The Art of the Deal
Beethoven must learn to be savvy in the ways of money and business if he is going to survive as a freelance composer in Vienna. Presented by Donald Macleod
Beethoven was determined to turn his back on the creative restrictions that came with a salaried post, in the service of one of the royal courts or the church; but if he was to survive as a freelance composer he would have to learn to be a businessman as well as an artist.
All this week, Donald Macleod traces Beethoven鈥檚 story through the years 1799-1801. As he reaches his thirtieth birthday, we see Beethoven finally emerging as a mature composer and beginning to produce the enduring works that will mark him out as one of the great artists of his age. But there are clouds on the horizon too, and we see the first intimations of a serious problem with his hearing.
Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven鈥檚 life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3鈥檚 Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven鈥檚 birth.
Piano Sonata No 13 in Eb major, op 27 No 1, I. Andante
Louis Schwizgebel-Wang, piano
String Quartet Op 18, No 3, I. Allegro, II. Andante con moto)
Calidore Quartet
Piano Sonata No 11 in Bb, Op 22 III. Minuetto & IV. Rondo
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Violin Sonata Op 23
Aleksey Semenenko, violin
Inna Firsova, piano
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major, Op 27, No 1 (1st mvt)
Performer: Louis Schwizgebel-Wang. -
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet in D majorm Op 18, No 3 (1st & 2nd mvt)
Ensemble: Calidore String Quartet.
Broadcast
- Tue 21 Apr 2020 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.