We celebrate the birthday of the larger than life composer. Ludwig van Beethoven today. It was my late Aunt Barbara who introduced me to classical music and her love of everything Beethoven. It was after some time that I heard his music and recognized it for what it was: beautiful, sensitive, witty, dramatic, evocative, heartbreaking and deeply, deeply human.
All of the stories that mythologize him are sort of beside the point, which is that Beethoven makes us feel because he felt. Seeking out ways to communicate better with each other, sharing thoughts and feeling with people and having those thoughts and feelings reflected right back to you- that's what being human is all about. Some of us just manage to communicate and keep communicating, for centuries after we're gone. The December, I invite you to listen to Beethoven with fresh ears. Think of this as the In Three Words...or comment if you love his music...or not comment and just listen. But enjoy!
We present this from the great Philadelphia Orchestra under conductor Eugene Ormandy.
