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Death of the Hero - The ‘Eroica’ Symphony

Donald Macleod explores the composition of Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony, during which the composer was assailed by the first signs of the dreadful troubles with his hearing.

Donald Macleod explores the composition of Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony, during which the composer was assailed by the first signs of the dreadful troubles with his hearing.

Beethoven remains one of the most lauded composers in history, famed for both his music, and for his personal triumph as a musician over the adversity of his catastrophic hearing loss. Over the course of this Composer of the Week series, Donald Macleod takes five of Beethoven’s most iconic works, spread out through the composer’s life, and tracks the journey of each of them. Through these stories, Donald discovers both the pieces’ direct importance to the composer, and also finds wider issues which each of them point to in the general life of a complex, and troubled man. From his carefully stage-managed debut on the Viennese scene as a young man, and his steadily increasing anguish at the loss of his hearing, and the betrayal by Napoleon of his political ideals, to the close relationship between Beethoven and his most loyal patron, and the composer’s late credo of joy through suffering which allowed him to continue to flourish artistically despite all of his personal demons.

In Tuesday’s programme, Donald Macleod explores the troubled circumstances which led to the composition of one of the most groundbreaking symphonies of all time - Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’. It was a period during which the composer was assailed by troubles with his hearing, and suffered both political disappointment and romantic heartbreak.

The Creatures of Prometheus, Op 43 – Overture
Armonia Atenea
George Petrou, conductor

Piano Sonata no 12 in A-flat, Op 26 – III. Funeral march on the death of a hero
Ronald Brautigam, piano

Christus am Olberge, Op 85 – III. “Meine seele ist erschuttert” & Chorus
VI. O Heil euch, ihr Erlöstn
Collegium Vocale Gent
Orchestre des Champs-Elysees
Philippe Herreweghe, conductor

An die hoffnung, Op 32
Matthias Goerne, baritone
Jan Lisiecki, piano

Symphony no 3 in E-flat major, Op 55 “Eroica” – I. Allegro con brio
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Leonore, Op 72a (original version, 1805) – Act I Nr. 12. Finale “O, welche Lust, in freier Luft"
Florian Feth, tenor (1st Prisoner)
Julian Popken, bass (2nd Prisoner)
Zürcher Sing-Akademie
Freiburger Barockorchster
Rene Jacobs, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for ý Audio Wales & West

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    The Creatures of Prometheus, Overture

    Performer: George Petrou. Orchestra: Armonia Atenea.
    • DECCA 478 6755.
    • DECCA.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Sonata No 12 in A flat major, Op 26 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Ronald Brautigam.
    • BIS : BISCD-2000.
    • BIS.
    • 3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Christus Am Olberge, Op 85 (excerpt)

    Choir: Collegium Vocale Gent. Orchestra: Orchestre des Champs‐Élysées. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe.
    • PHI : LPH-039.
    • PHI.
    • 3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    An die hoffnung, Op 32

    Performer: Jan Lisiecki. Singer: Matthias Goerne.
    • DG : 483-835-1.
    • DG.
    • 8.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 3 in E flat major "Eroica", Op 55 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 2435575645.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Fidelio, Op 72, Act 1, No 12: Finale "O, welche Lust, in freier Luft"

    Performer: Florian Feth. Performer: Julian Popken. Choir: Zürcher Sing-Akademie. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMM-902414 15.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Tue 31 Oct 2023 12:00

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