Composer of the Week: Beethoven: The Art of the Deal

Beethoven was determined to turn his back on the creative restrictions that came with a salaried post, in the service of one of the royal courts or the church; but if he was to survive as a freelance composer he would have to learn to be a businessman as well as an artist. All this week, Donald Macleod traces Beethoven's story through the years 1799-1801. As he reaches his 30th birthday, we see Beethoven finally emerging as a mature composer and beginning to produce the enduring works that will mark him out as one of the great artists of his age. But there are clouds on the horizon too, and we see the first intimations of a serious problem with his hearing. 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. Piano Sonata No 13 in Eb major, op 27 No 1, I. Andante - Louis Schwizgebel-Wang (piano). String Quartet Op 18, No 3, I. Allegro, II. Andante con moto - Calidore Quartet. Piano Sonata No 11 in Bb, Op 22 III. Minuetto & IV. Rondo - Sviatoslav Richter (piano). Violin Sonata Op 23 - Aleksey Semenenko (violin), Inna Firsova (piano)