Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters, read by Adrian Lester. Today, Beethoven corresponds with leading writers, his idol Goethe, and is in urgent need of some fresh quills.

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's letters. Read by Adrian Lester, today Beethoven corresponds with some of the leading writers of his day, including his idol, Goethe, and a fascinating young writer and artist, Bettina Brentano. Short of the tools to write his music, he's also in touch with one of his best friends, with an urgent request for some fresh quills.

More than 1,770 of Beethoven's letters still survive and, over the course of a week, Donald Macleod delves into five different areas of this extensive collection. Today, Adrian Lester reads excerpts from Beethoven鈥檚 correspondence with a range of the leading writers of the day, from the author of Adelaide, Friedrich von Matthison (who provided the text for one of Beethoven鈥檚 most popular songs), to Beethoven's idol, Goethe. He also sends a chatty roundup of news to the young artist and writer Bettina Brentano in Berlin, and an urgent request for fresh quills to his old friend, Count Zmeskall.

Music includes:

Gesang aus der Ferne, WoO 137
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
J枚rg Demus, piano

Adelaide
Stephan Genz, baritone
Roger Vignoles, piano

Opferlied, Op 121b
Maikki S盲ikk盲, soprano
Kristina Raudanen, alto
Andreas Nordstr枚m, tenor
The Key Ensemble
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Leif Segerstam, conductor

Coriolan Overture
Anima Eterna
Jos van Immerseel, conductor

Kennst du das Land (Goethe)
Pamela Coburn, soprano
Leonard Hokanson, piano

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 31 Jul 2020 12:00

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Lied aus der Ferne, WoO 137

    Performer: J枚rg Demus. Singer: Dietrich Fischer鈥怐ieskau.
    • DG : 453-782 2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 25.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Adelaide, Op 46

    Performer: Roger Vignoles. Singer: Stephan Genz.
    • HYPERION : CDA-67055.
    • HYPERION.
    • 3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Opferlied, Op 121b

    Singer: Maikki S盲ikk盲. Singer: Kristina Raudanen. Singer: Andreas Nordstr枚m. Orchestra: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leif Segerstam. Choir: Key Ensemble.
    • NAXOS : 8574042.
    • NAXOS.
    • 28.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Merkenstein, Op 100

    Performer: Walter Olbertz. Singer: Adele Stolte. Singer: Peter Schreier.
    • DG 4537822.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 21.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Coriolan Overture, Op 62

    Orchestra: Anima Eterna. Director: Jos van Immerseel.
    • ZIG ZAG : 080402.-6.
    • ZIG ZAG.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Kennst du das Land, Op 75 No 1

    Performer: Leonard Hokanson. Singer: Pamela Coburn.
    • CAPRICCIO : C5140.
    • CAPRICCIO.
    • 21.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Aus Goethes Faust, Op 75 No 3

    Performer: Iain Burnside. Singer: Roderick Williams.
    • Signum SIGCD139.
    • Signum.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Abendlied untern gestirnten Himmel, WoO 150

    Performer: Graham Johnson. Singer: Gerald Finley.
    • HYPERION : CDJ33051/3.
    • HYPERION.
    • 19.

Broadcast

  • Fri 31 Jul 2020 12:00

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

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

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.