Composer of the Week: Beethoven: Beethoven and the Voice

Donald Macleod is joined by Rachel Nicholls to explore Beethoven from the perspective of a singer. Rachel shares her experience of what it's like to sing the role of Leonore in Fidelio, and also Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, including the difficulties associated with Beethoven's athletic vocal writing. Donald and Rachel also explore the impact the 20-year-old vocalist Anna Milder had on the music of Beethoven. Fidelio, Act 1 No 1-3 - Angela Denoke (Leonore, soprano), Laszlo Polgar (Rocco, bass), Juliane Banse (Marzelline, soprano), Rainer Trost (Jaquino, tenor), Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Fidelio, Act 2 No 12 - Jessye Norman (Leonore, soprano), Kurt Moll (Rocco, bass), Chor der Staatsoper Dresden Staatskapelle Dresden Bernard Haitink, conductor Fidelio, Act 2 No 14-15 Ekkehard Wlaschiha (Don Pizarro), bass-baritone Jessye Norman (Leonore), soprano Reiner Goldberg (Florestan), tenor Kurt Moll (Rocco), bass Chor der Staatsoper Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden, Bernard Haitink (conductor). Missa Solemnis, Op 123 (Agnus Dei) - Lucy Crowe (soprano), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo), James Gilchrist (tenor), Matthew Rose (bass), Monteverdi Choir, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, Sir John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)