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Donald Macleod finds an aging and ailing Beethoven riding the wave of popularity his patriotic works has created

Donald Macleod finds an aging and ailing Beethoven riding the wave of popularity his patriotic works has created. However, his appearances are dogged with difficulties as performances flounder due to his increasing deafness

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven鈥檚 life through the years of 1813-1815 鈥 a time of great change throughout Europe as Napoleon was overthrown. For Beethoven, it was undoubtedly the most successful period of his entire career, as he began, at last, to receive public recognition for his music. However, these years also saw him slump to an artistic nadir as he succumbed to the call for patriotic crowd-pleasers in the wake of this massive political change.

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.

The Ruins of Athens, Op 113 - Chorus & Bass aria "Wir tragen empf盲ngliche Herzen im Busen; Will Unser Genius"
Roger Andrews (baritone)
New York Choral Artists
Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Dennis Russell Davies (conductor)

Symphony no. 8 in F major, Op 93 - I. Allegro Vivace e con brio
Danish Chamber Orchestra
脕d谩m Fischer (conductor)

Piano Trio No. 7 in B flat major, Op 97 鈥淎rchduke鈥 - II. Scherzo & III. Andante cantabile
Storioni Trio

Fidelio, Op 72 - Overture (arr. Piano by I. Moscheles)
Anthony Goldstone (piano)

Fidelio - Op 72 - Act I 鈥淎bscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin?鈥
Nina Stemme (Leonore)
Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Claudio Abbado (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips for 大象传媒 Cymru Wales

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    The Ruins of Athens (excerpt)

    Choir: New York Choral Artists. Conductor: Joseph Flummerfelt. Singer: Roger Andrews. Singer: Mechthild Gessendorf. Orchestra: Orchestra of St. Luke鈥檚. Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies.
    • EMI : 3315555.
    • EMI.
    • 18.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Danish National Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: 8 Bit.
    • NAXOS : 8505251.
    • NAXOS.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Trio in B flat major, Op 97 "Archduke" (2nd and 3rd mvts)

    Ensemble: Storioni Trio.
    • CHALLENGE CLASSICS : CC-72579.
    • CHALLENGE CLASSICS.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Fidelio Overture (arr. for piano)

    Performer: Anthony Goldstone.
    • DIVINE ART : 25029.
    • DIVINE ART.
    • 4.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Fidelio, Act I: "Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin?"

    Singer: Nina Stemme. Orchestra: Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Choir: Arnold Schoenberg Chor. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DECCA : 478-2551.
    • DECCA.
    • 16.

Broadcast

  • Wed 9 Sep 2020 12:00

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