大象传媒

Donald Macleod explores the music of Beethoven's last 12 years. Including a seven-bar fugue for two violins, a miniature set of variations on a Scottish folksong and, at the other end of the scale, Beethoven's last, and some would say greatest, piano sonata.

He talks to pianist and music scholar Charles Rosen, who tells the story behind the piece, Diabelli Variations. He also concentrates on movements from the Missa Solemnis and the Ninth Symphony, the two grand public utterances of Beethoven's last decade. The Ninth achieved iconic status almost immediately; the Mass, regarded by the composer as his greatest work, is considered to have been neglected. Plus, Beethoven's last set of piano bagatelles, played on his own fortepiano - a gift from Thomas Broadwood of London.

Donald Macleod then moves to Beethoven's final two years, which saw the creation of his late string quartets - the crowning achievements of the composer's life.