Too Late

Beethoven turns to a small circle of close friends and family to care for him as he struggles with what they fear will be his final illness.

This week, Donald Macleod reaches the final chapters of his year-long biography of Beethoven. The composer’s remaining years, 1825 to 1827, were marred by his failing health and a traumatic family crisis but also saw Beethoven pushing resolutely forward in his art. He continued to surprise and astonish, producing a series of extraordinary late string quartets.

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.

String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132, I. Assai sostenunto – Allegro
Alban Berg Quartet

Andante maestoso in C major, WoO.62
Daniel Hope, violin
Ikki Opitz, violin
Amihai Grosz, viola
Tatjana Masurenko, viola
Daniel Müller-Schott, cello

Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, II. Adagio
Mitsuko Uchida, piano
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kurt Sanderling

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight’, I. Andante sostenuto
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Beethoven. Symphony No. 5 in c minor, IV. Allegro
Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Carlos Kleiber

Produced by Chris Taylor