Ludwig van Beethoven

[on_the_hill]

One of my heroes has a birthday today. Probably. It could’ve been yesterday. No one is sure. He was Christened on Dec. 17th. That much we know.

I like to think that he has since been installed as God’s kappellmeister.

This is one of my favorite nine symphonies he composed.

 

[ChunkMonk]

“Prince, what you are, you are through chance and birth; what I am, I am through my own labor. There are many princes and there will continue to be thousands more, but there is only one Beethoven.”

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Whenever I hear about Beethoven, I think about Schroeder at his little toy piano.

But I’m a bit of a Philistine, so there…

 

[Hope_Philomena]

I’m more of a Bach or Debussy kind of girl… But Beethoven was certainly great at what he did. Very interesting person to study.

 

[JimG]

The first time I heard Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, as a teenager. I listened to it all the way through to the end. Then I thought, “wow, that just sort of sums up all of life.” Not quite sure what I meant by that.

 

[Zzyzx_Road]

A few years ago while I was on a visit to southern California, I saw Dudamel conduct Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony the Eroica at Disney Hall, entirely from memory, no podium, no scoresheet in front of him. Great performance by him and the LA Phil. Everyone knows the 5th and the 9th, but the 3rd is definitely worth a listen.

 

[on_the_hill]

I watched “Immortal Beloved” for the first time over the weekend. Ugh. Not what I expected, and from what little I know of Beethoven’s life, the movie took a lot of liberties. And not very well done, at that.