The Musical and Dramatic Description of The Triumph of Beethoven.
Written and Arranged by Reginald W. Hobbs.
Presented by The Gwent Radio Players.
Songs by Ronald Chivers (Baritone), Vera McComb Thomas (Solo Pianoforte), Leonard Busfield (Solo Violin)
The Station Orchestra
Conductor, Warwick Braithwaite
The Orchestra
Overture, "Coriolanus".
Scene I.
In the house in Bonne - 1730.
Beethoven, a boy of ten, listlessly strums on a piano. His mother sits near, sewing by the light of a candle. The boy at last goes off to bed, but is soon dragged out again by his father, who has just returned from the Inn with a boon companion. Both are drunk. The boy is put through his paces and threatened with blows for making mistakes.
The Orchestra
Minuet in G.
Scene II.
1792. - Beethoven is now an erratic youth. He has found a congenial atmosphere with the Breunings, a cultured family, who warmly befriend him.
The Orchestra
Romance in G (Op. 40).
(Solo Violin, Leonard Busfield)
Scene III.
1797. - By this time, Beethoven has become a brilliant virtuoso, living in the palace of Prince Lichnowsky. His eccentricities are tolerated, though he is frequently snubbed by courtiers.
The Orchestra
Symphony, No. 3, in E Flat ("Eroica") (Op. 55).
Scene IV.
1804. - The Eroica Symphony.
Beethoven exhibits intense disgust with Napoleon on hearing of his Coronation.
Scene V.
At Heiligenstadt. The Composer returns from a country ramble and finds his friends awaiting him. He goes straight to the piano, without so much as removing his hat, and begins to hammer out the idea that had occurred to him during his walk.
Scene VI.
1816. - His deafness is complete, and he is wholly at the mercy of his servants, with whom he is constantly quarrelling. His room is in extreme disorder. He is entirely indifferent to everything but his work.
Scene VII.
1825. - Beethoven's nephew has utterly disgraced himself and attempted suicide, but the musician persists in appealing to his better nature. The Viennese have grown tired of their idol, but Beethoven struggles on doggedly in spite of their neglect.
Scene VIII.
1827. - Epilogue, After the funeral.
The Orchestra
Overture. "Egmont".
