Death of the Hero - The 鈥楨roica鈥� Symphony
Donald Macleod explores the composition of Beethoven鈥檚 鈥楨roica鈥� Symphony, during which the composer was assailed by the first signs of the dreadful troubles with his hearing.
Donald Macleod explores the composition of Beethoven鈥檚 鈥楨roica鈥� Symphony, during which the composer was assailed by the first signs of the dreadful troubles with his hearing.
Beethoven remains one of the most lauded composers in history, famed for both his music, and for his personal triumph as a musician over the adversity of his catastrophic hearing loss. Over the course of this Composer of the Week series, Donald Macleod takes five of Beethoven鈥檚 most iconic works, spread out through the composer鈥檚 life, and tracks the journey of each of them. Through these stories, Donald discovers both the pieces鈥� direct importance to the composer, and also finds wider issues which each of them point to in the general life of a complex, and troubled man. From his carefully stage-managed debut on the Viennese scene as a young man, and his steadily increasing anguish at the loss of his hearing, and the betrayal by Napoleon of his political ideals, to the close relationship between Beethoven and his most loyal patron, and the composer鈥檚 late credo of joy through suffering which allowed him to continue to flourish artistically despite all of his personal demons.
In Tuesday鈥檚 programme, Donald Macleod explores the troubled circumstances which led to the composition of one of the most groundbreaking symphonies of all time - Beethoven鈥檚 鈥楨roica鈥�. It was a period during which the composer was assailed by troubles with his hearing, and suffered both political disappointment and romantic heartbreak.
The Creatures of Prometheus, Op 43 鈥� Overture
Armonia Atenea
George Petrou, conductor
Piano Sonata no 12 in A-flat, Op 26 鈥� III. Funeral march on the death of a hero
Ronald Brautigam, piano
Christus am Olberge, Op 85 鈥� III. 鈥淢eine seele ist erschuttert鈥� & Chorus
VI. O Heil euch, ihr Erl枚stn
Collegium Vocale Gent
Orchestre des Champs-Elysees
Philippe Herreweghe, conductor
An die hoffnung, Op 32
Matthias Goerne, baritone
Jan Lisiecki, piano
Symphony no 3 in E-flat major, Op 55 鈥淓roica鈥� 鈥� I. Allegro con brio
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Leonore, Op 72a (original version, 1805) 鈥� Act I Nr. 12. Finale 鈥淥, welche Lust, in freier Luft"
Florian Feth, tenor (1st Prisoner)
Julian Popken, bass (2nd Prisoner)
Z眉rcher Sing-Akademie
Freiburger Barockorchster
Rene Jacobs, conductor
Produced by Sam Phillips for 麻豆约拍 Audio Wales & West
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
The Creatures of Prometheus, Overture
Performer: George Petrou. Orchestra: Armonia Atenea.- DECCA 478 6755.
- DECCA.
- 1.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata No 12 in A flat major, Op 26 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Ronald Brautigam.- BIS : BISCD-2000.
- BIS.
- 3.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Christus Am Olberge, Op 85 (excerpt)
Choir: Collegium Vocale Gent. Orchestra: Orchestre des Champs鈥惷塴ys茅es. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe.- PHI : LPH-039.
- PHI.
- 3.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
An die hoffnung, Op 32
Performer: Jan Lisiecki. Singer: Matthias Goerne.- DG : 483-835-1.
- DG.
- 8.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 3 in E flat major "Eroica", Op 55 (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.- WARNER CLASSICS : 2435575645.
- WARNER CLASSICS.
- 1.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Fidelio, Op 72, Act 1, No 12: Finale "O, welche Lust, in freier Luft"
Performer: Florian Feth. Performer: Julian Popken. Choir: Z眉rcher Sing-Akademie. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Ren茅 Jacobs.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMM-902414 15.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 1.
Broadcast
- Tue 31 Oct 2023 12:00麻豆约拍 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.