The Dance of Life
Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner to discuss Beethoven鈥檚 Seventh Symphony, which Wagner called 鈥榯he apotheosis of the dance鈥�, and his Eighth Symphony.
They have been described as 鈥渢he most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man鈥�, 鈥渁n expression of monumental intellect and innermost feeling鈥�, and 鈥渕usic [which] sets in motion the machinery of awe, of fear, of terror, of pain.鈥� There is no question that Beethoven鈥檚 nine symphonies changed music forever. The colossal legacy of these works has hovered over generations of composers since, leading Johannes Brahms to exclaim: 鈥淵ou can't have any idea what it's like always to hear such a giant marching behind you!鈥�
Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by conductor John Eliot Gardiner, founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique to delve into the world of these nine sublime works.
In Thursday鈥檚 programme, they explore Beethoven鈥檚 Seventh Symphony, which Richard Wagner called 鈥榯he apotheosis of the dance鈥�, and Beethoven鈥檚 penultimate Symphony, the Eighth 鈥� a work which seems more traditional, and which, perhaps as a result of this, has never achieved the popularity of Beethoven鈥檚 other symphonies.
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.
Producer: Sam Phillips
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Music Played
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Carlos Kleiber.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP : DG-447 400-2.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no.7 in A major Op.92 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- SOLI DEO GLORIA : SDG-717.
- SOLI DEO GLORIA.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
12 Irish Songs, WoO 154 - No 8 Save me from the Grave and Wise (excerpt)
Performer: Elizabeth Layton. Performer: Ursula Smith. Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Singer: Ann Murray. Singer: Toby Spence. Singer: Sir Thomas Allen.- DG 4775128.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Z眉rich. Conductor: David Zinman.- SONY : 88843077922.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG721.
- SOLI DEO GLORIA.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- ARCHIV 4778643.
- ARCHIV.
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Broadcast
- Thu 19 Nov 2020 12:00蜜芽传媒 Radio 3
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