Beethoven Unleashed - Freedom And Joy

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2020

What Is A Symphony?

20201116

They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!`

Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by the conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique, to delve into the world of these nine sublime works.

In Monday's programme they discuss Beethoven's beginnings with the form, and his first two Symphonies, exploring what the Symphony was when Beethoven first came to write one, and what he did, even in these early works, to change it.

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.

Symphony No 1 in C , op 21 - I. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio. Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Symphony No 1 in C, op 21 - III. Menuet segue IV. Finale. London Philharmonic Orchestra/Kurt Masur. Symphony No 2 in D, op 36 - I. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio. Tonhalle Orchester Zürich/David Zinman. Symphony No 2 in D, op 36 - II. Larghetto segue III. Scherzo. Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's first two symphonies.

2020

Writing For Eternity

20201117

They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!`

Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique, to delve into the world of these nine sublime works.

In Tuesday's programme, they explore Beethoven's monumental Third Symphony, Eroica', which was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, and the greatly contrasting symphony that followed it - Beethoven's Fourth.

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.

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's Third and Fourth Symphonies.

2020

Personal Philosophies

20201118

They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!`

Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by the conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique to delve into the world of these nine sublime works.

In Wednesday's programme, they explore perhaps the most famous piece of music ever written, Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony, and the bucolic sounds of his Sixth Symphony, the Pastoral', and ask what these two works - seemingly so different - actually have in common.

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.

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies.

2020

The Dance Of Life

20201119

They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!`

Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique to delve into the world of these nine sublime works.

In Thursday's programme, they explore Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, which Richard Wagner called the apotheosis of the dance', and Beethoven's penultimate Symphony, the Eighth - a work which seems more traditional, and which, perhaps as a result of this, has never achieved the popularity of Beethoven's other symphonies.

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.

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's Seventh and Eighth Symphonies.

2020

05 LAST

What Can A Symphony Be?

20201120

They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!`

In the final programme of the week, they discuss Beethoven's epic final symphony - the Ninth - a work which changed the idea of what a symphony could be. Over the course of the programme they explore the links to Beethoven's late great choral work the Missa Solemnis and what the experience of the nine symphonies as a whole still has to say to us today.

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.

Missa Solemnis in D major, op.123 - Credo (from Et Incarnatus Est to end)

Lucy Crowe (soprano)

Jennifer Johnston (mezzo)

James Gilchrist (tenor)

Matthew Rose (bass)

Sir John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op.125 - I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso

Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig

Riccardo Chailly (conductor)

Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op.125 - IV. Finale

Luba Orgonasova (soprano)

Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)

Gilles Cachemaille (bass)

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's epic, final Ninth Symphony.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2020	01	What Is A Symphony?	20201116	They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!` Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by the conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique, to delve into the world of these nine sublime works. In Monday's programme they discuss Beethoven's beginnings with the form, and his first two Symphonies, exploring what the Symphony was when Beethoven first came to write one, and what he did, even in these early works, to change it. 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. Symphony No 1 in C , op 21 - I. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio. Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Symphony No 1 in C, op 21 - III. Menuet segue IV. Finale. London Philharmonic Orchestra/Kurt Masur. Symphony No 2 in D, op 36 - I. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio. Tonhalle Orchester Zürich/David Zinman. Symphony No 2 in D, op 36 - II. Larghetto segue III. Scherzo. Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's first two symphonies.
2020	02	Writing For Eternity	20201117	They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!` Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique, to delve into the world of these nine sublime works. In Tuesday's programme, they explore Beethoven's monumental Third Symphony, Eroica', which was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, and the greatly contrasting symphony that followed it - Beethoven's Fourth. 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. Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's Third and Fourth Symphonies.
2020	03	Personal Philosophies	20201118	They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!` Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by the conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique to delve into the world of these nine sublime works. In Wednesday's programme, they explore perhaps the most famous piece of music ever written, Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony, and the bucolic sounds of his Sixth Symphony, the Pastoral', and ask what these two works - seemingly so different - actually have in common. 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. Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies.
2020	04	The Dance Of Life	20201119	They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!` Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique to delve into the world of these nine sublime works. In Thursday's programme, they explore Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, which Richard Wagner called the apotheosis of the dance', and Beethoven's penultimate Symphony, the Eighth - a work which seems more traditional, and which, perhaps as a result of this, has never achieved the popularity of Beethoven's other symphonies. 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. Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's Seventh and Eighth Symphonies.
2020	05 LAST	What Can A Symphony Be?	20201120	They have been described as `the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man`, `an expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling`, and `music [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.` There is no question that Beethoven's nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: `You can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!` Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique to delve into the world of these nine sublime works. In the final programme of the week, they discuss Beethoven's epic final symphony - the Ninth - a work which changed the idea of what a symphony could be. Over the course of the programme they explore the links to Beethoven's late great choral work the Missa Solemnis and what the experience of the nine symphonies as a whole still has to say to us today. 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. Missa Solemnis in D major, op.123 - Credo (from Et Incarnatus Est to end) Lucy Crowe (soprano) Jennifer Johnston (mezzo) James Gilchrist (tenor) Matthew Rose (bass) Sir John Eliot Gardiner (conductor) Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op.125 - I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig Riccardo Chailly (conductor) Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op.125 - IV. Finale Luba Orgonasova (soprano) Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Gilles Cachemaille (bass) Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod and John Eliot Gardiner discuss Beethoven's epic, final Ninth Symphony.