Composer of the Week

Donald Macleod explores the enduring power, pathos and innovation of Beethoven’s late string quartets with guests Laura Tunbridge and Edward Dusinberre. Just two years before he died, Beethoven returned to an old treasured form, the string quartet. The five quartets he ended up writing would come to be his final major works, and would change the paradigm beyond recognition. Though dismissed by audiences in their day, their composition is now considered a pivotal moment not only in Beethoven’s life, but in the history of classical music. Donald is joined by musicologist Laura Tunbridge, and violinist Edward Dusinberre of the Takács Quartet, to discuss these extraordinary, watershed works that have bewildered and beguiled listeners ever since their creation. Throughout the week, they focus on each of the five late quartets, uncovering the stories, circumstances and conversations that surround them. Composer of the Week is 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. Music Featured: String Quartet No 12 in E flat, Op 127 Symphony No 9 (Finale, part 1) Bagatelle in E flat, Op 126 No 3 String Quartet in A minor, Op 132 Fidelio, Act I: ‘Abscheulicher, wo eilst du hin?‘ String Quartet in B flat major, Op 130 Piano Sonata in G major, Op 79 Grosse Fuge, Op 133 Piano Sonata No 30, Op 109 (1st movement) String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op 131 Lob auf der Dicken, WoO 100 Falstafferel, WoO 184 String Quartet in F major, Op 135 Coriolan Overture, Op 62 Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: Return to Form https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jnlz And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod continues his journey through the life of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this week’s episode, Donald Macleod traces Beethoven’s story through the momentous years of 1802 and 1803. It was a time that saw remarkable developments in Beethoven’s creativity as he pursued a self-declared ‘new path’ for his music. He undertook his most ambitious works yet, pouring his whole self into his art. At the same time his personal life was reaching a crisis point that would plunge him to the darkest depths of despair and threaten to ruin all his carefully laid plans for the future. Composer of the Week is 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. Music Featured: Symphony No.4, IV. Allegro ma non troppo Piano Sonata No 21 in C major, Op 53 ‘Waldstein’, II & III Septet Op. 20, III. Tempo di Menuetto Sonata in G major for violin and piano, Op 30 No 3, II. Tempo di minuetto 6 Variations on an original theme in F major, Op 34 Piano Sonata No 17, Op.31 No.2 ‘The Tempest’, III. Allegretto Missa Solemnis: Kyrie Symphony No.2, Movts. III & IV Violin Sonata in A major Op.47 ‘Kreutzer’, II. Larghetto. Variations in Eb Op.35 ‘Eroica’, final movt. March (Fidelio, Act 1) Romance for violin and orchestra No 1, Op 40 5 Variations on “Rule Britannia” WoO 79 Christ on the Mount of Olives (extract) Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’, IV.Finale String Quartet No 1 in F Op 18 No 1, III. Scherzo Violin Sonata in G major Op 30 No 3, I. Allegro assai Piano Sonata No 18 in E flat major, Op 31 No 3 String Quintet in C, Op 29, I.Allegro moderato Gellert Lieder, VI. Busslied Piano Sonata No 17, Op.31 No.2 ‘The Tempest’, II. Adagio Quintet for piano and winds Op 16. III. Rondo Andante Favori WoO 57 Violin Sonata in A major Op 47 ‘Kreutzer’ I. Adagio sostenuto - Presto Piano Sonata No 21 in C major Op 53 ‘Waldstein’, I. Allegro con brio Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: New Pathways https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000j8k8 And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod continues his journey through the life of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this week’s episode, Donald Macleod traces Beethoven’s story through the years 1799-1801. As he reaches his thirtieth birthday, we see Beethoven finally emerging as a mature composer and beginning to produce the enduring works that will mark him out as one of the great artists of his age. But there are clouds on the horizon too, and we see the first intimations of a serious problem with his hearing. Composer of the Week will be 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. Music featured: Piano Concerto No 3, III. Rondo Piano Sonata No 10 in G major, Op 14, No 2 Music: Symphony No 1, IV. Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace Septet Op. 20 (movts 4-6) Piano Sonata No 13 in Eb major, op 27 No 1, I. Andante String Quartet Op 18, No 3, I. Allegro, II. Andante con moto) Piano Sonata No 11 in Bb, Op 22 III. Minuetto & IV. Rondo Violin Sonata Op 23 Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Op. 13 ‘Pathetique’ String Quintet in C, Op 29, II Adagio molto espressivo & IV. Presto Symphony No.5, IV. Allegro Symphony No 3 ‘Eroica’, III. Scherzo Horn Sonata Op 17 Cello Sonata Op 5 No 2, I. Adagio sostenuto e espressivo & II. Allegro molto più tosto presto Piano Sonata No 15 in D, Op 28 ‘Pastoral’, I. Allegro Piano Sonata No 14 in C# minor, Op 27 No 2 ‘Moonlight’ String Quartet Op 18 No 1, II. Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato Prometheus (extracts from the complete Ballet Music) Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: Fate https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hflg And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Pianist Jonathan Biss shares the wonder of Beethoven's piano sonatas with Donald Macleod. Recorded at the piano, in the Angela Burgess Recital Hall at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Jonathan shares his life-long passion for Beethoven with Donald. As they talk, he demonstrates how and why Beethoven's piano sonatas advanced the genre far beyond anything that anyone had ever achieved previously. As they talk we will gain a performer's perspective of Beethoven's developmental trajectory. Composer of the Week will be 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. Music featured: Piano Sonata No 2 in A major, Op 2 No 2 Sonata No 4 in E flat major, Op 7 (Grande sonate) Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major Piano sonata No 15 in D, Op 28 (Pastorale) Piano Sonata No 17 in D minor, Op 31 No 2 (The Tempest) Piano Sonata No 23 in F minor, Op 57 (Appassionata) Piano Sonata No 21 in C major, Op 53 (Waldstein) Piano Sonata No 30 in E major, Op 109 (excerpt) Piano Sonata No 31 in A flat major, Op 110 Piano Sonata No 5 in C minor, Op 10 no 1 Piano Sonata No 12 in A flat major, Op 26 Piano Sonata No 17 in D minor, Op 31 No 2 (The Tempest) Piano Sonata “quasi una fantasia”, Op 27 (Moonlight) Piano Sonata No 20 in G major, Op 49 No 2 Piano Sonata No 3 in C major, Op 2 Piano Sonata No 27 in E minor, Op 90 Piano Sonata No 32 in C minor, Op 111 Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Johannah Smith for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: At the Keyboard https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000h02g And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod follows Beethoven’s progress as he seeks out wealthy Viennese patrons for his music. This week, Donald Macleod follows Beethoven through the years 1796-99, as the young composer learns to negotiate the privileged and moneyed circles of Vienna’s culture-loving aristocracy. Few can resist his extraordinary charisma as a virtuoso pianist but will he also be able to persuade them of his talents as a composer? In this episode, Beethoven undertakes his first international tour, reluctantly accepts piano students, puts his music before a wider public and starts work on his ambitious first symphony. Composer of the Week will be 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. Music featured: Piano Sonata No 5 in C minor, Op 10 No 1 Piano Trio Op 1 No 1 March for four hands, Op 45 No 2 12 Variations on a Russian dance by Wranitzky, WoO 71 String Quartet op 18 no 6, mvts. III & IV Piano Sonata No 5 in C minor, Op 10 No 1 Sextet Op 71 Ah! Perfido Cello Sonata Op 5 No 1 Quintet for piano and winds, Op 16 Piano Sonata No 4, Op 7 Violin Sonata, Op 12 No 2 String Quartet, Op 18 No 4 Piano Trio Op 1 No 1 Piano Sonata No 7, Op 10 No 3 Romance in F, Op 50 Duet for two obbligato eye-glasses, Woo 32 String Quartet Op 18 No 1 Violin Sonata, Op 12 No 3 Piano Sonata No 6 in F, Op 10 Zärtliche Liebe, WoO 123 Trio in B flat major, Op 11 Symphony No 1 in C Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: The Drawing Room Demon https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gkqk And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod and Erica Buurman examine some of Beethoven’s personal possessions at the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn. This week, Donald Macleod takes us to Beethoven’s home town of Bonn and the Beethoven-Haus museum which now occupies the building where he was born. Donald is joined by Erica Buurman, director of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, and together they explore some of the everyday objects and household artefacts owned by the composer to see what they can tell us about how he lived. We’ll hear about Beethoven’s hearing aids and the onset of his hearing loss. Next, with his personal cashbox, they talk about his relationship with money and the world of business. We’ll discover Beethoven’s domestic circumstances by inspecting his cut-throat razor, and his walking stick and writing desk shine a light on his everyday processes. Finally, Donald and Erica compare various samples of the composer’s hair. Composer of the Week will be 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. Music featured: Bagatelles Op 126, Nos 1 & 6 Trio for Clarinet, Cello & Piano Op 38 Overture, The Consecration of the House Op 124 Wellington’s Victory (Part II) Piano Sonata No 9 in E, Op 14 No.1 Triple Concerto Cello Sonata in A, Op 69 Missa Solemnis (Agnus