We’ll begin at the beginning - in Bonn, to be precise, where Beethoven was born in 1770. Andy finds out about the young Ludwig’s home life, including a supportive mother and a less than supportive father. How did Beethoven’s upbringing shape his personality and work ethic? What was Beethoven like at school? And how exactly does Andy manage to crowbar referen ... Show More
Jul 2020
Episode 9: Beethoven's Health
In the penultimate episode, Andy Bush turns to Beethoven’s ill health and explores how it affected his music. How he was able to continue composing as he became increasingly deaf?
Andy gains insight from Maya Iwabuchi, leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, clarinettist ... Show More
13m 8s
Jul 2020
Episode 8: Beethoven the Performer
Andy Bush investigates Beethoven’s skills on stage, as a pianist, improviser and conductor, and finds useful parallels with Donkey Kong, dry ice and Dane Bowers.
The guests in this episode are conductors Karin Hendrickson, Jonathon Heyward and Sir Mark Elder, pianist Stephen Houg ... Show More
17m 38s
May 2022
Beethoven's Silent Symphony (Replay)
History repeats itself this week with an episode from the HISTORY This Week archives: May 7, 1824. One of the great musical icons in history, Ludwig Van Beethoven, steps onto stage at the Kärntnertor Theater in Vienna. The audience is electric, buzzing with anticipation for a bra ... Show More
34m 41s
May 2020
Beethoven's Silent Symphony
May 7, 1824. One of the great musical icons in history, Ludwig Van Beethoven, steps onto stage at the Kärntnertor Theater in Vienna. The audience is electric, buzzing with anticipation for a brand new symphony from the legendary composer. But there’s a rumor on their minds, somet ... Show More
30m 35s
Feb 2013
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
<p>More than just 'da da da dum! </p><p>Beethoven's 5th Symphony accompanied Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on the regular Bombay to Basra route he sailed during his early days in the Merchant Navy. </p><p>Archaeologist and crime novelist, Dana Cameron, spent many a long day in a dark, ... Show More
27m 34s
Sep 2020
THE 5TH — MOVEMENT I, A Battle Brewing
You know Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. You’ve heard it in films, advertisements, parodied in Saturday morning cartoons and disco-ized in Saturday Night Fever. The Fifth Symphony is a given, so much so that it blends into the background. You know this piece, but how well? Of all the ... Show More
27m 48s
Dec 2011
Beethoven's Birthday 2011
Celebrating the 241st birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven. Performers include: George Szell, Bruno Walter, the Budapest String Quartet, Arthur Schnabel and Pablo Casals. Works include highlights from the Symphony #4, the Six Bagatelles Op 126, the String Quartet #10 and the Celo Son ... Show More
44m 59s
Jul 2023
Mozart's Sex Life
<p>When we think of the biggest pop icons of all time, we might reach for Madonna, Elvis, or yes, even Michael Jackson. </p><br><p>One name that’s not thrown into the pot is Mozart. But why? His music was undoubtedly the pop music of his day, and as we’ll find out today, he ... Show More
38m 47s