how the after effects of Napoleon's invasion of Vienna including crippling economic sanctions and devaluation of the currency, impacted Beethoven's life and work. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon's second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn't the only thing to afflict the composer either; alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed Immortal Beloved'. Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. Fantasie in G minor, Op 77 Anna Tsybuleva, piano Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 `Emperor` (2nd and 3rd movements) Clifford Curzon, piano BBC Symphony Orchestra Pierre Boulez, conductor Piano Trio No 7 in B flat major, Op 97 'Archduke' (4th movement) Isabelle Faust, violin Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello Alexander Melnikov, fortepiano Egmont Overture, Op 84 Munich Philharmonic Christian Thielemann, conductor Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.
2020	02	Keep Calm And Carry On	20200811	In the face of enormous challenges Beethoven keeps writing new music but, with inflation in Vienna running wild, who can afford to pay him for his work? The composer is still suffering from poor health and on the advice of doctors travels to the spa at Teplitz to recover. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon's second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn't the only thing to afflict the composer either; alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed Immortal Beloved'. Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. To the Blackbird; The Dairy House (26 Welsh Songs, WoO 155) Lynne Dawson, soprano Alida Schat, violin Jaap ter Linden, cello Bart van Oort, piano Sonata No 26 in E flat major, Op 81a `Les Adieux` (2nd and 3rd movements) Paul Lewis, piano Incidental Music to King Stephen, Op 117 (Overture & Victory March) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Anja Bihlmaier, conductor Christ on the Mount of Olives, Op 85 (Final Trio and Choruses) Keith Lewis,tenor Maria Venuti, soprano Michel Brodard, bass G䀀chinger Kantorei Bach-Collegium Stuttgart Helmut Rilling, conductor Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (3rd movement) Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Riccardo Chailly, conductor Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.
2020	03	'only In The World Of Ideals'	20200812	Beethoven is courting and has marriage on the mind. He might be slowing up creatively, but reviews and images of the composer begin to build up a romantic mythology of the composer. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon's second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn't the only thing to afflict the composer either; alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed Immortal Beloved'. Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. String Quartet No 10 in E flat major, Op 74 `Harp` (4th movement) Endellion Quartet Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 `Für Elise` Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 -(2nd movement) Vienna Philharmonic Carlos Kleiber, conductor String Quartet No 11 in F minor, Op 95 Busch Quartet Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (4th movement) Wiener Philharmoniker Rafael Kubelik, conductor Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.
2020	04	Immortal Beloved	20200813	Donald Macleod explores the mysteries behind the woman Beethoven called his Immortal Beloved'. Who was she and what did this love affair, and the loss of it, mean to Beethoven? This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon's second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn't the only thing to afflict the composer either; alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed Immortal Beloved'. Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. An die Geliebte, WoO 140 Olaf B䀀r, baritone Geoffrey Parsons, piano Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (1st and 2nd movements) Berlin Philharmonic Herbert von Karajan, conductor Piano Trio in B flat major, WoO 39 Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano Itzhak Perlman, violin Lynn Harrell, cello An de Ferne Geliebte, Op 98 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone Jorg Demus, piano 3 Equali for Four Trombones, WoO 30 Michael Buchanan, trombone Kasia Wieczorek, trombone Eroica Berlin, trombone Jacob Lehm, trombone Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.
2020	05 LAST	Annus Horribilis	20200814	Donald Macleod explores Beethoven life during the year 1812, when heartbreak was followed by a relentless piling up of other misfortunes and misery for the composer. It was also the year when Beethoven met one of the other towering figures of the age - Goethe. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon's second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn't the only thing to afflict the composer either, alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed Immortal Beloved'. Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven's life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. Kennst du das Land, Op 75 No 1 Ann Murray, mezzo soprano Iain Burnside, piano Violin Sonata No 10 in G major, Op 96 Jennifer Pike, violin Tom Blach, piano Meeresstille und Gluckliche Fahrt, Op 112 Monteverdi Choir Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 (4th movement) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Richard Hickox, conductor Freudvoll und Leidvoll (Incidental Music for Egmont, Op 84) Gundula Janowitz, soprano Berliner Philharmoniker Herbert von Karajan, conductor Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.