Diminishing Returns
Beethoven, now very deaf, takes to carrying around notebooks so people can write down what they want to say to him, creating an extraordinary record of his day-to-day life.
Beethoven鈥檚 hearing had now deteriorated to the point where normal conversation was almost impossible. He took to carrying around notebooks so people could write down what they wanted to say to him, creating an extraordinary and detailed record of his day-to-day life.
This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821, a period when the composer was moving towards yet another extraordinary and revolutionary flowering of his creativity. However, something was holding him back. Beethoven had resolved to become the legal guardian of his nephew, Karl, and to remove him from the care of his mother, Johanna. The resulting court battles would rumble on for five years, damaging everyone involved, consuming them all, and distracting Beethoven from his music.
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.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.16, Op.31 No.1: I. Allegro Vivace
Igor Levit, piano
The Creatures of Prometheus (extracts)
Armonia Atenea
Conducted by George Petrou
Abschiedsgesang WoO.102
Berliner Solisten
Dietrich Knothe, Director
Piano Sonata No.30, Op.109
Igor Levit, piano
The Miller of Dee WoO.157, No.4
Dania El Zein, mezzo soprano
John Bernard, tenor
Jean-Fran莽ois Rouchon, baritone
Alessandro Fagiuoli, violin
Andrea Musto, cello
Jean-Pierre Armengaud, piano
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Music Played
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No 16 in G major, Op 31, No 1 (1st mvt)
Performer: Igor Levit.- SONY CLASSICAL : 19075843182.
- SONY CLASSICAL.
- 1.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
The Creatures of Prometheus, Op 43 (extracts)
Orchestra: Armonia Atenea. Conductor: George Petrou.- DECCA : 478 675 5.
- DECCA.
- 9.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Abschiedsgesang, WoO 102
Ensemble: Berlin Soloists. Conductor: Dietrich Knothe.- Berlin Classics.
- Berlin Classics.
- 49.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No 30 in E major, Op 109
Performer: Igor Levit. -
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Ludwig van Beethoven
The Miller of Dee WoO 157, No 4
Performer: Dania El Zein. Performer: John Bernard. Performer: Jean-Fran莽ois Rouchon. Performer: Alessandro Fagiuoli. Performer: Andrea Musto.- WARNER CLASSICS : 9029532914.
- WARNER CLASSICS.
- 4.
Broadcast
- Tue 6 Oct 2020 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
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