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'Only in the world of ideals'

Beethoven is courting, with marriage on his mind. He might be slowing up creatively, but reviews and images of the composer begin to build up a romantic mythology of the composer.

Beethoven is courting and has marriage on the mind. He might be slowing up creatively, but reviews and images of the composer begin to build up a romantic mythology of the composer.

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.

String Quartet No 10 in E flat major, Op 74 鈥淗arp鈥 (4th movement)
Endellion Quartet

Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 鈥淔眉r Elise鈥
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 -(2nd movement)
Vienna Philharmonic
Carlos Kleiber, conductor

String Quartet No 11 in F minor, Op 95
Busch Quartet

Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (4th movement)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Rafael Kubelik, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips

57 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in E-flat major, Op 74 'Harp' (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Endellion Quartet.
    • WARNER : 2564-69471-3.
    • WARNER.
    • 4.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Bagatelle (Fur Elise) in A minor, WoO 59

    Music Arranger: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • DECCA : 411-902 2.
    • DECCA.
    • 6.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Carlos Kleiber.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP : 447-400-2.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP.
    • 2.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in F minor, Op 95

    Ensemble: Busch Quartet.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 5096552.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: 主播大秀 Philharmonic. Conductor: Juanjo Mena.

Broadcast

  • Wed 12 Aug 2020 13:00

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