Documentary on the master composer, from a GDR point of view.

Juraj Valčuha conducts Beethoven's Symphony 9th.

Two years prior to the opening scene, the nobleman Florestan has exposed or attempted to expose certain crimes of the nobleman Pizarro. In revenge, Pizarro has secretly imprisoned Florestan in the prison over which Pizarro is governor. The jailer of the prison, Rocco, has a daughter, Marzelline, and a servant (or assistant), Jaquino. Florestan’s wife, Leonore, came to Rocco’s door dressed as a boy seeking employment, and Rocco hired her. On orders, Rocco has been giving Florestan diminishing rations until he is nearly starved to death. Place: A Spanish state prison, a few miles from Seville; Time: Late 18th century.

Known as much for the richness of his symphonies, concertos, sonatas and chamber music as he is for his personal struggles (including deafness), Ludwig van Beethoven is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished musicians of all time. As part of a comprehensive series of films celebrating the most influential European composers on record, this educational program is as much an introduction to Beethoven's works as it is a tribute to his genius.

The film begins with a visualization of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111, and Wyborny nearly misses the first movement. Yes, the "savage and bare fire" (Kaiser) of this tempestuous last piece of Beethoven nearly tears him apart. He who, while the aggressive Allegro explodes (when the sonata has begun to spread out with a deliberately "false" address in the old French overture rhythm), gets wrapped up in every pause and every peak; he who absolutely wants to work on these dialectical poles of tension in the finest agogic gradations, to shape the contrasts of the tempo in an angular way, will be torn apart. Wyborny escapes from the abyss, Beethoven would have done the same in an emergency, improvising on his own. Many spectators probably did not notice the drama. Others noticed it, were shocked, pulled themselves together, took a breath - and then were overwhelmed by the ingenious solution.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Missa solemnis, op. 123 Marlis Petersen Elisabeth Kulman Werner Gura Gerald Finley Orchestre Royal du Concertgebouw Amsterdam Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Felix Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 64 Ludwig van Beethoven Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, Op. 61 Nikolaj Znaider, violin Riccardo Chailly Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

The Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7 performed by Seiji Ozawa, who turned 80! Bonus content includes valuable footage of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy (piano: Martha Argerich
) from the Celebrating Seiji at 80! Gala Concert performance!