Beethoven Unleashed: Beethoven and the Voice

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s vocal music with Iain Burnside and Simone Young. In this week’s episode, Donald Macleod and his guests discuss some personal favourites from Beethoven's vocal music, taking in the giants of choral repertory like the Missa Solemnis and the ninth symphony, his opera Fidelio and orchestral vocal music, as well as relishing the astonishing variety of his song-writing, from the song cycle An die Ferne Geliebte and the most profoundly moving vocal masterpieces, to a comic song most likely dashed off to amuse friends in a bar.

Composer of the Week will be 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: Christus am Ölberge, Op 85 Ein Selbstgespräch, WoO 144 Adelaide, Op 46 Funeral Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II Christus am Olberge, Op 85 Aus Goethes Faust, Op 75, No 3 Der Wachtelschlag, WoO 129 L'amante impaziente, Op 82 (a pair of settings) Ah Perfido!, Op 65 Mass in C, Op 86 (Gloria, Sanctus & Benedictus) Klage, WoO 112 Neue Liebe, neues Leben, WoO 127 Fantasia for Piano, Choir and Orchestra in C minor op 80 Music, Love and Wine, Op 108, No 1 La Tiranna, WoO 125 Fidelio (Act 1), O welche Lust, in freier Luft (Prisoner’s Chorus) Fidelio (Act 1, Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin? Fidelio (Act 2), Introduction and Aria Gott! Welch’ Dunkel hier! In des Lebens Frühlingstagen An die Hoffnung, Op 94 Maigesang (Mailied), Op 52, No 4 Three Lieder to poems by Goethe, Op 83 Der glorreiche Augenblick, Op 136 (Final chorus: Es treten hervor die Scharen der Frauen) Cantata on the Accession of Leopold II, WoO 88, Fliesse, Wonnezähre, fliesse! An die ferne geliebte, Op 98 Meerestille und glückliche Fahrt, Op 112 Der Kuss, Op 128 Abendlied unter dem gestirnten Himmel, WoO 150 Missa Solemnis in D major, Op 123, Credo Symphony No 9 (4th movement)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Johannah Smith 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: Beethoven and the Voice https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hv23

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