Composer of the Week: Beethoven - Pain and Persistence

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Kate Molleson

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: Pain and Persistence: Going His Own Way

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Going His Own Way

Beethoven Unleashed: Pain and Persistence

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Beethoven Unleashed: Pain and Persistence, Going His Own Way

Donald Macleod reaches the final chapters of his year-long biography of Beethoven.

A fresh generation of composers are emerging behind Beethoven, but the old man isn't ready to hand over his position as Europe's chief musical revolutionary.

Beethoven had led the world into a new era of music, and now a fresh generation of artists were emerging behind him to take the next steps into what would become the Age of the Romantics. Nevertheless, the old man was not yet ready to hand over his position as chief musical revolutionary.

This week, Donald Macleod reaches the final chapters of his year-long biography of Beethoven.  The composer’s remaining years, 1825 to 1827, were marred by failing health and a traumatic family crisis but also saw Beethoven pushing resolutely forward in his art. He continued to surprise and astonish, producing a series of extraordinary late string quartets.

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.


Piano Trio in D, Op. 70 No. 1 ‘Ghost’, I. Allegro vivace e con brio 
Amatis Trio

String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132,  II. Allegro ma non tanto 
Danish String Quartet

Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’, I. Allegro Assai
Maria Grinberg, piano

Grosse Fugue, Op. 133
Talich Quartet

String Quartet in B flat, Op. 130, IV. Alla danza tedesca . 
Vertavo String Quartet

Composer of the Week: Beethoven Unleashed: Pain and Persistence

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The composer's remaining years, 1825 to 1827, were marred by failing health and a traumatic family crisis but also saw Beethoven pushing resolutely forward in his art.

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