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Donald Macleod embarks on the final week of his year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, selecting his personal highlights of conversations he's had with special guests over the course of 25 series - beginning today by revealing the insights he's gained about Beethoven, the man.

Composer of the Week has this year, every alternate week, explored the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth. In this, the final week of 25 series devoted to the extraordinary composer, Donald Macleod looks back over the year, and presents his personal highlights from the interviews he carried out over the course of 125 programmes. From historian Simon Schama to conductors Marin Alsop and John Eliot Gardiner, and pianists Jonathan Biss and Angela Hewitt, Donald was joined by experts and performers who gave remarkable insights into the unique human being that was Beethoven. This week he brings together some of the conversations that stayed with him, building a picture of Beethoven the man, the composer, the interpretation of his music since his death, the times he lived in, and what he means to us today.

In the first programme of the final series this year on Beethoven, Donald looks back at what he learnt about Beethoven the Man. In conversation with Simon Schama and Marin Alsop, Aakanksha Virkar Yates, Erica Buurman, Jan Swafford, and Jonathan Biss, Donald discovered what the composer was like as a human being, from his interest in religion, to his constant loneliness, and the struggles he had communicating with those around him.

Composer of the Week has been 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.

Mass in C, Op 86 - Sanctus
Collegium Musicum 90
Collegium Musicum 90 Chorus
Richard Hickox, conductor

Piano Concerto No 4 in G, Op 58 - Andante con moto & Rondo vivace
Paul Lewis, piano
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Symphony Orchestra
Jiří Bĕlohlávek, conductor

Violin Sonata No 5 in F, Op 24 (Spring) - 4th movement: Rondo
Renaud Capuçon, violin
Frank Braley, piano

Piano Sonata No 27, Op 90
Jonathan Biss, piano