Starring: Elizabeth Handley
BEETHOVEN A COLOSSUS ASTRIDE TWO CENTURIES
Celebrating 250 years 1770-2020
In this lecture we explore the life, exuberant personality, and glorious music of one of the greatest minds the Western world has ever produced.
Included is comprehensive background on the 18th and 19th century worlds in which he lived and worked. This serves to illustrate the extent of his path-breaking genius, which enabled him to drive music from the relatively constrained milieu of the Classical Era - the Age of Enlightenment - into the turbulent tides of Romanticism.
Elizabeth also explores Beethoven's 'musical fingerprints' the musical characteristics that make his music so uniquely his, and so instantly recognisable.
Included are several quotes from his numerous letters, which were preserved by significant friends who so generously sponsored his art, and who supported him throughout his tragic confrontation with increasing deafness and ill health.
Richly illustrated with pictures and musical illustrations, Elizabeth shares with us Beethoven's incredible resilience and optimism, which enabled him to triumph over adversity, and bring into the world a wealth of magnificent music.
BEETHOVEN'S WOMEN WHO WAS THE 'IMMORTAL BELOVED'
Beethoven never married, but he did have a number of famous loves - his muses - to some of whom he dedicated the beautiful music they inspired. Several were his piano pupils - beautiful aristocratic women - but for him unattainable.
After his death a love letter was found at his bedside, addressed to an unknown woman – the famous Immortal Beloved. Was this ever letter sent, or returned, possibly unopened?
In this presentation, illustrated with pictures and musical illustrations, Elizabeth tries to solve this mystery, and determine who the mysterious lady might have been.