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Beethoven had left most of his friends and family behind in Bonn. He didn't want for company in Vienna but lacked a soulmate he could confide in. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Beethoven was determinedly pursuing his professional ambitions, which left little time for a proper social life. In any case, he had little in common with the royal princes, barons and countesses who attended Vienna’s regular musical gatherings. Enter, Karl Amenda, a commoner like Beethoven, who would become a true soulmate.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Beethoven through the years 1796-99, as the young composer learns to negotiate the privileged and moneyed circles of Vienna’s culture loving aristocracy. Few can resist his extraordinary charisma as a virtuoso pianist, but will he also be able to persuade them of his talents as a composer?

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.

Piano Trio op 1 no 1, IV. Presto
Amatis Piano Trio

Piano Sonata no 7, op 10 no 3, movts. II & III
Emil Gilels, piano

Romance in F, op 50
Aleksey Semenenko, violin
Inna Firsova, piano

Duet for two obligato eye-glasses, Woo 32
Maria Kliegel, cello
Tabea Zimmermann, viola

String Quartet Op.18 No.1, I. Allegro con brio
Danish String Quartet

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Trio in E flat major, Op 1 No 4 (4th movement)

    Ensemble: Amatis Piano Trio.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No 7 in D major, Op 10 No 3 (2nd and 3rd movements)

    Performer: Emil Grigoryevich Gilels.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Romance in F major for violin and piano, Op 50

    Performer: Aleksey Semenenko. Performer: Inna Firsova.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Duet for two obbligato eye-glasses, WoO 32

    Performer: Maria Kliegel. Performer: Tabea Zimmermann.
    • Naxos 8555787.
    • Naxos.
    • 20.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in F major, Op 18 No 1 (1st movement)

    Ensemble: Danish String Quartet.

Broadcast

  • Thu 26 Mar 2020 12:00

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