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Donald Macleod explores the mysteries behind the woman Beethoven called his 'Immortal Beloved'.

Donald Macleod explores the mysteries behind the woman Beethoven called his 鈥業mmortal Beloved鈥. Who was she and what did this love affair, and the loss of it, mean to Beethoven?

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.

An die Geliebte, WoO 140
Olaf B盲r, baritone
Geoffrey Parsons, piano

Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (1st and 2nd movements)
Berlin Philharmonic
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Piano Trio in B flat major, WoO 39
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Itzhak Perlman, violin
Lynn Harrell, cello

An de Ferne Geliebte, Op 98
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
Jorg Demus, piano

3 Equali for Four Trombones, WoO 30
Michael Buchanan, trombone
Kasia Wieczorek, trombone
Eroica Berlin, trombone
Jacob Lehm, trombone

Producer: Sam Phillips

57 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    An die Geliebte, WoO 140

    Performer: Geoffrey Parsons. Singer: Olaf B盲r.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 9029531791.
    • WANRER CLASSICS.
    • 18.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (1st and 2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: John Barbirolli.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Trio in B-flat major, WoO 39

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy. Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Performer: Lynn Harrell.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 2564-612987.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    An die ferne Geliebte, Op 98

    Performer: J枚rg Demus. Singer: Dietrich Fischer鈥怐ieskau.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP : 463-507-2.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    3 Equali for 4 Trombones, WoO 30

    Performer: Michael Buchanan. Performer: Kasia Wieczorek. Performer: Eroica Berlin. Performer: Jacob Lehm.
    • ES-DUR : ES-2077.
    • ES-DUR.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Thu 13 Aug 2020 13:00

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