Beethoven Unleashed: Getting to grips with Beethoven
What is it about Beethoven's music that has made it a concert hall staple for over 200 years? Tom Service goes in search of the essence of what makes Beethoven Beethoven.
Beethoven: deaf for most of his life, unbearable egotist, flagrant opportunist and musical anarchist whose music reaches the heights of ecstasy. Where do you start with this bundle of contradictions, probably the most admired composer in western music, whose works have unfailingly filled concert halls for over 200 years? Tom Service goes in search of what makes Beethoven Beethoven and suggests a few key pieces to help unlock the man and his music.
David Papp (producer)
Last on
Music Played
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Egmont - incidental music Op.84
Conductor: Riccardo Chailly. Performer: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig.- DECCA.
- 4783492.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no. 5 in C minor Op.67
Conductor: Carlos Kleiber. Performer: Vienna Philharmonic.- DG.
- 4474002.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Bagatelle (fur Elise) in A minor WoO.59 for piano
Performer: Steven Osborne.- Hyperion.
- CDA67879.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no. 9 in D minor Op.125 (Choral)
Conductor: Claudio Abbado. Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Performer: Eric Ericsons Kammark枚r.- DG.
- 4714912.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata no. 29 in B flat major Op.106 (Hammerklavier)
Performer: Steven Osborne.- HYPERION.
- CDA68073.
-
Chuck Berry
Roll Over Beethoven
Performer: Chuck Berry.- Music Club.
- MCCD-019.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no. 6 in F major Op.68 (Pastoral)
Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Performer: Scottish Chamber Orchestra.- HYPERION.
- CDS 443015.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
5 Variations on 'Rule Britannia' in D major WoO.79 for piano
Performer: C茅dric Tiberghien.- Harmonia Mundi.
- HMC901775.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
7 Variations on 'God save the King' in C major WoO.78 for piano
Performer: C茅dric Tiberghien.- Harmonia Mundi.
- HMC901775.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Der Glorreiche Augenblick - cantata Op.136 for soloists, chorus, children and orchestra
Performer: City of London Choir. Performer: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Performer: Westminster Cathedral Choir.- Naxos.
- 8572783.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Wellingtons Sieg or Die Schlacht bei Vittoria Op.91 (Battle symphony)
Conductor: Neville Marriner. Performer: Academy of St Martin in the Fields.- philips.
- 4262392.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no. 1 in C major Op.21
Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Performer: Scottish Chamber Orchestra.- HYPERION.
- CDS 443015.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata in C sharp minor Op.27`2 (Moonlight)
Performer: Stephen Kovacevich.- warner classics.
- 6230812.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Concerto no. 5 in E flat major Op.73 (Emperor) for piano and orchestra
Performer: Murray Perahia.- Sony.
- 88697102902.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet in B flat major Op.130 vers. with Grosse Fuge finale
Performer: Artemis String Quartet.- ERATO.
- 0708582.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no. 6 in F major Op.68 (Pastoral)
Conductor: Charles Mackerras. Performer: Scottish Chamber Orchestra.- HYPERION.
- CDS 443015.
Broadcasts
- Fri 24 Jan 2020 16:30麻豆社 Radio 3
- Sun 19 Jul 2020 19:00麻豆社 Radio 3
- Fri 24 Jul 2020 16:30麻豆社 Radio 3
- Sun 4 Sep 2022 17:00麻豆社 Radio 3
Featured in...
Beethoven Unleashed—Composer of the Week
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven鈥檚 birth.
Why do we call it 'classical' music?
Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).
Six of the world's most extreme voices
From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?
How did the number 12 revolutionise music?
Why are we all addicted to bass?
Watch the animations
Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.
When does noise become music?
We like to think we can separate 鈥渘oise鈥 from 鈥渕usic鈥, but is it that simple?
Podcast
-
The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service