Beethoven Unleashed

Beethoven Unleashed - Hero

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2020

Fallen Idol

20200615

Beethoven was fascinated by Napoleon Bonaparte and the ideals of freedom, equality and self-determination he seemed to embody, and embarked on a new symphony in Napoleon's honour. But had he fatally misjudged his hero?

This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1804-1806; the beginning of what many commentators have called his heroic' phase. Having weathered a profound psychological crisis, triggered by his failing hearing, Beethoven now throws himself into his composing with renewed energy and strength of spirit. However, that same passionate nature also leads to frequent conflicts.

Composer of the Week is 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.

Variations on an original theme Op 35, Eroica Variations', Variations I-III.

Rudolf Buchbinder, piano

Symphony No 3 'Eroica', I. Allegro con brio

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Conducted by Thierry Fischer

String Quartet Op 59 No 1, 'Rasumovsky', IV. Th耀me Russe, Allegro

Escher String Quartet

Symphony No 3 'Eroica', II. Marcia funebre, Adagio assai

Violin Sonata in A major Op 47 Kreutzer', III. Presto

Veronika Eberle, violin

Oliver Schnyder, piano

Beethoven is inspired by Napoleon, but will his hero prove worthy? With Donald Macleod

2020

Love And Honour

20200616

Beethoven rekindles an old relationship while working to dissuade his brother, Caspar Carl, from his own choice of romantic partner.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1804-1806; the beginning of what many commentators have called his heroic' phase. Beethoven had put behind him the profound psychological crisis, triggered by his failing hearing, and now throws himself into his composing with renewed energy and strength of spirit. However, that same passionate nature also leads to frequent conflicts.

Composer of the Week is 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.

Romance in F Op 50

Chlo뀀 Hanslip, violin

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Anja Bihlmaier

Piano Sonata No 13, Op 27 No 1 (movts. III & IV)

Louis Schwizgebel, piano

An die Hoffnung Op 32

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone

J怀rg Demus, piano

Piano Sonata No 15 Op 28 Pastorale', IV. Rondo

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano

Piano Concerto No 4, I. Allegro Moderato

C退dric Tiberghien, piano

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

conducted by Grant Llewellyn

Beethoven rekindles an old romance. Presented by Donald Macleod.

2020

Leonore

20200617

Beethoven struggles to put on his first-ever opera as the French army advances relentlessly on Vienna.

Composer of the Week is 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.

Leonore (1806 version) Act 1, `O w䀀r ich schon mit dir vereint`

Christine Neithardt-Barbaux, soprano (Marzelline)

Orchestra of the Beethovenhalle Bonn

Conducted by Marc Soustrot

Piano Sonata No 22 in F Op 54 (mvts. I & II)

Paul Lewis, piano

Leonore (1806 version) Act II, Quartet `Er sterbe!`

Pamela Coburn, soprano (Leonore)

Mark Baker, tenor (Forestan)

Jean-Philippe Lafont, baritone (Don Pizarro)

Victor von Halem, bass (Rocco)

Violin Sonata Op 12 No 1, II. Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto

Jennifer Pike, violin

Daniel Tong, piano

Leonore (1806 version) Act II, Duet `O namenlose Freude!`

Leonore Overture No 3 Op 72b

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Conducted by Kurt Masur

Beethoven struggles to put on his first-ever opera. Presented by Donald Macleod.

2020

Appassionata

20200618

Beethoven's fiery temper leads to quarrels with strangers, old friends and an important patron.

Composer of the Week is 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.

Sonata for Cello and Piano Op 102 No 1 (opening)

Lynn Harrell, cello

Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Bagatelle in B minor Op 126 No 4

Sviatoslav Richter, piano

String Quartet in F Op 59 No 1, II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando

Takကcs Quartet

Piano Sonata No 23, Op 57 Appassionata', I. Allegro assai

Khatia Buniatishvili

Violin Concerto Op 61, I. Allegro ma non troppo

Isabell Faust, violin

The Prague Philharmonia

Conducted by Ji?퀀 B?lohlကvek

Beethoven's fiery temper leads to quarrels with old friends. Presented by Donald Macleod.

2020

05 LAST

Intimates And Evangelists

20200619

As Beethoven's hearing continues to decline, he finds sympathetic musical friends who will help perform and disseminate his works.

Composer of the Week is 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.

6 Ecossaises WoO 83

Alfred Brendel, piano

Piano Concerto No 3, I. Allegro con Brio

Igor Levit, piano

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Ji?퀀 B?lohlကvek

Piano Sonata No 23 Op 57 Appassionata', (mvts. II & III)

