Beethoven Unleashed - In His Own Words

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2020

The Inner Circle

20200727

Donald Macleod explores the letters Beethoven wrote to three of his closest friends. Today his selection includes a secret admission by Beethoven about his hearing and the details of a petty argument that gets blown out of all proportion. The letters are read by Adrian Lester.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive correspondence. Today, Beethoven writes to three of his close friends. Those who knew him were ready to acknowledge his genius, but they also knew he was quick to fly off the handle so a degree of understanding would be needed. Beethoven met Franz Wegeler when he was 12 years old and still living in Bonn. Wegeler became a highly respected physician, and we find Beethoven asking his advice over his many health problems. One of the last letters he wrote is an affectionate letter to Wegeler, a month or so before he died in March 1827. It is most likely that Wegeler introduced Beethoven to the von Breuning family. Beethoven became very friendly with the whole family, and after one of the sons, Stephan, took up a position in Vienna, their friendship developed even further, although not without the occasional upset along the way. A talented musician and a theologian, Carl Amenda, was someone with whom Beethoven felt able to reveal his most personal thoughts and anxieties.

Music includes:

arr. Matiegka: Serenade in D, Op 8

IV: Allegretto alla polacca

Verena Schoneweg, violin

Harald Schoneweg, viola

Volker H怀h, guitar

Overture to Leonore

Freiburg Baroque Orchestra

Ren退 Jacobs, conductor

Violin Sonata No 3 in E flat major, Op 12 No 3

I: Allegro con spirito

Isabelle Faust, violin

Alexander Melnikov, piano

String Quartet No 1 in F major, Op 18 No 1

IV: Allegro

Belcea Quartet

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters to friends with excerpts read by Adrian Lester

2020

The Good Samaritans

20200728

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, read by Adrian Lester. Today, Beethoven writes to his friend and patron Archduke Rudolph on some musical matters and does his utmost to rope in Nanette Streicher to help him a particularly acrimonious falling-out with his servants.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive collection. Today, he looks at two contrasting series of letters, between Beethoven and his loyal patron and friend Archduke Rudolph and the piano maker Nanette Streicher. The Archduke seems to have genuinely liked and respected Beethoven, and for his part Beethoven seems to have been equally fond of his patron. He dedicated many of his best-known works to the Archduke, among them the piano trio that popularly bears the Archduke's name, the Les Adieux piano sonata, the Diabelli variations and the Missa solemnis. As well as being part of the triumvirate that provided an annual stipend to Beethoven, the Archduke was very musical. He took piano lessons with Beethoven and in one letter we find Beethoven offering him some advice on his composition. By contrast, Nanette Streicher owned and ran a successful piano making firm with her husband Johann. As an old acquaintance of Beethoven's, she became something of an adviser to him on all sorts of domestic issues. In his letters to Nanette, Beethoven, in the most insulting terms imaginable, angrily details every perceived outrage committed by his troublesome servants.

Music includes:

March for Military Music in F major, WoO 18 'York March

Berlin Philharmonic Wind Ensemble

Hans Priem-Bergrath, conductor

Piano Trio No 7 in B flat major, Op 97 'Archduke

II: Scherzo

Beaux Arts Trio

Cello Sonata No 3 in A major, Op 69

III: Adagio cantabile - Allegro vivace

Leonard Elschenbroich, cello

Alexei Grynyuk, piano

Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 'Emperor

3rd movement: Rondo allegro ma non troppo

Stephen Hough, piano

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Hannu Lintu, conductor

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester.

2020

Unlucky In Love

20200729

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's varied and rich correspondence. Read by Adrian Lester, in today's excerpts from the composer's letters we find that Beethoven's flirting has got him into trouble; he falls deeply in love and suffers the misery of rejection on more than one occasion.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive archive. Today he's looking at some of Beethoven's romantic life through the letters he wrote. According to his close friend Franz Wegeler, 'Beethoven was always in love,' and sometimes made conquests, 'that an Adonis would have found difficult, if not impossible.' All too frequently Beethoven appears to have punched above his weight, falling in love with a succession of women who were socially unattainable, his feelings destined to be crushed. One of his most deep and painful affairs was with the Countess Josephine Deym, but we also find him flirting with the very talented, and married pianist Marie Bigot, sprucing himself up to attract one of his piano pupils, gossiping with the fascinating artist Bettina Brentano, and writing perhaps his most heartfelt words to a mystery woman who remains to this day known only as the Immortal Beloved..

Music includes:

Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, Op 27 No 2

II: Allegretto

Paul Lewis, piano

An die Hoffnung, Op 32

John Mark Ainsley, tenor

Iain Burnside, piano

Piano Sonata No 23 in F minor, Op 57 (Appassionata)

III: Allegro ma non troppo

Ingrid Fliter, piano

Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59

Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

An die Ferne Geliebte

James Gilchrist, tenor

Anna Tilbrook, piano

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's love letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester.