Dei) Sonata No 29 in Bb, Op 106 ‘Hammerklavier’ Aus Goethes Faust, Op 75, No 3 Symphony No 6 String Quintet in Eb Op 4 Mailied, Op 52 No 4 String Quartet Op 59 No 2 Trauerkantate auf den Tod Kaiser Josephs II, No 3 Aria, “Da stiegen die Menschen an’s Licht” Grosse Fugue (arr. Piano, 4 hands) Op 134 Piano Trio Op 1 No 3 Symphony No 1 Mass in C (Kyrie) Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: At Home https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000g3l7 And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod uncovers the story and prolific output of American composer Florence Price. Florence Price became a highly successful classical composer, organist, pianist and teacher of music during the twentieth century in America. She was the first African-American woman to be recognised as a composer of symphonic music, and also the first African-American woman to have her works performed by one of the world’s leading orchestras. In collaboration with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, BBC Radio 3 launched the Forgotten Women Composers Project. Championed by the composer and educator Shirley Thompson, Florence Price became a particular focus for the project. Scores by Florence Price were located and recorded by BBC Orchestras and Choirs. It will be the first time Florence Price has been featured on Composer of the Week, and the series is supplemented by many specially recorded works. Over the course of the episode, we’ll hear about the impact racial prejudice and marriage had on her life and career, her battles for recognition, ultimate fame, and her prolific output, despite health issues late in life. Music featured: The Deserted Garden Sonata in E minor (Andante – Allegro) Suite for Organ No 1 (Fughetta and Air) The Oak Violin Concerto No 2 My Dream Cotton Dance The Old Boatman The Moon Bridge My Soul’s been anchored in the Lord Symphony No 1 in E minor Song for Snow Sinner Don’t Let This Harvest Pass Poem of Praise Piano Concerto in D minor Dances in the Canebrakes Suite for Organ No 1 (Toccata) Sonata in E minor (Andante) Sympathy The Glory of the day was in her face Resignation Symphony No 3 The Goblin and the Mosquito Concert Overture No 2 Five Folksongs in Counterpoint (Drink to me only with thine eyes) Night My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord Violin Concerto No 1 in D major Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Florence Price https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000fwf0 And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod follows Beethoven as he sets himself up in his new home of Vienna. All through 2020, Donald Macleod takes an unprecedented deep dive into the compelling story and extraordinary music of Ludwig van Beethoven. In this uniquely ambitious series, told across 125 episodes of Composer of the Week, Donald puts us inside Beethoven’s world and explores his hopes, struggles and perseverance in all the colourful detail this amazing narrative deserves. Alongside this in-depth biography, Donald will also be meeting and talking to Beethoven enthusiasts and experts from across the world to discover how his music continues to speak to us in the 21st century. Through story and sound, the series builds into a vivid new portrait of this composer, born 250 years ago this year, who made art that changed how people saw themselves and understood the world. This week, Donald Macleod’s focus is on Beethoven’s first months and years in Vienna, following his move there from his home town of Bonn. The young composer was still in his early twenties, low on cash, and had only a handful of works to his name. He was going to have to work hard to find success in the imperial capital, where audiences had grown up on the music of Mozart and Haydn. Music featured: La Partenza, WoO 124 String Quartet in A minor, Op 132 (II. Allegro ma non tanto) Piano Concerto No 2 (III. Rondo) Trio in G major, Op 1 No 2 Bagatelle, Op 33 No 7 (Presto) String Trio, Op 3 in E flat major ( I. Allegro con brio) Piano Sonata No 2, Op 2 No 2 (3rd and 4th movements) Symphony No 8, (2nd and 3rd movements) String Quartet No 16 in F, Op 135 (3rd and 4th movements) Sextet for horns and string quartet, Op 81b Symphony No 2 (1st movement) Quartet in E flat major, Op 127 (3rd and 4th movements) Piano Sonata No 12 in A flat, Op 26 Piano Sonata No 3 in C, Op 2 No 3 (3rd movement) Piano Sonata No 1, Op 2 No 1 (final movement) Violin Sonata, Op 30 No 2 (3rd movement) ‘Adelaide’, Op 46 String Trio Op 3 in E flat major (4th, 5th and 6th movements) 12 Minuets, WoO 7, No 1 Piano Concerto No 1 in C major, Op 15 (1st movement) Piano Trio Op 1 No 3 (1st and 2nd movements) 12 Minuets WoO 7, Nos. 7 & 11 Piano Concerto No 1 in C major, Op 15 (3rd movement) Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Beethoven Unleashed: Making His Way https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000fmt0 And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z