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A Prince among Patrons

As his money begins to run out, Beethoven desperately needs to find a reliable source of income in Vienna. Could Prince Carl Lichnowsky be the answer to his prayers?

As his money begins to run out, Beethoven desperately needs to find a reliable source of income in Vienna. Could Prince Carl Lichnowsky be the answer to his prayers?

This week, Donald Macleod’s focus is on Beethoven’s first months and years in Vienna, following his move there from his home town of Bonn. The young composer was still in his early twenties, low on cash, and had only a handful of works to his name. He was going to have to work hard to find success in the imperial capital, where audiences had grown up on the music of Mozart and Haydn.

All through 2020, Donald Macleod takes an unprecedented deep dive into the compelling story and extraordinary music of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this uniquely ambitious series, told across 125 episodes of Composer of the Week, Donald puts us inside Beethoven’s world and explores his hopes, struggles and perseverance in all the colourful detail this amazing narrative deserves. Alongside this in-depth biography, Donald will also be meeting and talking to Beethoven enthusiasts and experts from across the world to discover how his music continues to speak to us in the 21st century. Through story and sound, the series builds into a vivid new portrait of this composer, born 250 years ago this year, who made art that changed how people saw themselves and understood the world.

Sextet for horns and string quartet, Op 81b
Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
Othmar Berger and Manfred Klier, horns

Symphony No 2 (1st movement)
´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales
Thierry Fischer, conductor

Quartet in E flat major, Op 127 (3rd and 4th movements)
Van Kuijk Quartet

Piano Sonata No 12 in A flat, Op 26
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, piano

Produced by Chris Taylor for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Sextet for Horns and String Quartet in E flat major, Op 81b

    Performer: Members Of The Berlin Philharmonic Octet. Performer: Manfred Klier.
    • Philips 4260912.
    • Philips.
    • 9.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 2, Op 36 (1st movement)

    Orchestra: ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in E flat major, Op 127 (3rd and 4th movements)

    Ensemble: Van Kuijk Quartet.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No 12 in A flat major, Op 26

    Performer: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
    • ´óÏó´«Ã½ Legends, ´óÏó´«Ã½L 4064-2.
    • ´óÏó´«Ã½ Legends.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Wed 26 Feb 2020 12:00

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