2020

Publishing Tales

20200730

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester. Today Beethoven finds himself embroiled in some shady dealings with his publishers.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive library. Today his focus turns to one of the biggest parts of Beethoven's correspondence, his dealings with all his music publishers. After the deterioration of his hearing ended his career as a virtuoso pianist, selling his music became a major means of supporting himself, so Beethoven had to turn himself into a needle-witted negotiator. Copyright laws didn't exist, so there was plenty of leeway for some dodgy dealing, both on the part of the publishers and by Beethoven too.

Piano Sonata No 3 in C major, Op 2 No 3

IV: Allegro assai

Igor Levit, piano

Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op 47

III. Finale. Presto

James Ehnes, violin

Andrew Armstrong, piano

Septet in E flat major, Op 20 (excerpt)

Gaudier Ensemble

Cello Sonata in A major, Op 69

1st movement: Allegro, ma non tanto

Steven Isserlis, cello

Robert Levin, fortepiano

2020

05 LAST

Poets And Authors

20200731

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters. Read by Adrian Lester, today Beethoven corresponds with some of the leading writers of his day, including his idol, Goethe, and a fascinating young writer and artist, Bettina Brentano. Short of the tools to write his music, he's also in touch with one of his best friends, with an urgent request for some fresh quills.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, over the course of a week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive collection. Today, Adrian Lester reads excerpts from Beethoven's correspondence with a range of the leading writers of the day, from the author of Adelaide, Friedrich von Matthison (who provided the text for one of Beethoven's most popular songs), to Beethoven's idol, Goethe. He also sends a chatty roundup of news to the young artist and writer Bettina Brentano in Berlin, and an urgent request for fresh quills to his old friend, Count Zmeskall.

Music includes:

Gesang aus der Ferne, WoO 137

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone

J怀rg Demus, piano

Stephan Genz, baritone

Roger Vignoles, piano

Opferlied, Op 121b

Maikki S䀀ikk䀀, soprano

Kristina Raudanen, alto

Andreas Nordstr怀m, tenor

The Key Ensemble

Turku Philharmonic Orchestra

Leif Segerstam, conductor

Coriolan Overture

Anima Eterna

Jos van Immerseel, conductor

Kennst du das Land (Goethe)

