Beethoven Unleashed

Beethoven Unleashed - Titan

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2020

'the Moral Law Within Me...'

20201102

Beethoven has found a quote by Kant, which seems to fit with the poetic, spiritual music he is writing in this, his final creative period - `There are two things which raise man above himself and lead to eternal, ever-increasing admiration: the moral law within me and the starry sky above me.` However, below Kant's starry skies, Beethoven's life is in some disarray.

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life and work between 1822 and 1824 - a period during which the composer completed his greatest late masterpieces. It was also a time in which Beethoven became acutely aware of his own mortality, struggling with both his dwindling finances and his deteriorating health, and sought help from, among others, his brother Johann and a new secretary - Anton Schindler.

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. 9, Op.125 - II. Molto Vivace - Presto

Berliner Philharmoniker

Wiener Singverein

Herbert von Karajan (conductor)

Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Sanctus - Pleni sunt cli - Osanna

Ann-Helen Moen (soprano)

Roxana Constantinescu (mezzo-soprano)

James Gilchrist (tenor)

Benjamin Bevan (baritone)

Bach Collegium Japan

Masaaki Suzuki (conductor)

Music for Consecration of the House - 'Wo sich die Pulse jugendlich jagen'; 'La߀t uns im Tanze', WoO.98

Sylvia McNair (soprano)

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Claudio Abbado (conductor)

Fidelio, Op.72 - O namenlose Freude!

Gundula Janowitz (soprano)

Ren退 Kollo (tenor)

Manfred Jungwirth (bass)

Wiener Philharmoniker

Leonard Bernstein (conductor)

Piano Sonata no 32 in C minor, Op.111

Maurizio Pollini (piano)

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.

2020

The Chevalier

20201103

Donald Macleod looks at the period in which Beethoven and his brother Johann reconcile their differences, and Johann begins to help Beethoven in his negotiations with publishers, but not all goes to plan. Johann's life isn't running as smoothly as it seems, and Beethoven ends up with more problems as a result.

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.

Bundeslied, Op. 122 `In allen guten Stunden`

Ambrosian Singers

London Symphony Orchestra

Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor)

String Quartet in E-flat major, Op.127 - I. Maestoso - Allegro

Danish String Quartet

Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Credo: Credo - Et Incarnatus Est

Johanna Winkel (soprano)

Sophie Harmsen (mezzo soprano)

Sebastian Kohlhepp (tenor)

Arttu Kataja (bass)

Kammerchor Stuttgart

Hofkapelle Stuttgart

Frieder Bernius (conductor)

Bagatelles, Op 119 nos. 1-6

Imogen Cooper (piano)

Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Gloria

Lucy Crowe (soprano)

Jennifer Johnston (mezzo soprano)

James Gilchrist (tenor)

Matthew Rose (bass)

Monteverdi Choir

Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique

Sir John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.

2020

Monumental Art

20201104

Beethoven completes the Missa Solemnis and the Diabelli Variations - two of the great large-scale masterpieces of his new spiritual-poetic style. However, plans for more large-scale works - a tenth Symphony and a second Opera - flounder as the composer becomes increasingly aware of his own mortality.

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.

Gratulations Menuett, WoO 3

Philharmonia Hungarica

Hans-Ludwig Hirsch (conductor)

Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Credo: Et ressurexit

Laura Aikin (soprano)

Bernarda Fink (alto)

Johannes Chum (tenor)

Ruben Drole (bass)

Arnold Schoenberg Chor

Concentus Musicus Wien

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor)

Opferlied, Op.121b

Adrianne Pieczonka (soprano)

OSM Chorus & Orchestre symphonique de Montr退al

Kent Nagano (conductor)

Diabelli Variations, Op.120 - variations 30, 32 & 33

Andreas Staier (fortepiano)

Symphony no. 9, Op.125 - I. Allegro ma non troppo

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Herbert Blomstedt (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.

2020

We Need To Talk About Anton

20201105

Anton Schindler becomes Beethoven's secretary, and despite the fact that everyone seems to dislike him, including Beethoven, he quickly becomes indispensable to the composer. However, there is a problem - Anton can't be trusted.

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.

