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Keep Calm and Carry On

Beethoven keeps writing new music, but with inflation in Vienna running wild, can anyone afford to pay him for his work?

In the face of enormous challenges Beethoven keeps writing new music but, with inflation in Vienna running wild, who can afford to pay him for his work? The composer is still suffering from poor health and on the advice of doctors travels to the spa at Teplitz to recover.

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven鈥檚 life through the years of 1810-1812. This was a period of great financial hardship for all of Vienna in the aftermath of Napoleon鈥檚 second occupation of the city. Beethoven struggled through this economic depression, composing his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies with little hope of getting performances. The financial crisis wasn鈥檛 the only thing to afflict the composer either; alongside an increase in physical ailments, Beethoven also suffered a great emotional crisis which culminated in the letter he wrote to his unnamed 鈥業mmortal Beloved鈥.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven鈥檚 life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3鈥檚 Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven鈥檚 birth.

To the Blackbird; The Dairy House (26 Welsh Songs, WoO 155)
Lynne Dawson, soprano
Alida Schat, violin
Jaap ter Linden, cello
Bart van Oort, piano

Sonata No 26 in E flat major, Op 81a 鈥淟es Adieux鈥 (2nd and 3rd movements)
Paul Lewis, piano

Incidental Music to King Stephen, Op 117 (Overture & Victory March)
大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier, conductor

Christ on the Mount of Olives, Op 85 (Final Trio and Choruses)
Keith Lewis,tenor
Maria Venuti, soprano
Michel Brodard, bass
G盲chinger Kantorei
Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
Helmut Rilling, conductor

Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (3rd movement)
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips

57 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Welsh Songs, WoO 155 (To the Blackbird; The Dairy House)

    Performer: Alida Schat. Performer: Jaap ter Linden. Singer: Lynne Dawson. Ensemble: Bart van Oort.
    • BERLIN CLASSICS : 0061392BC.
    • BERLIN CLASSICS.
    • 3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No 26 in E-flat major, Op 81a 'Les Adieux' (2nd and 3rd mvts)

    Performer: Paul Lewis.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901909 11.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 10.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Incidental Music to King Stephen, Op 117 (Overture and Victory March)

    Orchestra: 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Anja Bihlmaier.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Christ on the Mount of Olives, Op 85 (Final trio and choruses)

    Singer: Keith Lewis. Singer: Maria Venuti. Singer: Michel Brodard. Ensemble: Stuttgart Bach Collegium. Choir: G盲chinger Kantorei Stuttgart. Director: Helmuth Rilling.
    • HANSSLER : HAEN98030.
    • HANSSLER.
    • 15.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • DECCA : 478-3496.
    • Decca.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Tue 11 Aug 2020 13:00

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