This week, Donald Macleod follows Ludwig van Beethoven through the years of 1816-1821; a period when the composer was groping 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.

Music Featured:

Piano Sonata No.25, Op.79 (II. Andante & III. Vivace)

String Quartet op.95 ‘Serioso’ (III. Allegro assai vivace, ma serioso)Sehnsucht, WoO.146Cello Sonata Op.102, No.1Variations on “Ich bin de Schneider Kakadu” by Wenzel Müller, Op.121aBeethoven: Piano Sonata No.16, Op.31 No.1 (I. Allegro Vivace)The Creatures of Prometheus (extracts)Abschiedsgesang WoO.102Piano Sonata No.30, Op.109The Miller of Dee WoO.157, No.4Fugue for Strings Op. 137Quintet for strings Op.104 (III. Menuetto & IV. Finale)Piano Sonata No.29, Op.106 “Hammerklavier” (II. Scherzo & III. Adagio Sostenuto)National Airs with Variations Op.107, No.5Wolfgang Schulz, fluteRudolf Buchbinder, pianoBagatelle in Bb, WoO.60God Save the King, Woo.157, No.3Namensfeier Overture Op.115Piano Sonata No.28, Op.101So oder so WoO.148Missa Solemnis: BenedictusBester Magistrat, Ihr friert WoO.177Tremate, empi, tremate Op.116Bagatelles Op.119, Nos.7-11Abendlied unterm gestirnten Himmel WoO.150March for Military Band WoO.24 (extract)Piano Sonata No.31, Op.110

Presented by Donald Macleod

Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

For full track listings, 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: Withdrawal https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000n5x6

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