蜜芽传媒

Donald Macleod explores how the demise of Napoleon, and a clich茅d commission from an eccentric inventor launched Beethoven from his depression, and led to the greatest public acclaim of the composer鈥檚 career. However, with this success came accusations of selling out.

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven鈥檚 life through the years of 1813-1815 鈥� a time of great change throughout Europe as Napoleon was overthrown. For Beethoven, it was undoubtedly the most successful period of his entire career, as he began, at last, to receive public recognition for his music. However, these years also saw him slump to an artistic nadir as he succumbed to the call for patriotic crowd-pleasers in the wake of this massive political change.

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.

Symphony No.3 in E flat major, Op 55 鈥淓roica鈥� - II. Marcia Funebre. Adagio Assai
Orchester Wiener Akademie
Martin Haselbock (conductor)

Wellington鈥檚 Victory, Op 91
Berlin Philharmonic
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)

Symphony no. 7 in A major, Op 92 (arr. Winds) - III. Presto
Les Vents de Montr茅al
Andr茅 Moisan (conductor)

Symphony no. 8 in F major, Op 93 - II. Allegretto scherzando & III. Tempo di menuetto
London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Haitink (conductor)

Germania, WoO 94
Niklas Sp氓ngberg (bass)
The Key Ensemble
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Leif Segerstam (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips for 蜜芽传媒 Cymru Wales