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Personal Philosophies

Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner to discuss Beethoven鈥檚 iconic Fifth Symphony and his more bucolic Sixty Symphony, the 'Pastoral'.

They have been described as 鈥渢he most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man鈥, 鈥渁n expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling鈥, and 鈥渕usic [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.鈥 There is no question that Beethoven鈥檚 nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: 鈥淵ou can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!鈥

Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by the conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique to delve into the world of these nine sublime works.

In Wednesday鈥檚 programme, they explore perhaps the most famous piece of music ever written, Beethoven鈥檚 iconic Fifth Symphony, and the bucolic sounds of his Sixth Symphony, the 鈥楶astoral鈥, and ask what these two works - seemingly so different - actually have in common.

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.

Producer: Sam Phillips

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Luigi Cherubini

    Hymne au Pantheon

    Performer: Chorale Des Jeunesse Musicales De France. Performer: Musique Des Gardiens De La Paix De Paris. Conductor: D茅sir茅 Dondeyne.
    • ERATO : STE-500 73.
    • ERATO.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • SOLI DEO GLORIA : SDG-717.
    • SOLI DEO GLORIA.
    • 5.
  • Claude鈥怞oseph Rouget de l鈥橧sle

    Hymne dithyrambique sur la conjuration de Robespierre

    Performer: R茅my Cardinale. Singer: Alain Buet.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 (3rd & 4th mvts)

    Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • SOLI DEO GLORIA : SDG-717.
    • SOLI DEO GLORIA.
    • 7.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 6 in F major, Op 68 "Pastoral" (3rd, 4th & 5th mvts)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Otto Klemperer.
    • EMI : CDC-747188-2.
    • EMI.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Wed 18 Nov 2020 12:00

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