Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 01 | Exploring Vienna | 20200224 | Donald Macleod follows Beethoven as he sets himself up in his new home of Vienna. The palaces that line the streets are in stark contrast to the cramped and stuffy attic room where he finds lodgings. This week, Donald Macleod's focus is on Beethoven's first months and years in Vienna, following his move there from his home town of Bonn. The young composer was still in his early twenties, low on cash, and had only a handful of works to his name. He was going to have to work hard to find success in the imperial capital, where audiences had grown up on the music of Mozart and Haydn. All through 2020, Donald Macleod takes an unprecedented deep dive into the compelling story and extraordinary music of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this uniquely ambitious series, told across 125 episodes of Composer of the Week, Donald puts us inside Beethoven's world and explores his hopes, struggles and perseverance in all the colourful detail this amazing narrative deserves. Alongside this in-depth biography, Donald will also be meeting and talking to Beethoven enthusiasts and experts from across the world to discover how his music continues to speak to us in the 21st century. Through story and sound, the series builds into a vivid new portrait of this composer, born 250 years ago this year, who made art that changed how people saw themselves and understood the world. La Partenza, WoO 124 Ilker Arcayürek, tenor Simon Lepper, piano String Quartet in A minor, Op 132 (II. Allegro ma non tanto) Elias Quartet Piano Concerto No 2 (III. Rondo) Academy of St Martin in the Fields Jan Lisiecki, piano/director Trio in G major, Op 1 No 2 Atos Trio Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales |
| 2020 | 02 | Mature Student | 20200225 | Newly arrived in Vienna, Beethoven seeks out music lessons with the most celebrated musician of the time, Joseph Haydn. It proves to be an uneasy relationship for both of them. This week, Donald Macleod's focus is on Beethoven's first months and years in Vienna, following his move there from his home town of Bonn. The young composer was still in his early twenties, low on cash, and had only a handful of works to his name. He was going to have to work hard to find success in the imperial capital, where audiences had grown up on the music of Mozart and Haydn. All through 2020, Donald Macleod takes an unprecedented deep dive into the compelling story and extraordinary music of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this uniquely ambitious series, told across 125 episodes of Composer of the Week, Donald puts us inside Beethoven's world and explores his hopes, struggles and perseverance in all the colourful detail this amazing narrative deserves. Alongside this in-depth biography, Donald will also be meeting and talking to Beethoven enthusiasts and experts from across the world to discover how his music continues to speak to us in the 21st century. Through story and sound, the series builds into a vivid new portrait of this composer, born 250 years ago this year, who made art that changed how people saw themselves and understood the world. Bagatelle, Op 33 No 7 (Presto) Pavel Kolesnikov, piano String Trio, Op 3 in E flat major ( I. Allegro con brio) Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin Bruno Giuranna, viola Mstislav Rostropovich, cello Piano Sonata No 2, Op 2 No 2 (3rd and 4th movements) Mieczys?aw Horszowski Symphony No 8, (2nd and 3rd movements) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Richard Hickox, conductor String Quartet No 16 in F, Op 135 (3rd and 4th movements) Van Kuijk Quartet Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales Once in Vienna, Beethoven seeks lessons with the most celebrated musician in town. |
| 2020 | 03 | A Prince Among Patrons | 20200226 | As his money begins to run out, Beethoven desperately needs to find a reliable source of income in Vienna. Could Prince Carl Lichnowsky be the answer to his prayers? This week, Donald Macleod's focus is on Beethoven's first months and years in Vienna, following his move there from his home town of Bonn. The young composer was still in his early twenties, low on cash, and had only a handful of works to his name. He was going to have to work hard to find success in the imperial capital, where audiences had grown up on the music of Mozart and Haydn. All through 2020, Donald Macleod takes an unprecedented deep dive into the compelling story and extraordinary music of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this uniquely ambitious series, told across 125 episodes of Composer of the Week, Donald puts us inside Beethoven's world and explores his hopes, struggles and perseverance in all the colourful detail this amazing narrative