Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 01 | Family Ties | 20201005 | Beethoven had never shown much interest in fatherhood but, following the death of his younger brother, he determined to take on that role for his nephew Karl, despite the objections of Karl's mother who was still very much alive. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821, a period when the composer was moving towards yet another extraordinary and revolutionary flowering of his creativity. However, something was holding him back. Beethoven had resolved to become the legal guardian of his nephew, Karl, and to remove him from the care of his mother, Johanna. The resulting court battles would rumble on for five years, damaging everyone involved, consuming them all, and distracting Beethoven from his music. 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. Piano Sonata No.25, Op.79: II. Andante & III. Vivace Maurizio Pollini, piano String Quartet Op.95 Serioso', III. Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso The Lindsays Sehnsucht, WoO.146 Benjamin Appl, baritone Graham Johnson, piano Cello Sonata Op.102, No.1 Nicolas Altstaedt, cello Jos退 Gallardo, piano Variations on `Ich bin de Schneider Kakadu` by Wenzel Müller, Op.121a The Raphael Trio Beethoven determines to take on the role of father to his young nephew Karl. |
| 2020 | 02 | Diminishing Returns | 20201006 | Beethoven's hearing had now deteriorated to the point where normal conversation was almost impossible. He took to carrying around notebooks so people could write down what they wanted to say to him, creating an extraordinary and detailed record of his day-to-day life. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821, a period when the composer was moving towards yet another extraordinary and revolutionary flowering of his creativity. However, something was holding him back. Beethoven had resolved to become the legal guardian of his nephew, Karl, and to remove him from the care of his mother, Johanna. The resulting court battles would rumble on for five years, damaging everyone involved, consuming them all, and distracting Beethoven from his music. 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. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.16, Op.31 No.1: I. Allegro Vivace Igor Levit, piano The Creatures of Prometheus (extracts) Armonia Atenea Conducted by George Petrou Abschiedsgesang WoO.102 Berliner Solisten Dietrich Knothe, Director Piano Sonata No.30, Op.109 The Miller of Dee WoO.157, No.4 Dania El Zein, mezzo soprano John Bernard, tenor Jean-Fran瀀ois Rouchon, baritone Alessandro Fagiuoli, violin Andrea Musto, cello Jean-Pierre Armengaud, piano Beethoven, now very deaf, turns to notebooks to manage his conversations. |
| 2020 | 03 | Humiliation | 20201007 | Beethoven finds that looking after his young nephew is more challenging that he had anticipated, while Karl's mother - Beethoven's sister-in-law - fights to maintain a say in the boy's upbringing. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821, a period when the composer was moving towards yet another extraordinary and revolutionary flowering of his creativity. However, something was holding him back. Beethoven had resolved to become the legal guardian of his nephew, Karl, and to remove him from the care of his mother, Johanna. The resulting court battles would rumble on for five years, damaging everyone involved, consuming them all, and distracting Beethoven from his music. 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. Fugue for Strings Op.137 WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne Chamber Players Quintet for strings Op.104, III. Menuetto & IV. Finale Piano Sonata No.29, Op.106 `Hammerklavier`: II. Scherzo & III. Adagio Sostenuto Mitsuko Uchida, piano National Airs with Variations Op.107, No.5 Wolfgang Schulz, flute Rudolf Buchbinder, piano Bagatelle in B flat, WoO.60 Alfred Brendel, piano Beethoven is dragged back to court as Karl's mother tries to win back custody of her son. |
| 2020 | 04 | Broken Promises | 20201008 | Beethoven was anxious to get back to writing music after focusing so much time and energy on his nephew Karl. He commits to several large and potentially lucrative projects, but will he be able to follow them through? This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821, a period when the composer was moving towards yet another extraordinary and revolutionary flowering of his creativity. However, something was holding him back. Beethoven had resolved to become the legal guardian of his nephew, Karl, and to remove him from the care of his mother, Johanna. The resulting court battles would rumble on for five years, damaging everyone involved, consuming them all, and distracting Beethoven from his music. 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. God Save the King, WoO.157, No.3 Natalie P退rez, mezzo soprano John Bernard, tenor Jean-Fran瀀ois Rouchon, baritone Alessandro Fagiuoli, violin Andrea Musto, cello Jean-Pierre Armengaud, piano Namensfeier Overture Op.115 Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Riccardo Chailly Piano Sonata No.28, Op.101 H退l耀ne Grimaud, piano So oder so WoO.148 Hermann Prey, baritone Leonard Hokanson, piano Missa Solemnis: Benedictus Bach Collegium Stuttgart conducted by Helmuth Rilling Beethoven commits to several large projects, but can he follow them through? |
| 2020 | 05 LAST | On Trial | 20201009 | Beethoven makes a final appeal to the judges who will decide if he can retain custody of his young nephew Karl, or whether the boy should be returned to his mother. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821, a period when the composer was moving towards yet another extraordinary and revolutionary flowering of his creativity. However, something was holding him back. Beethoven had resolved to become the legal guardian of his nephew, Karl, and to remove him from the care of his mother, Johanna. The resulting court battles would rumble on for five years, damaging everyone involved, consuming them all, and distracting Beethoven from his music. 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. Bester Magistrat, Ihr friert WoO.177 Berliner Singakademie Directed by Dietrich Knothe Tremate, empi, tremate Op.116 Reetta Haavisto, soprano Dan Karlstr怀m, tenor Kevin Greenlaw, baritone Turku Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Leif Segerstam Bagatelles Op.119, Nos.7-11 Alfred Brendel, piano Abendlied unterm gestirnten Himmel WoO.150 Benjamin Appl, baritone Graham Johnson, piano March for Military Band WoO.24 (extract) Berlin Philharmonic Wind Ensemble conducted by Hans Priem-Bergrath Piano Sonata No.31, Op.110 Beethoven makes a final appeal to prevent his nephew Karl being returned to his mother. |