Ta ta ta, WoO162

Accentus

Consecration of House Overture, Op.124

Wiener Akademie

Martin Haselb怀ck (conductor)

Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Agnus Dei: Dona Nobis Pacem

Heather Harper (soprano)

Janet Baker (mezzo soprano)

Robert Tear (tenor)

Hans Sotin (bass)

New Philharmonia Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor)

Waltz in E-flat major, WoO 84

Ronald Brautigam (piano)

Symphony no.9, Op.125 - III. Adagio molto e cantabile

London Symphony Orchestra

Bernard Haitink (conductor)

Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest' - III. Allegretto

Glenn Gould (piano)

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.

2020

05 LAST

'...the Starry Sky Above Me'

20201106

Donald Macleod explores the extraordinary premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which proved both a tremendous success and a financial disaster for 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.

Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Kyrie: Kyrie Eleison (II)

Genia Kühmeier (soprano)

Elisabeth Kulman (mezzo-soprano)

Mark Padmore (tenor)

Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass-baritone)

Anton Barachovsky (solo violin)

Chor and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Bernard Haitink (conductor)

Der Kuss, Op.128

Werner Gura (tenor)

Christoph Berner (fortepiano)

Symphony no. 9, Op.125 - IV. Presto - Allegro ma non troppo

Katerina Beranova (soprano)

Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo soprano)

Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass)

Robert Dean Smith (tenor)

MDR Rundfunkchor

GewandhausKinderchor

Gewandhauschor Leipzig

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Riccardo Chailly (conductor)

Bagatelles for piano, op.126

Andras Schiff (recorded in 2012 at the Beethovenhaus, Bonn)

