Beethoven Unleashed: In Perspective

Donald Macleod introduces personal highlights of his year-long celebration of Beethoven

Donald Macleod embarks on the final week of his year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, selecting his personal highlights of conversations he's had with special guests over the course of 25 series.

Composer of the Week has this year, every alternate week, explored the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth. In this, the final week of 25 series devoted to the extraordinary composer, Donald Macleod looks back over the year, and presents his personal highlights from the interviews he carried out over the course of 125 programmes. From historian Simon Schama to conductors Marin Alsop and John Eliot Gardiner, and pianists Jonathan Biss and Angela Hewitt, Donald was joined by experts and performers who gave remarkable insights into the unique human being that was Beethoven. This week he brings together some of the conversations that stayed with him, building a picture of Beethoven the man, the composer, the interpretation of his music since his death, the times he lived in, and what he means to us today.

Composer of the Week has been 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:

Mass in C, Op 86 - Sanctus Piano Concerto No 4 in G, Op 58 (Andante con moto & Rondo vivace) Violin Sonata No 5 in F, Op 24 “Spring” (4th movement: Rondo) Piano Sonata No 27, Op 90 Maigesang, Op 52 No 4 Piano Sonata No 4 in E flat, Op 7 (2nd movement: Largo, com gran espressione) Violin Concerto in D, Op 61 (1st movement) String Quartet No 16 in F, Op 135 (4th movement: Grave, ma non troppo tratto) Concerto No 3 in C minor, Op 37 (2nd movement: Largo) Fidelio Act 2 Nr 14 & Nr 15 String Quartet No 16 in F, Op 135 (3rd movement: Lento assai, cantate e tranquillo) Sonata No 26 in E flat, Op 81A “Les adieux” (The Absence & The Reunion) Wind Octet in E flat, Op 103(1st movement: Allegro & 2nd movement: Andante) Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur, Op 48 No 4 (The Heavens are Telling) Symphony No 3 in E flat, Op 55 “Eroica” (2nd movement: Marcia funebre. Adagio assai) Piano Trio Op 1 No 3 in C minor (4th movement: Prestissimo) 11 Bagatelles, Op 119 No 3 in D major (A l’Allemande) String Quartet Op.130 (I.Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro) Piano Sonata No 30 in E major, Op.109 (1st movement: Vivace ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo) Symphony No 4 in B flat, OP 60 - 4th movement: Allegro ma non troppo Fidelio Act 1 - Finale

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales

For full track listings, 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: In Perspective https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q853

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