Beethoven

You know the music... but do you know the man? Ludwig van Beethoven’s life - its dramas, conflicts, loves and losses, his deafness coupled with continuous health problems, his epic struggle with his sister-in-law for sole custody of her son, his nephew - is played out in his music. Now John Suchet has portrayed the real man behind the music in this compelling biography of a musical genius. He reveals a difficult and complex character, struggling to continue his profession as musician despite increasing deafness, alienating friends with unprovoked outbursts of anger one moment, overwhelming them with excessive kindness and generosity the next, living in a city in almost constant disarray because of war with France. This is not the god-like immortal portrayed in statues and paintings in heroic pose garlanded with laurel leaves. Beethoven may have been one of the greatest artists who ever lived, but he was still a man who had to live among fellow mortals, eat and drink, fall in love, pay his rent. This is the real Beethoven, and Suchet brings him effortlessly to life.

Auteur

John Suchet presents Classic FM's flagship morning programme. His informative style of presentation, coupled with a deep knowledge of classical music, has won a wide spectrum of new listeners to the station. In particular John is recognised as a leading authority on the life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven. He has previously published five books on the composer. This, the sixth, is his first full-length biography of Beethoven.

Résumé
The Sunday Times bestseller, revised and updated for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.As heard throughout 2020 on Classic FMYou know the music... but do you know the man?Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the world's best loved and most influential composers. His life - its dramas, conflicts, loves and losses - is played out in his music.In this special edition to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth - with a new section featuring his most celebrated pieces - John Suchet shows us the man behind the music. He reveals a difficult and complex character, struggling to continue his profession as musician despite increasing deafness, alienating friends with unprovoked outbursts of anger one moment, overwhelming them with excessive kindness and generosity the next, living in a city in almost constant disarray because of war with France.This is the real Beethoven, and Suchet brings him faithfully and vividly to life.This updated edition of Suchet's acclaimed biography contains new material, including a detailed guide to Beethoven's most important compositions, family tree and timeline.

Contenu

1. The Spaniard: In which a momentous life begins 2. The Right Teacher: This boy could become 'a second Mozart' 3. Meeting Mozart: Watch out for that boy 4. Word Spreads: Young Beethoven as kitchen scullion 5. Impressing The Viennese: But Haydn feels the wrath of an angry young man 6. My Poor Hearing Haunts Me: But there is 'a dear charming girl who loves me' 7. Only My Art Held Me Back: In which Beethoven considers suicide 8. Egyptian Hieroglyphics: Napoleon is no more than 'a common tyrant' 9. O, Beloved J!: Musical failure, but will Beethoven succeed in love? 10. A Deeply Immoral Woman: Beethoven holds the most important concert of his life, and is offered a job 11. Under Cannon Fire: In which Beethoven once again tries his luck at love 12. Immortal Beloved: 'My angel, my all, my very self ' 13. An Utterly Untamed Personality: Beethoven turns again to his 'poor shipwrecked opera' 14. Into The Witness Box: How the single letter 'o' ruined Beethoven's life 15. A Musical Gift: How Rossini found Beethoven 'disorderly and dirty' 16. 'I Want To Be A Soldier': In which Beethoven gets drunk with friends 17. Two Pistols And Gunpowder: An invitation to get away from it all 18. Frightening The Oxen: 'The greatest composer of the century, and you treated him like a servant!' 19. Terminally Ill: 'His face was damp, he spat blood' 20. The Last Master: 'He was an artist, but a man as well'