Beethoven Unleashed: Creating the Myth

Donald Macleod follows Beethoven through the years 1810-1812.

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven’s life through 1810-1812, a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon’s second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn’t the only thing to afflict the composer either; alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed ‘Immortal Beloved’. 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.

Music Featured: Fantasie in G minor, Op 77 Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 “Emperor” (2nd and 3rd movements) Piano Trio No 7 in B flat major, Op 97 "Archduke" (4th movement) Egmont Overture, Op 84 To the Blackbird; The Dairy House (26 Welsh Songs, WoO 155) Sonata No 26 in E flat major, Op 81a “Les Adieux” (2nd and 3rd movements) Incidental Music to King Stephen, Op 117 (Overture & Victory March) Christ on the Mount of Olives, Op 85 (Final Trio and Choruses) Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (3rd movement) String Quartet No 10 in E flat major, Op 74 “Harp” (4th movement) Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 “Für Elise” Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 -(2nd movement) String Quartet No 11 in F minor, Op 95 Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (4th movement) An die Geliebte, WoO 140 Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (1st and 2nd movements) Piano Trio in B flat major, WoO 39 An de Ferne Geliebte, Op 98 3 Equali for Four Trombones, WoO 30 Kennst du das Land, Op 75 No 1 Violin Sonata No 10 in G major, Op 96 Meeresstille und Gluckliche Fahrt, Op 112 Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 (4th movement) Freudvoll und Leidvoll (Incidental Music for Egmont, Op 84)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: Creating the Myth https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000llpc

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z