deserves. Alongside this in-depth biography, Donald will also be meeting and talking to Beethoven enthusiasts and experts from across the world to discover how his music continues to speak to us in the 21st century. Through story and sound, the series builds into a vivid new portrait of this composer, born 250 years ago this year, who made art that changed how people saw themselves and understood the world. Sextet for horns and string quartet, Op 81b Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet Othmar Berger and Manfred Klier, horns Symphony No 2 (1st movement) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Thierry Fischer, conductor Quartet in E flat major, Op 127 (3rd and 4th movements) Van Kuijk Quartet Piano Sonata No 12 in A flat, Op 26 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, piano Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales As his money runs out, Beethoven gets desperate for a reliable source of income in Vienna. |
| 2020 | 04 | A Glance To The Future | 20200227 | Having found his feet in Vienna, Beethoven welcomes his brother to the city and thinks about settling down, maybe even finding a wife. That might be more challenging than he expects. This week, Donald Macleod's focus is on Beethoven's first months and years in Vienna, following his move there from his home town of Bonn. The young composer was still in his early twenties, low on cash, and had only a handful of works to his name. He was going to have to work hard to find success in the imperial capital, where audiences had grown up on the music of Mozart and Haydn. All through 2020, Donald Macleod takes an unprecedented deep dive into the compelling story and extraordinary music of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this uniquely ambitious series, told across 125 episodes of Composer of the Week, Donald puts us inside Beethoven's world and explores his hopes, struggles and perseverance in all the colourful detail this amazing narrative deserves. Alongside this in-depth biography, Donald will also be meeting and talking to Beethoven enthusiasts and experts from across the world to discover how his music continues to speak to us in the 21st century. Through story and sound, the series builds into a vivid new portrait of this composer, born 250 years ago this year, who made art that changed how people saw themselves and understood the world. Piano Sonata No 3 in C, Op 2 No 3 (3rd movement) Sviatoslav Richter, piano Piano Sonata No 1, Op 2 No 1 (final movement) Alexander Slobodyanik, piano Violin Sonata, Op 30 No 2 (3rd movement) Jennifer Pike, violin Daniel Tong, piano Adelaide', Op 46 Robin Tritschler, tenor Julius Drake, piano String Trio Op 3 in E flat major (4th, 5th and 6th movements) Leopold Trio Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales Donald Macleod finds Beethoven thinking about settling in Vienna and looking for love. |
| 2020 | 05 LAST | Opus 1 | 20200228 | Donald Macleod looks at how Beethoven the celebrated pianist strove to become known as Beethoven the revered composer, carefully planning his strategy to win over Vienna's wealthy music lovers. This week, Donald Macleod's focus is on Beethoven's first months and years in Vienna, following his move there from his home town of Bonn. The young composer was still in his early twenties, low on cash, and had only a handful of works to his name. He was going to have to work hard to find success in the imperial capital, where audiences had grown up on the music of Mozart and Haydn. All through 2020, Donald Macleod takes an unprecedented deep dive into the compelling story and extraordinary music of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this uniquely ambitious series, told across 125 episodes of Composer of the Week, Donald puts us inside Beethoven's world and explores his hopes, struggles and perseverance in all the colourful detail this amazing narrative deserves. Alongside this in-depth biography, Donald will also be meeting and talking to Beethoven enthusiasts and experts from across the world to discover how his music continues to speak to us in the 21st century. Through story and sound, the series builds into a vivid new portrait of this composer, born 250 years ago this year, who made art that changed how people saw themselves and understood the world. 12 Minuets, WoO 7, No 1 BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Anja Bihlmaier, conductor Piano Concerto No 1 in C major, Op 15 (1st movement) Francesco Piemontesi, piano BBC National Orchestra of Wales Kazuki Yamada, conductor Piano Trio Op 1 No 3 (1st and 2nd movements) Atos Trio 12 Minuets WoO 7, Nos. 7 & 11 Piano Concerto No 1 in C major, Op 15 (3rd movement) Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales Donald Macleod looks at how Beethoven the pianist strove to become known as a composer. |