Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) - Episode 4

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's final 12 years, concentrating on movements from the Missa Solemnis and the Ninth Symphony, the two grand public utterances of Beethoven's last decade. The Ninth achieved iconic status almost immediately; the Mass, regarded by the composer as his greatest work, is considered to have been neglected. Plus Beethoven's last set of piano bagatelles, played on his own fortepiano - a gift from Thomas Broadwood of London. Falstafferel, WoO184 (1823) Members of the Kammerchor der Berliner Singakademie and the Berliner Solisten Deutsche Gramophon 453 794-2 CD 2 Track 52 Gloria (Missa Solemnis - in D for four solo voices, chorus, orchestra and organ, Op 123, 1819-23) Eva Mei (soprano) Marjana Lipovsek (contralto) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Robert Holl (bass) Chamber Orchestra of Europe Arnold Schoenberg Choir (chorus master: Erwin Ortner) Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor) Warner Classics 2564 63779-2 CD 13 Track 2 Six Bagatelles, Op 126 (1823-4) Melvyn Tan (fortepiano) EMI 7 54526 2 Tracks 21-26 Symphony No 9 in D minor, Op 125 - 1822-4 (1st mvt) Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Charles Mackerras (conductor) EMI CD-EMX 2186 Track 1.