Composer of the Week: Beethoven: Spirit of the Age

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Beethoven Unleashed: Spirit of the Age: Engineering and Technology

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Engineering and Technology

Beethoven Unleashed: Spirit of the Age

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Beethoven Unleashed: Spirit of the Age, Engineering and Technology

Donald Macleod and Professor Julian Allwood explore engineering in Beethoven’s time.

Donald Macleod is joined by Professor of Engineering and the Environment at Cambridge University, Julian Allwood, to explore developments in engineering in Beethoven’s lifetime.

Donald Macleod and Professor Julian Allwood explore engineering in Beethoven’s time.

Beethoven’s lifetime was one of tumultuous change. In a week of programmes exploring this wider world around Beethoven, Donald Macleod is joined by five guests to discuss some of the various elements which combined to define the spirit of the age – the economy, the wider world of the arts, engineering, medicine and belief. 

In Wednesday’s programme, Donald is joined by Professor of Engineering and the Environment at Cambridge University, Julian Allwood, to explore developments in engineering during Beethoven’s lifetime and how they impacted the day-to-day life of the composer. 

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven’s life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3’s Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth.


Symphony No 2 in D major, Op 36 (II. Scherzo - Allegro)
Berlin Philharmonic
Simon Rattle, conductor

5 Variations on Rule Britannia, WoO 79
Ollie Mustonen, piano

Grosse Fuge in B flat, Op 133 (orch. Manuel Hidalgo)
WDR Sinfonieorchester Koln
Lothar Zagrosek, conductor

Six Variations in D on an original theme “Die Ruinen von Athen”, Op 76
Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano

The Heavens are Telling (orchestration of Six Songs, Op 48 No 4 - Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur)
Norman Luboff Choir
New Symphony Orchestra of London
Leopold Stokowski, conductor

Piano Sonata No 29 in B-flat major, Op 106 “Hammerklavier” (I - Allegro)
Murray Perahia, piano


Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales


Composer of the Week: Beethoven Unleashed: Spirit of the Age

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod and guests discuss elements that defined the spirit of Beethoven's age.

Five guests join Donald Macleod to discuss elements that defined the spirit of Beethoven's age - the economy, the wider world of the arts, engineering, medicine and belief.

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