Pamela Coburn, soprano

Leonard Hokanson, piano

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2020	01	The Inner Circle	20200727	Donald Macleod explores the letters Beethoven wrote to three of his closest friends. Today his selection includes a secret admission by Beethoven about his hearing and the details of a petty argument that gets blown out of all proportion. The letters are read by Adrian Lester. More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive correspondence. Today, Beethoven writes to three of his close friends. Those who knew him were ready to acknowledge his genius, but they also knew he was quick to fly off the handle so a degree of understanding would be needed. Beethoven met Franz Wegeler when he was 12 years old and still living in Bonn. Wegeler became a highly respected physician, and we find Beethoven asking his advice over his many health problems. One of the last letters he wrote is an affectionate letter to Wegeler, a month or so before he died in March 1827. It is most likely that Wegeler introduced Beethoven to the von Breuning family. Beethoven became very friendly with the whole family, and after one of the sons, Stephan, took up a position in Vienna, their friendship developed even further, although not without the occasional upset along the way. A talented musician and a theologian, Carl Amenda, was someone with whom Beethoven felt able to reveal his most personal thoughts and anxieties. Music includes: arr. Matiegka: Serenade in D, Op 8 IV: Allegretto alla polacca Verena Schoneweg, violin Harald Schoneweg, viola Volker H怀h, guitar Overture to Leonore Freiburg Baroque Orchestra Ren退 Jacobs, conductor Violin Sonata No 3 in E flat major, Op 12 No 3 I: Allegro con spirito Isabelle Faust, violin Alexander Melnikov, piano String Quartet No 1 in F major, Op 18 No 1 IV: Allegro Belcea Quartet Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters to friends with excerpts read by Adrian Lester
2020	02	The Good Samaritans	20200728	Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, read by Adrian Lester. Today, Beethoven writes to his friend and patron Archduke Rudolph on some musical matters and does his utmost to rope in Nanette Streicher to help him a particularly acrimonious falling-out with his servants. More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive collection. Today, he looks at two contrasting series of letters, between Beethoven and his loyal patron and friend Archduke Rudolph and the piano maker Nanette Streicher. The Archduke seems to have genuinely liked and respected Beethoven, and for his part Beethoven seems to have been equally fond of his patron. He dedicated many of his best-known works to the Archduke, among them the piano trio that popularly bears the Archduke's name, the Les Adieux piano sonata, the Diabelli variations and the Missa solemnis. As well as being part of the triumvirate that provided an annual stipend to Beethoven, the Archduke was very musical. He took piano lessons with Beethoven and in one letter we find Beethoven offering him some advice on his composition. By contrast, Nanette Streicher owned and ran a successful piano making firm with her husband Johann. As an old acquaintance of Beethoven's, she became something of an adviser to him on all sorts of domestic issues. In his letters to Nanette, Beethoven, in the most insulting terms imaginable, angrily details every perceived outrage committed by his troublesome servants. Music includes: March for Military Music in F major, WoO 18 'York March Berlin Philharmonic Wind Ensemble Hans Priem-Bergrath, conductor Piano Trio No 7 in B flat major, Op 97 'Archduke II: Scherzo Beaux Arts Trio Cello Sonata No 3 in A major, Op 69 III: Adagio cantabile - Allegro vivace Leonard Elschenbroich, cello Alexei Grynyuk, piano Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 'Emperor 3rd movement: Rondo allegro ma non troppo Stephen Hough, piano Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Hannu Lintu, conductor Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester.
2020	03	Unlucky In Love	20200729	Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's varied and rich correspondence. Read by Adrian Lester, in today's excerpts from the composer's letters we find that Beethoven's flirting has got him into trouble; he falls deeply in love and suffers the misery of rejection on more than one occasion. More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive archive. Today he's looking at some of Beethoven's romantic life through the letters he wrote. According to his close friend Franz Wegeler, 'Beethoven was always in love,' and sometimes made conquests, 'that an Adonis would have found difficult, if not impossible.' All too frequently Beethoven appears to have punched above his weight, falling in love with a succession of women who were socially unattainable, his feelings destined to be crushed. One of his most deep and painful affairs was with the Countess Josephine Deym, but we also find him flirting with the very talented, and married pianist Marie Bigot, sprucing himself up to attract one of his piano pupils, gossiping with the fascinating artist Bettina Brentano, and writing perhaps his most heartfelt words to a mystery woman who remains to this day known only as the Immortal Beloved.. Music includes: Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, Op 27 No 2 II: Allegretto Paul Lewis, piano An die Hoffnung, Op 32 John Mark Ainsley, tenor Iain Burnside, piano Piano Sonata No 23 in F minor, Op 57 (Appassionata) III: Allegro ma non troppo Ingrid Fliter, piano Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano An die Ferne Geliebte James Gilchrist, tenor Anna Tilbrook, piano Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's love letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester.
2020	04	Publishing Tales	20200730	Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester. Today Beethoven finds himself embroiled in some shady dealings with his publishers. More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive library. Today his focus turns to one of the biggest parts of Beethoven's correspondence, his dealings with all his music publishers. After the deterioration of his hearing ended his career as a virtuoso pianist, selling his music became a major means of supporting himself, so Beethoven had to turn himself into a needle-witted negotiator. Copyright laws didn't exist, so there was plenty of leeway for some dodgy dealing, both on the part of the publishers and by Beethoven too. Piano Sonata No 3 in C major, Op 2 No 3 IV: Allegro assai Igor Levit, piano Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op 47 III. Finale. Presto James Ehnes, violin Andrew Armstrong, piano Septet in E flat major, Op 20 (excerpt) Gaudier Ensemble Cello Sonata in A major, Op 69 1st movement: Allegro, ma non tanto Steven Isserlis, cello Robert Levin, fortepiano
2020	05 LAST	Poets And Authors	20200731	Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters. Read by Adrian Lester, today Beethoven corresponds with some of the leading writers of his day, including his idol, Goethe, and a fascinating young writer and artist, Bettina Brentano. Short of the tools to write his music, he's also in touch with one of his best friends, with an urgent request for some fresh quills. More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, over the course of a week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive collection. Today, Adrian Lester reads excerpts from Beethoven's correspondence with a range of the leading writers of the day, from the author of Adelaide, Friedrich von Matthison (who provided the text for one of Beethoven's most popular songs), to Beethoven's idol, Goethe. He also sends a chatty roundup of news to the young artist and writer Bettina Brentano in Berlin, and an urgent request for fresh quills to his old friend, Count Zmeskall. Music includes: Gesang aus der Ferne, WoO 137 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone J怀rg Demus, piano Stephan Genz, baritone Roger Vignoles, piano Opferlied, Op 121b Maikki S䀀ikk䀀, soprano Kristina Raudanen, alto Andreas Nordstr怀m, tenor The Key Ensemble Turku Philharmonic Orchestra Leif Segerstam, conductor Coriolan Overture Anima Eterna Jos van Immerseel, conductor Kennst du das Land (Goethe) Pamela Coburn, soprano Leonard Hokanson, piano Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, with excerpts read by Adrian Lester.