Set to the composer's music, this documentary, based on Russell Martin 's bestseller. traces the amazing trek of a lock of hair from his corpse that has fallen into the hands of several owners through the generations.
The hair was cut off by Ferdinand Hiller after
Beethoven's demise in 1827 and was passed on to Hiller's son, Paul, in 1883. The locket containing the hair then resurfaced in Denmark in 1943 and remained with the same family until it was bought at auction by two Americans in 1995. Some of the strands were passed on to scientists who now believe their analysis can explain why Beethoven was deaf, the reasons behind his illnesses and volatile personality, and even the nature of his genius. DOWNLOADS: Beethoven's symphonies 6-9 are available as MP3 files from 28 June - visit www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/beethoven for details