Composer of the Week

Beethoven Unleashed: In His Own Words


Listen Later

Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven's varied and rich correspondence.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, this week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive correspondence. We’ll hear exchanges with some of his closest friends and patrons, a secret admission about his hearing and the details of a petty argument that gets blown out of all proportion. Beethoven’s flirting gets him into trouble; he falls deeply in love and suffers the misery of rejection on more than one occasion. Plus, the composer writes to his idol, Goethe and finds himself embroiled in some shady dealings with his publishers.

The letters are read by Adrian Lester.

Music Featured:

arr. Matiegka: Serenade in D, Op 8
Overture to Leonore
Violin Sonata No 3 in E flat major, Op 12 No 3
String Quartet No 1 in F major, Op 18 No 1
March for Military Music in F major, WoO 18 'York March'
Piano Trio No 7 in B flat major, Op 97 'Archduke'
Cello Sonata No 3 in A major, Op 69
Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 'Emperor'
Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, Op 27 No 2
An die Hoffnung, Op 32
Piano Sonata No 23 in F minor, Op 57 (Appassionata)
Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59
An die Ferne Geliebte
Piano Sonata No 3 in C major, Op 2 No 3
Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op 47
Septet in E flat major, Op 20 (excerpt)
Cello Sonata in A major, Op 69
Gesang aus der Ferne, WoO 137
Adelaide
Opferlied, Op 121b
Coriolan Overture
Kennst du das Land (Goethe)

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: In His Own Words https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000l6lf

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

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Composer of the WeekBy BBC Radio 3

  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2

2

228 ratings


More shows like Composer of the Week

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,589 Listeners

The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

The LRB Podcast

303 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

376 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

890 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,051 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,470 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,801 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,880 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,766 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,043 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

479 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

44 Listeners

F1: Chequered Flag by BBC Radio 5 Live

F1: Chequered Flag

779 Listeners

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

346 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

236 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

159 Listeners

Record Review Podcast by BBC Radio 3

Record Review Podcast

47 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

46 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

81 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,184 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

723 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,633 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

81 Listeners

Past Present Future by David Runciman

Past Present Future

338 Listeners