Beethoven

Musical prodigy, son of a choirmaster, and attentive pupil of Mozart and Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven strode into the world a giant. Composer of the lyrical "Moonlight" and "Path?tique" sonatas, and of the complex "Kreutzer" sonata and "Razumovsky" quartets, Beethoven is justly credited with moving the world from the classical tradition to the age of the Romantics. While an early boldness and energy soon gave way to brooding and introversion brought on by a futile struggle with progressing deafness, this acknowledged genius gave to the world of Western music some of its most treasured musical gifts. Several of the works are interwoven throughout this program, including Symphony No. 9, Piano Sonata No. 14 ("Moonlight"), Egmont Overture, Symphony No. 5, Piano Sonata No. 8 ("Path?tique"), Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral"), and Piano Concerto No. 5 ("Emperor"). (23 minutes, color