Family Ties

Beethoven had never shown much interest in fatherhood but, following the death of his younger brother, he determined to take on that role for his nephew Karl, despite the objections of Karl’s mother who was still very much alive.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821, a period when the composer was moving towards yet another extraordinary and revolutionary flowering of his creativity. However, something was holding him back. Beethoven had resolved to become the legal guardian of his nephew, Karl, and to remove him from the care of his mother, Johanna. The resulting court battles would rumble on for five years, damaging everyone involved, consuming them all, and distracting Beethoven from his music.

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.

Piano Sonata No.25, Op.79: II. Andante & III. Vivace
Maurizio Pollini, piano

String Quartet Op.95 ‘Serioso’, III. Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso
The Lindsays

Sehnsucht, WoO.146
Benjamin Appl, baritone
Graham Johnson, piano

Cello Sonata Op.102, No.1
Nicolas Altstaedt, cello
José Gallardo, piano

Variations on “Ich bin de Schneider Kakadu” by Wenzel Müller, Op.121a
The Raphael Trio