Producer: Sam Phillips

Donald Macleod explores the premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2020	01	'the Moral Law Within Me...'	20201102	Beethoven has found a quote by Kant, which seems to fit with the poetic, spiritual music he is writing in this, his final creative period - `There are two things which raise man above himself and lead to eternal, ever-increasing admiration: the moral law within me and the starry sky above me.` However, below Kant's starry skies, Beethoven's life is in some disarray. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life and work between 1822 and 1824 - a period during which the composer completed his greatest late masterpieces. It was also a time in which Beethoven became acutely aware of his own mortality, struggling with both his dwindling finances and his deteriorating health, and sought help from, among others, his brother Johann and a new secretary - Anton Schindler. 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. 9, Op.125 - II. Molto Vivace - Presto Berliner Philharmoniker Wiener Singverein Herbert von Karajan (conductor) Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Sanctus - Pleni sunt cli - Osanna Ann-Helen Moen (soprano) Roxana Constantinescu (mezzo-soprano) James Gilchrist (tenor) Benjamin Bevan (baritone) Bach Collegium Japan Masaaki Suzuki (conductor) Music for Consecration of the House - 'Wo sich die Pulse jugendlich jagen'; 'La߀t uns im Tanze', WoO.98 Sylvia McNair (soprano) Rundfunkchor Berlin Claudio Abbado (conductor) Fidelio, Op.72 - O namenlose Freude! Gundula Janowitz (soprano) Ren退 Kollo (tenor) Manfred Jungwirth (bass) Wiener Philharmoniker Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Piano Sonata no 32 in C minor, Op.111 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.
2020	02	The Chevalier	20201103	Donald Macleod looks at the period in which Beethoven and his brother Johann reconcile their differences, and Johann begins to help Beethoven in his negotiations with publishers, but not all goes to plan. Johann's life isn't running as smoothly as it seems, and Beethoven ends up with more problems as a result. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life and work between 1822 and 1824 - a period during which the composer completed his greatest late masterpieces. It was also a time in which Beethoven became acutely aware of his own mortality, struggling with both his dwindling finances and his deteriorating health, and sought help from, among others, his brother Johann and a new secretary - Anton Schindler. 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. Bundeslied, Op. 122 `In allen guten Stunden` Ambrosian Singers London Symphony Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor) String Quartet in E-flat major, Op.127 - I. Maestoso - Allegro Danish String Quartet Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Credo: Credo - Et Incarnatus Est Johanna Winkel (soprano) Sophie Harmsen (mezzo soprano) Sebastian Kohlhepp (tenor) Arttu Kataja (bass) Kammerchor Stuttgart Hofkapelle Stuttgart Frieder Bernius (conductor) Bagatelles, Op 119 nos. 1-6 Imogen Cooper (piano) Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Gloria Lucy Crowe (soprano) Jennifer Johnston (mezzo soprano) James Gilchrist (tenor) Matthew Rose (bass) Monteverdi Choir Orchestre R退volutionnaire et Romantique Sir John Eliot Gardiner (conductor) Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.
2020	03	Monumental Art	20201104	Beethoven completes the Missa Solemnis and the Diabelli Variations - two of the great large-scale masterpieces of his new spiritual-poetic style. However, plans for more large-scale works - a tenth Symphony and a second Opera - flounder as the composer becomes increasingly aware of his own mortality. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life and work between 1822 and 1824 - a period during which the composer completed his greatest late masterpieces. It was also a time in which Beethoven became acutely aware of his own mortality, struggling with both his dwindling finances and his deteriorating health, and sought help from, among others, his brother Johann and a new secretary - Anton Schindler. 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. Gratulations Menuett, WoO 3 Philharmonia Hungarica Hans-Ludwig Hirsch (conductor) Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Credo: Et ressurexit Laura Aikin (soprano) Bernarda Fink (alto) Johannes Chum (tenor) Ruben Drole (bass) Arnold Schoenberg Chor Concentus Musicus Wien Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor) Opferlied, Op.121b Adrianne Pieczonka (soprano) OSM Chorus & Orchestre symphonique de Montr退al Kent Nagano (conductor) Diabelli Variations, Op.120 - variations 30, 32 & 33 Andreas Staier (fortepiano) Symphony no. 9, Op.125 - I. Allegro ma non troppo Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Herbert Blomstedt (conductor) Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.
2020	04	We Need To Talk About Anton	20201105	Anton Schindler becomes Beethoven's secretary, and despite the fact that everyone seems to dislike him, including Beethoven, he quickly becomes indispensable to the composer. However, there is a problem - Anton can't be trusted. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life and work between 1822 and 1824 - a period during which the composer completed his greatest late masterpieces. It was also a time in which Beethoven became acutely aware of his own mortality, struggling with both his dwindling finances and his deteriorating health, and sought help from, among others, his brother Johann and a new secretary - Anton Schindler. 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. Ta ta ta, WoO162 Accentus Consecration of House Overture, Op.124 Wiener Akademie Martin Haselb怀ck (conductor) Missa Solemnis, Op.123 - Agnus Dei: Dona Nobis Pacem Heather Harper (soprano) Janet Baker (mezzo soprano) Robert Tear (tenor) Hans Sotin (bass) New Philharmonia Chorus London Philharmonic Orchestra Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor) Waltz in E-flat major, WoO 84 Ronald Brautigam (piano) Symphony no.9, Op.125 - III. Adagio molto e cantabile London Symphony Orchestra Bernard Haitink (conductor) Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'Tempest' - III. Allegretto Glenn Gould (piano) Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores Beethoven and his work between 1822 and 1824.
2020	05 LAST	'...the Starry Sky Above Me'	20201106	Donald Macleod explores the extraordinary premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which proved both a tremendous success and a financial disaster for the composer. This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's life and work between 1822 and 1824 - a period during which the composer completed his greatest late masterpieces. It was also a time in which Beethoven became acutely aware of his own mortality, struggling with both his dwindling finances and his deteriorating health, and sought help from, among others, his brother Johann and a new secretary - Anton Schindler. 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, Op.123 - Kyrie: Kyrie Eleison (II) Genia Kühmeier (soprano) Elisabeth Kulman (mezzo-soprano) Mark Padmore (tenor) Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass-baritone) Anton Barachovsky (solo violin) Chor and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Bernard Haitink (conductor) Der Kuss, Op.128 Werner Gura (tenor) Christoph Berner (fortepiano) Symphony no. 9, Op.125 - IV. Presto - Allegro ma non troppo Katerina Beranova (soprano) Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo soprano) Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass) Robert Dean Smith (tenor) MDR Rundfunkchor GewandhausKinderchor Gewandhauschor Leipzig Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Riccardo Chailly (conductor) Bagatelles for piano, op.126 Andras Schiff (recorded in 2012 at the Beethovenhaus, Bonn) Producer: Sam Phillips Donald Macleod explores the premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.