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Dissecting Beethoven

An exploration of Beethoven’s music through the body that gave him so much trouble. Presented by Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh.

In Dissecting Beethoven, Georgia Mann and eminent Neurosurgeon Henry Marsh explore the story of Beethoven’s health, starting with the results of Beethoven’s autopsy, which revealed a liver: ‘like leather...hard and bluish-green’, and an abdominal cavity: ‘filled with four measures of rust-coloured fluid’. Georgia and Henry explore what might have been behind the bowel problems that tormented Beethoven for most of his adult life. Could lead-laced wine have poisoned him? Why have some medics settled on a diagnosis of syphilis, and what’s behind the idea of Beethoven having an irregular heart beat?

The Brodsky Quartet play moments from Beethoven’s string quartet output that reveal the bodily struggles he endured, and composer Richard Ayres reflects on how the psychological effects of Beethoven’s hearing loss may also have played a part in the angst-ridden music he wrote.

Producer: Georgia Mann

Available now

44 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Aug 2022 18:45
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto no. 5 in E flat major Op.73 (Emperor) i 1st movement; Allegro

    Performer: Murray Perahia. Orchestra: Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Wellington's Victory (Battle Symphony) - Part 2

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Antal Doráti.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in A minor Op.132 for strings i 3rd movement

    Ensemble: Brodsky String Quartet.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in F major Op.135 for strings i 4th movement; Grave - allegro

    Ensemble: Brodsky String Quartet.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in F major Op.135 for strings i 4th movement; Grave - allegro

    Ensemble: Brodsky String Quartet.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Duo no. 1 in C major WoO.27`1 for clarinet and bassoon i 3rd movement; Rondo (Allegretto)

    Ensemble: Mozzafiato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Duo no. 1 in C major WoO.27`1 for clarinet and bassoon i 3rd movement; Rondo (Allegretto)

    Ensemble: Mozzafiato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    11 Bagatelles for piano (Op.119), no.5 in C minor

    Performer: Georges Solchany.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Duo no. 1 in C major WoO.27`1 for clarinet and bassoon i 3rd movement; Rondo (Allegretto)

    Ensemble: Mozzafiato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Duo no. 1 in C major WoO.27`1 for clarinet and bassoon i 3rd movement; Rondo (Allegretto)

    Ensemble: Mozzafiato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Duo no. 1 in C major WoO.27`1 for clarinet and bassoon i 3rd movement; Rondo (Allegretto)

    Ensemble: Mozzafiato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Duo no. 1 in C major WoO.27`1 for clarinet and bassoon i 3rd movement; Rondo (Allegretto)

    Ensemble: Mozzafiato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Sonata no. 26 in E flat major Op.81a (Les Adieux) for piano i 1st movement; Les Adieux

    Performer: Éric Heidsieck.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in B flat major Op.130 for strings: 5th mvt; Cavatina

    Ensemble: Danish String Quartet.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Sonata no. 8 in C minor Op.13 (Pathetique) for piano i 2nd mvt; Adagio cantabile

    Performer: Daniel Barenboim.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in F minor Op.95 for strings i 1st movement; Allegro con brio

    Ensemble: Brodsky String Quartet.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in F major Op.135 for strings i 4th movement; Grave - allegro

    Ensemble: Brodsky String Quartet.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in A minor Op.132 for strings i 3rd movement

    Ensemble: Brodsky String Quartet.

  • Richard Ayres

    No.52 for orchestra (Three pieces about Ludwig van Beethoven: dreaming, hearing loss and saying goodbye) - 1st Mvt

    Performer: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.

  • Richard Ayres

    No.52 for orchestra (Three pieces about Ludwig van Beethoven: dreaming, hearing loss and saying goodbye) - 3rd Mvt

    Performer: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Sonata no. 8 in C minor Op.13 (Pathetique) for piano i 2nd mvt; Adagio cantabile

    Performer: Daniel Barenboim.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 Dec 2020 18:45
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
  • Sun 21 Aug 2022 18:45
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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