Show Notes
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 Julian Bliss, cellist Matthew Barley, pianist Stephen Hough, conductor Karin Hendrickson and Scala Radio presenter and composer Jack Pepper.
The podcast features an extract of Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No.3, played by Leonard Elschenbroich and Alexei Grynyuk, which is available on Onyx Records, and his second symphony, played by the Britten Sinfonia, which is released on Signum Classics, along with clips of the Piano Concertos 3 & 4, performed by Elizabeth Sombart and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Piano Concerto No.5, played by Alessio Bax and the Southbank Sinfonia - all are available at https://signumrecords.com. Other extracts were provided by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and you can find LPO Label releases on all major streaming platforms and at lpo.org.uk/recordings.
More from Beethoven: The Basics with Andy Bush
In the final episode of the series, Andy takes a look at some of Beethoven’s later works and asks his guests to explain which 1 piece of his music best describes the great composer’s legacy and influence. References to tour merch, Wimpy and privet hedges may also feature.
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.
Andy Bush takes a look at the premieres of Beethoven's works that have gone down in history and manages to include references to in-flight safety videos, good soup and premium rate phone lines.
Andy Bush finds out who kept a roof over Ludwig’s head by commissioning him to write music. Turns out there were quite a few princes, but only one of them was called a donkey…
Andy Bush takes a look at Ludwig's friends, frenemies and the significant members of his family. References to X-men, index fingers and Bond villains also feature.