Khatia Buniatishvili, piano

Piano Sonata No 22 Op 54, II. Allegretto

Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano

String Quartet Op 59 No 3, III. Menuetto, Grazioso & IV. Allegro molto

Calidore String Quartet

As Beethoven's hearing worsens, he finds new friends and supporters. With Donald Macleod.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2020	01	Fallen Idol	20200615	Beethoven was fascinated by Napoleon Bonaparte and the ideals of freedom, equality and self-determination he seemed to embody, and embarked on a new symphony in Napoleon's honour. But had he fatally misjudged his hero? This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1804-1806; the beginning of what many commentators have called his heroic' phase. Having weathered a profound psychological crisis, triggered by his failing hearing, Beethoven now throws himself into his composing with renewed energy and strength of spirit. However, that same passionate nature also leads to frequent conflicts. Composer of the Week is 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. Variations on an original theme Op 35, Eroica Variations', Variations I-III. Rudolf Buchbinder, piano Symphony No 3 'Eroica', I. Allegro con brio BBC National Orchestra of Wales Conducted by Thierry Fischer String Quartet Op 59 No 1, 'Rasumovsky', IV. Th耀me Russe, Allegro Escher String Quartet Symphony No 3 'Eroica', II. Marcia funebre, Adagio assai Violin Sonata in A major Op 47 Kreutzer', III. Presto Veronika Eberle, violin Oliver Schnyder, piano Beethoven is inspired by Napoleon, but will his hero prove worthy? With Donald Macleod
2020	02	Love And Honour	20200616	Beethoven rekindles an old relationship while working to dissuade his brother, Caspar Carl, from his own choice of romantic partner. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1804-1806; the beginning of what many commentators have called his heroic' phase. Beethoven had put behind him the profound psychological crisis, triggered by his failing hearing, and now throws himself into his composing with renewed energy and strength of spirit. However, that same passionate nature also leads to frequent conflicts. Composer of the Week is 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. Romance in F Op 50 Chlo뀀 Hanslip, violin BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Anja Bihlmaier Piano Sonata No 13, Op 27 No 1 (movts. III & IV) Louis Schwizgebel, piano An die Hoffnung Op 32 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone J怀rg Demus, piano Piano Sonata No 15 Op 28 Pastorale', IV. Rondo Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano Piano Concerto No 4, I. Allegro Moderato C退dric Tiberghien, piano BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Grant Llewellyn Beethoven rekindles an old romance. Presented by Donald Macleod.
2020	03	Leonore	20200617	Beethoven struggles to put on his first-ever opera as the French army advances relentlessly on Vienna. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1804-1806; the beginning of what many commentators have called his heroic' phase. Beethoven had put behind him the profound psychological crisis, triggered by his failing hearing, and now throws himself into his composing with renewed energy and strength of spirit. However, that same passionate nature also leads to frequent conflicts. Composer of the Week is 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. Leonore (1806 version) Act 1, `O w䀀r ich schon mit dir vereint` Christine Neithardt-Barbaux, soprano (Marzelline) Orchestra of the Beethovenhalle Bonn Conducted by Marc Soustrot Piano Sonata No 22 in F Op 54 (mvts. I & II) Paul Lewis, piano Leonore (1806 version) Act II, Quartet `Er sterbe!` Pamela Coburn, soprano (Leonore) Mark Baker, tenor (Forestan) Jean-Philippe Lafont, baritone (Don Pizarro) Victor von Halem, bass (Rocco) Violin Sonata Op 12 No 1, II. Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto Jennifer Pike, violin Daniel Tong, piano Leonore (1806 version) Act II, Duet `O namenlose Freude!` Leonore Overture No 3 Op 72b Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Conducted by Kurt Masur Beethoven struggles to put on his first-ever opera. Presented by Donald Macleod.
2020	04	Appassionata	20200618	Beethoven's fiery temper leads to quarrels with strangers, old friends and an important patron. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1804-1806; the beginning of what many commentators have called his heroic' phase. Beethoven had put behind him the profound psychological crisis, triggered by his failing hearing, and now throws himself into his composing with renewed energy and strength of spirit. However, that same passionate nature also leads to frequent conflicts. Composer of the Week is 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. Sonata for Cello and Piano Op 102 No 1 (opening) Lynn Harrell, cello Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano Bagatelle in B minor Op 126 No 4 Sviatoslav Richter, piano String Quartet in F Op 59 No 1, II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando Takကcs Quartet Piano Sonata No 23, Op 57 Appassionata', I. Allegro assai Khatia Buniatishvili Violin Concerto Op 61, I. Allegro ma non troppo Isabell Faust, violin The Prague Philharmonia Conducted by Ji?퀀 B?lohlကvek Beethoven's fiery temper leads to quarrels with old friends. Presented by Donald Macleod.
2020	05 LAST	Intimates And Evangelists	20200619	As Beethoven's hearing continues to decline, he finds sympathetic musical friends who will help perform and disseminate his works. This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1804-1806; the beginning of what many commentators have called his heroic' phase. Beethoven had put behind him the profound psychological crisis, triggered by his failing hearing, and now throws himself into his composing with renewed energy and strength of spirit. However, that same passionate nature also leads to frequent conflicts. Composer of the Week is 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. 6 Ecossaises WoO 83 Alfred Brendel, piano Piano Concerto No 3, I. Allegro con Brio Igor Levit, piano BBC Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Ji?퀀 B?lohlကvek Piano Sonata No 23 Op 57 Appassionata', (mvts. II & III) Khatia Buniatishvili, piano Piano Sonata No 22 Op 54, II. Allegretto Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano String Quartet Op 59 No 3, III. Menuetto, Grazioso & IV. Allegro molto Calidore String Quartet As Beethoven's hearing worsens, he finds new friends and supporters. With Donald Macleod.