Knowledge and power

Donald Macleod examines how the ideals of reason, equality and freedom that were circulating across Europe and America at the end of the 18th century inspired the young intellectuals of Bonn, like Ludwig van Beethoven.

This week, Donald Macleod’s focus is on Beethoven’s childhood and teenage years, as he looks for clues in the composer’s early life that point towards the great man he would become.

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 twenty-first 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.

String Quartet, Op 95 (Serioso) (1st movement)
Armida String Quartet

Fidelio: Act I (finale)
Christoph Strehl, tenor (Jaquino)
Rachel Harnisch, soprano (Marzelline)
Christof Fischesser, bass (Rocco)
Nina Stemme , soprano (Leonore)
Falk Struckmann, bass baritone (Don Pizarro)
Arnold Schoenberg Choir
Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Claudio Abbado, conductor

Musik zu einem Ritterballett, Woo 1
BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Juanjo Mena

12 Variations on 'See the conqu'ring hero comes' by Handel for cello and piano, WoO 45
Andreas Brantelid, cello
Peter Friis Johansson, piano

Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Wales