麻豆约拍

After the most successful period of his life, Donald Macleod now finds Beethoven starting to slip from the Viennese public鈥檚 affections. As the composer struggles to cope, loneliness and despair once again begin to set in.

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.

Piano Sonata no.27, Op 90
Igor Levitt (piano)

Kurz ist der Schmerz, und ewig ist die Freude, WoO163 & Brauchle, Lincke, WoO167
Accentus

Cello sonata no. 5 in D major, Op 102鈥�2 - II. Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto
Steven Isserlis (cello)
Robert Levin (piano)

Piano Concerto no. 6 (fragment, completed by Nicholas Cook and Hermann Dechant)
Sophie-Mayuko Vetter (piano)
Hamburg Symphony
Peter Ruzicka (conductor)

Fidelio, Op 72 鈥� Act II 鈥淓uch werde Lohn in bessern Welten鈥�
Gundula Janowitz (Leonore)
Ren茅 Kollo (Florestan)
Manfred Jungwirth (Rocco)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Leonard Bernstein (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips for 麻豆约拍 Cymru Wales