Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)

[kernelbogey]

Finding a Voice
Beethoven Unleashed: Vocal Music
Week 9 of 26: w/c 4.5.20

[....]

[I]Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's early vocal music, including Adelaide and his only oratorio, Christ on the Mount of Olives, with conductor Simone Young and pianist and writer Iain Burnside[I]
[....]

Flagging next week's programmes a little early as this thread has become somewhat moribund....

Bump, bump.... Ludwig van Beethoven is coming down stairs....

[jayne lee wilson]

Flagging next week's programmes a little early as this thread has become somewhat moribund....

Bump, bump.... Ludwig van Beethoven is coming down stairs....

There's lots of Beethoven Commentary going on on the Listening thread.... but I didn't feel I should copy mine here....so....er....

[kernelbogey]

There's lots of Beethoven Commentary going on on the Listening thread.... but I didn't feel I should copy mine here....so....er....

Thanks Jayne: I hadn't been aware of that. And take your point about cross-posting. (And I hope that your eyes are better....)

I am aware that the year-long COTW attention to LvB is not in and of itself attracting much interest on the Forum, and I've been trying (not always successfully ) to keep the fortnightly topics recorded in the OP. But there are few responses, and the early ones indicate that the 'heavenly length' of this COTW is not to everyone's taste. But I shall persist, at least for a few forthinghts more....

[jayne lee wilson]

Thanks Jayne: I hadn't been aware of that. And take your point about cross-posting. (And I hope that your eyes are better....)

I am aware that the year-long COTW attention to LvB is not in and of itself attracting much interest on the Forum, and I've been trying (not always successfully ) to keep the fortnightly topics recorded in the OP. But there are few responses, and the early ones indicate that the 'heavenly length' of this COTW is not to everyone's taste. But I shall persist, at least for a few forthinghts more....

Just a suggestion: maybe comments on (strictly) 2020 Beethoven Releases could be posted/copied here?

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks Jayne: I hadn't been aware of that. And take your point about cross-posting. (And I hope that your eyes are better....)

I am aware that the year-long COTW attention to LvB is not in and of itself attracting much interest on the Forum,

and I've been trying (not always successfully ) to keep the fortnightly topics recorded in the OP.

But there are few responses, and the early ones indicate that the 'heavenly length' of this COTW is not to everyone's taste.

But I shall persist, at least for a few forthinghts more....

[kernelbogey]

You may laugh now, SA, but I shall keep bumping this up...!

[kernelbogey]

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's early vocal music, including Adelaide and his only oratorio, Christ on the Mount of Olives, with conductor Simone Young and pianist and writer Iain Burnside.....

[kernelbogey]

... Across the week Donald Macleod and his guests will be discussing some personal favourites from Beethoven's vocal music, taking in the giants of choral repertory like Missa Solemnis and the ninth symphony, his opera Fidelio and orchestral vocal music, as well as relishing the astonishing variety of his songwriting, from the song cycle An die Ferne Geliebte and the most profoundly moving vocal masterpieces, to a comic song most likely dashed off to amuse friends in a bar.

[antongould]

... Across the week Donald Macleod and his guests will be discussing some personal favourites from Beethoven's vocal music, taking in the giants of choral repertory like Missa Solemnis and the ninth symphony, his opera Fidelio and orchestral vocal music, as well as relishing the astonishing variety of his songwriting, from the song cycle An die Ferne Geliebte and the most profoundly moving vocal masterpieces, to a comic song most likely dashed off to amuse friends in a bar.

Cheers kb I will be there ......

[gurnemanz]

Getting ready for this I think I might do a small survey of An die ferne Geliebte. My first and still possibly favourite was on an LP with Ernst Haefliger and Erik Werba, recorded in 1962 and coupled with Dichterliebe. I had to wait nearly 50 years to get a digital update via last year's marvellous and long overdue DG Haefliger Edition

Other recordings I have are:

Peter Schreier with Walter Olbertz, which I note is due an imminent reissue with a new coupling, presumably to celebrate Schreier's death and Beethoven's jubilee. Interesting that this recording of the cycle comes as one item without track markers. This is also the case on Christian Gerhaher's excellent recording with Gerold Huber on this rewarding disc.

Nicolai Gedda (also on YouTube)

Mark Padmore with Graham Johnson is on Hyperion's Complete Schubert Lieder box. He also has a newer version with Kristian Bezuidenhout on fortepiano.

and two classic historical performances from Gerhard Hüsch and Heinrich Schlusnus

I see Ian Bostridge has an upcoming recording with Antonio Pappano

[Oakapple]

I read an interesting anecdote in a review of a new book about the Hapsburgs yesterday. Apparently Beethoven conducted a performance of his 7th symphony at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to atone for originally dedicating his 3rd to Napoleon.

[kernelbogey]

For me, today's episode shed light on an area of LvB's output, his vocal music, relatively unknown to, and unexplored by, me. I had never heard Christ in the Mount of Olives (nor the Song of the Flea!) and found Ian Burnside, as ever, an engaging and informative broadcaster; Simone Young, otherwise unknown to me, too.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the Mass in C and other works.

[kernelbogey]

Beethoven's first Mass was written in 1807, a commission for Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy. When he first heard it, the Prince described it as "detestable". Donald discovers why Beethoven's innovations excited such a strong reaction from his backward looking patron.

Excerpts from the Mass in C, and the Fantasia for Piano, Choir and Orchestra in C minor op 80, plus various songs. Ian Burnside, Simone Young and Donald in a threefer.

[kernelbogey]

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's only song cycle An die Ferne Geliebte and his cantatas, written to mark special events, with conductor Simone Young and pianist writer and broadcaster, Iain Burnside.

[kernelbogey]

Mention was made of a biography of LvB by Barry Cooper. Anyone know it? Views?

Any alternative recommendations?