Beethoven

147 Posts
archive-post-image
Beethoven’s Students: From Carl Czerny to Countesses
Ludwig van Beethoven has gone down in classical music history as a great, defiant, wild-haired composer genius. However, being a genius doesn’t always pay the bills. So throughout his life, Beethoven often took on piano students to supplement his income…at
Read more
archive-post-image
Beethoven (Concert) Overtures
Over a period of about 22 years, Ludwig van Beethoven composed a total of eleven overtures for a variety of occasions and under different circumstances. Overtures had traditionally served as openings for stage or larger vocal works for centuries. Although
Read more
archive-post-image
Opening the House: Beethoven’s Die Weihe des Hauses
For the re-opening of the Josefstadt Theatre in Vienna, a new work was commissioned from Beethoven. The theatre was founded in 1788 and had a remodel and rebuild in 1822, which is when they contacted Beethoven for a work. Die
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
11 April: Beethoven’s Archduke Trio Was Premiered
Johann Baptist Malfatti, Elder von Monteregio was an Italian/Austrian doctor famous for being one of Beethoven’s physicians. Beethoven first made his acquaintance in 1809 and seemed to have consulted him several times in 1810. Early in 1810 he also met
Read more
archive-post-image
Our Favourite Warhorse: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5
The powerful start to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has meant various things over the centuries. During his time, according to his assistant, the music was taken to signal Fate knocking at the door. During the second world war, it was a
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
2 April: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 Was Premiered
During his teenage years in Bonn, Ludwig van Beethoven sketched an incomplete draft for a passionate symphonic movement in C minor. Dating from between 1790 and 1792, the draft was never brought to fruition, and it took Beethoven almost another
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
26 March: Ludwig van Beethoven Died
A biographer reports, “A violent thunderstorm struck Vienna in the afternoon of 26 March 1827. At 5:45 pm, a sudden flash of lightning was reported, and the dying man suddenly raised his head, stretched out his own right arm majestically—like
Read more
archive-post-image
On This Day
21 March: Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 130 Was Premiered
Completed in early 1826, Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 130 premiered on 21 March 1826 as part of the concluding subscription concert by the Schuppanzigh Quartet. The work immediately caused great puzzlement, as we read in a contemporary review, “The most
Read more