Beethoven: The Basics with Andy Bush

In the final episode of the series, Andy takes a look at some of Beethoven’s later works and asks his guests to explain which 1 piece of his music best describes the great composer’s legacy and influence. References to tour merch, Wimpy and privet hedges may also feature.

Many thanks to the following musicians who contributed to this episode: Pianist Stephen Hough, conductor Karin Hendrickson, clarinettist Julian Bliss, Scala Radio presenter Jack Pepper, violinist Nicola Benedetti, leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Maya Iwabuchi, conductor Jonathon Heyward, violinist Anna Phoebe from AVAWAVES and music director of the Halle Orchestra Mark Elder.

Thanks also to the London Philharmonic Orchestra for providing some of the music extracts - we heard their recording of the 5th symphony, conducted by Kurt Masur, and the 9th, conducted by Klaus Tennstedt. You can find LPO Label releases on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. This podcast also features clips of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4, performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com

In the penultimate episode, Andy Bush turns to Beethoven’s ill health and explores how it affected his music. How he was able to continue composing as he became increasingly deaf?

Andy gains insight from Maya Iwabuchi, leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, clarinettist Julian Bliss, cellist Matthew Barley, pianist Stephen Hough, conductor Karin Hendrickson and Scala Radio presenter and composer Jack Pepper.

The podcast features an extract of Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No.3, played by Leonard Elschenbroich and Alexei Grynyuk, which is available on Onyx Records, and his second symphony, played by the Britten Sinfonia, which is released on Signum Classics, along with clips of the Piano Concertos 3 & 4, performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5, played by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com. Other extracts were provided by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and you can find LPO Label releases on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings.

Andy Bush investigates Beethoven’s skills on stage, as a pianist, improviser and conductor, and finds useful parallels with Donkey Kong, dry ice and Dane Bowers.

The guests in this episode are conductors Karin Hendrickson, Jonathon Heyward and Sir Mark Elder, pianist Stephen Hough, cellist Matthew Barley, clarinettist Julian Bliss and composer and Scala Radio presenter Jack Pepper.

This podcast features clips of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 3 & 4, performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony No.7, performed by the Britten Sinfonia, and the Piano Concerto No.5 performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com. Other musical extracts were provided by the London Philharmonic Orchestra; LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings.

Andy Bush takes a look at the premieres of Beethoven's works that have gone down in history and manages to include references to in-flight safety videos, good soup and premium rate phone lines.

The guests in this episode are conductors Sir Mark Elder and Karin Hendrickson, pianist Stephen Hough and clarinettist Julian Bliss.

This podcast features clips of Beethoven’s Symphonies 5, 6 and 9, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra; LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. The recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4 are performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 is performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com

Andy Bush finds out who kept a roof over Ludwig’s head by commissioning him to write music. Turns out there were quite a few princes, but only one of them was called a donkey…

The guests in this episode are conductor Carlo Rizzi, leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Maya Iwabuchi, Anna Phoebe from AVAWAVES, cellist Matthew Barley, conductor Jonathon Heyward and Music Director of the Hallé Orchestra Sir Mark Elder.

This podcast features clips of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach, and Beethoven’s Symphony No.3, performed by the LPO conducted by Kurt Masur. The extracts of Beethoven’s Symphonies 5 & 9 in the podcast introduction are also performed by the LPO; LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. The recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4 are performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 is performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com

Andy Bush takes a look at Ludwig's friends, frenemies and the significant members of his family. References to X-men, index fingers and Bond villains also feature.

The guests in this episode are conductor Karin Hendrickson, composer and Scala Radio presenter Jack Pepper, cellist Matthew Barley and clarinettist Julian Bliss.

The extracts of Beethoven’s Symphonies 5 & 9 are performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra; LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. The recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4 are performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 is performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com

Andy Bush finds out about the objects of Beethoven's affections - and it turns out there were quite a few. Who was the Immortal Beloved? Who's the Elise in 'Fur Elise'? And where do llamas and bowls of urine come into all of this?

The guests in this podcast are clarinettist Julian Bliss, violinist Nicola Benedetti, conductor Karin Hendrickson, leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Maya Iwabuchi, conductor Mark Elder and cellist Matthew Barley.

This podcast features a clip of 'Fur Elise' played by Llyr Williams, available here: http://hyperurl.co/BeethovenUnbound. The extracts of Beethoven’s Symphonies 5 & 9 are performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra; LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. The recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4 are performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 is performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com/

In this episode, Andy Bush takes a look at the composers who proved to be the biggest influences on a young Ludwig, namely Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn. Celebrity chefs, Mr Miyagi and Louis Theroux also get a mention as well…

The guests in this podcast are cellist Matthew Barley, conductor Jonathon Heyward, clarinettist Julian Bliss, Scala Radio presenter and composer Jack Pepper, conductor Karin Hendrickson and Music Director of the Hallé Orchestra Sir Mark Elder.

This podcast features extracts of Beethoven’s Symphonies 5 & 9 and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.20 performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. The recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4 are performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 is performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com/

We’ll begin at the beginning - in Bonn, to be precise, where Beethoven was born in 1770. Andy finds out about the young Ludwig’s home life, including a supportive mother and a less than supportive father. How did Beethoven’s upbringing shape his personality and work ethic? What was Beethoven like at school? And how exactly does Andy manage to crowbar references to Annakin Skywalker, HMRC and Keith Richards into this podcast?

The guests in this episode are conductors Mark Elder, Jonathon Heyward and Carlo Rizzi, cellist Matthew Barley and Scala Radio presenter and composer Jack Pepper.

This podcast features extracts of Beethoven’s Symphonies 5 & 9 performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. The recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4 are performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 is performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com/

Andy Bush gets to grips with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.0, musical terminology such as ‘WoO’ and his first completed symphony, somehow managing to find parallels with King’s Cross station, butter adverts and Beverly Hills 90210.

The guests in this podcast are Scala Radio presenter and composer Jack Pepper, conductor Carlo Rizzi, cellist Matthew Barley, clarinettist Julian Bliss and conductor Jonathon Heyward.

This podcast features extracts of Beethoven’s Symphonies 1, 5 & 9 performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. LPO Label releases are available on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings. The recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 & 4 are performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5 is performed by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com/