Beethoven is a towering figure in classical music, beloved by the musical profession. At the same time, it is important to engage with the full diversity and range of his admirers in the 21st century. This series is not so much a classical examination of Beethoven, but rather an opening out and broader engagement with his work in a very modern context, demonstrating the extraordinary power of his work and its enduring influence.

253 years since Beethoven’s birth, an essay series that considers Beethoven now, in a thoroughly contemporary and highly personal context. Our eminent and unexpected thinkers respond to and share their personal interpretation of Beethoven, placing his influence in a modern framework. Each Essayist offers a uniquely personal insight into the scope of Beethoven’s work.

What does Beethoven mean to you? We put that very simple question to a wide range of Essayists. The answers are unexpected, entertaining and informative.

• Nitin Sawhney, composer and musician - The origins, evolution and nature of Beethoven’s genius

Nitin learnt to play Beethoven from an early age and is fascinated by the instinctive and spiritual nature of his genius, comparing it to others whose work blazed a trail in maths, science and visual arts.
Nitin Sawhney is one of the most distinctive and versatile musical voices around today, achieving an international reputation across every possible creative medium. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award, and is firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi instrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer.

Nitin has been appointed Chair of Trustees for PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development.
Sawhney has become a modern-day Renaissance man in the worlds of music, film, video games, dance and theatre.

His endless creative curiosity makes him a formidable polymath across the whole artistic range of media associated with the music industry.
With over 20 studio albums to his name, including solo albums, film soundtracks and compilations, he has received a substantial wealth of major national and international awards for the work.

In 2019, Nitin received a CBE in the New Year's Honours List and received the Outstanding Achievement in Music award at The Asian Awards.

Producer, Polly Thomas
Executive producer, Eloise Whitmore

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