The Aftermath of War
Donald Macleod explores how the after effects of Napoleon鈥檚 invasion of Vienna impacted Beethoven鈥檚 life and work.
Donald Macleod explores how the after effects of Napoleon鈥檚 invasion of Vienna including crippling economic sanctions and devaluation of the currency, impacted Beethoven鈥檚 life and work.
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.
Fantasie in G minor, Op 77
Anna Tsybuleva, piano
Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 鈥淓mperor鈥� (2nd and 3rd movements)
Clifford Curzon, piano
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Boulez, conductor
Piano Trio No 7 in B flat major, Op 97 "Archduke" (4th movement)
Isabelle Faust, violin
Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello
Alexander Melnikov, fortepiano
Egmont Overture, Op 84
Munich Philharmonic
Christian Thielemann, conductor
Producer: Sam Phillips
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Fantasia in G minor, Op 77
Performer: Anna Tsybuleva.- Champs Hill Records : CHRCD131.
- Champs Hill Records.
- 2.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 (Emperor) (2nd and 3rd mvts)
Performer: Clifford Curzon. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. -
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Trio in B flat major, Op 97 'Archduke' (4th mvt)
Performer: Isabelle Faust. Performer: Jean鈥怗uihen Queyras. Performer: Alexander Melnikov.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-902125.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 8.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Egmont - Overture
Orchestra: Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Thielemann.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 477-6404.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 1.
Broadcast
- Mon 10 Aug 2020 13:00大象传媒 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.