Ludwig van Beethoven Video (DVD)

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most important composers of the Romantic era, known sometimes as one of the geniuses, one of the"three Bs", in the company of Brahms and Bach, who characterize the tradition of classical music. Unbelievably, he was deaf. Beethoven took the music world by storm, transforming the simple sonata into a passionate musical work that filled concert halls. He altered the musical genre of the symphony with his third symphony inspiring generations of composers with that one work alone. . He wrote a scant nine symphonies, but each is unique and Beethoven changed the fundamental components composition . He launched the heroic style in music. This program illustrates his dramatic life with letters, scholarly commentary and paintings. Included are significant performances conducted by the finest contemporary conductors: Leonard Bernstein conducting Symphonies No. 3, 5, and 9; Herbert von Karajan conducting Symphonies No. 3, 5, and 8; and Karl Bahm conducting Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58. (27 minutes)

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