Beethoven Unleashed: In Perspective

Donald Macleod introduces personal highlights of his year-long
celebration of Beethoven


Donald Macleod embarks on the final week of his year-long
celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van
Beethoven, selecting his personal highlights of conversations
he's had with special guests over the course of 25 series.


Composer of the Week has this year, every alternate week,
explored the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven, in
celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth. In this, the
final week of 25 series devoted to the extraordinary composer,
Donald Macleod looks back over the year, and presents his
personal highlights from the interviews he carried out over the
course of 125 programmes. From historian Simon Schama to
conductors Marin Alsop and John Eliot Gardiner, and pianists
Jonathan Biss and Angela Hewitt, Donald was joined by experts and
performers who gave remarkable insights into the unique human
being that was Beethoven. This week he brings together some of
the conversations that stayed with him, building a picture of
Beethoven the man, the composer, the interpretation of his music
since his death, the times he lived in, and what he means to us
today.


Composer of the Week has been 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.


Music Featured:


Mass in C, Op 86 - Sanctus Piano Concerto No 4 in G, Op 58
(Andante con moto & Rondo vivace) Violin Sonata No 5 in F, Op
24 “Spring” (4th movement: Rondo) Piano Sonata No 27, Op 90
Maigesang, Op 52 No 4 Piano Sonata No 4 in E flat, Op 7 (2nd
movement: Largo, com gran espressione) Violin Concerto in D, Op
61 (1st movement) String Quartet No 16 in F, Op 135 (4th
movement: Grave, ma non troppo tratto) Concerto No 3 in C minor,
Op 37 (2nd movement: Largo) Fidelio Act 2 Nr 14 & Nr 15
String Quartet No 16 in F, Op 135 (3rd movement: Lento assai,
cantate e tranquillo) Sonata No 26 in E flat, Op 81A “Les adieux”
(The Absence & The Reunion) Wind Octet in E flat, Op 103(1st
movement: Allegro & 2nd movement: Andante) Die Ehre Gottes
aus der Natur, Op 48 No 4 (The Heavens are Telling) Symphony No 3
in E flat, Op 55 “Eroica” (2nd movement: Marcia funebre. Adagio
assai) Piano Trio Op 1 No 3 in C minor (4th movement:
Prestissimo) 11 Bagatelles, Op 119 No 3 in D major (A
l’Allemande) String Quartet Op.130 (I.Adagio ma non troppo –
Allegro) Piano Sonata No 30 in E major, Op.109 (1st movement:
Vivace ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo) Symphony No 4 in B
flat, OP 60 - 4th movement: Allegro ma non troppo Fidelio Act 1 -
Finale


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC
Wales


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: In
Perspective https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q853


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z