Daily Beethoven

Louis Farrakhan performs the Violin Concerto, Opus 61

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

On May 11th, an astonished audience received an extraordinary gift from Minister Louis Farrakhan in honor of his 88th birthday: the premiere of his performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto! Listen to this truly remarkable performance, brimming with warmth and delight.

Neue Liebe, neues Leben, Opus 75 - 2

Monday, May 17, 2021

Goethe composed the poem “Neue Liebe, neues Leben” (New love, new life) in 1770, when he was romantically involved with Lilli Schoenemann, to whom he was engaged but never married. It’s the tongue-in-cheek lament of a man head-over-heels in love who finds everything in his life turned upside-down against his will.

An die ferne Geliebte, Opus 98, complete

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Today we will hear the entirety of “Liederkreis an die ferne Geliebte” (Beethoven's title, which means Song Cycle to the distant Beloved), sung beautifully by Fritz Wunderlich. Beethoven pioneered the concept of the "Liederkreis" in which the songs flow one to the next without interruption, and may be the only one to have composed in this way.

Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder, Op. 98 - 6

Friday, May 15, 2021

The final song in "An die ferne Geliebte“ asks the beloved to sing these songs which have been so dedicated; this will reunite the lovers regardless of space and time.

Es kehret der Maien, Opus 98 - 5

Friday, May 14, 2021

In the penultimate song from "An die ferne Geliebte“ the lover describes Springtime, with the birds preparing a loving home for their future family, and then laments that no Spring arrives for him.

Diese wolken in den Höhen, Opus 98 - 4

Thursday, May 13, 2021

In the fourth segment of "An die ferne Geliebte", the lover wishes to gaze on his beloved like the clouds and the birds, and asks the brook to rush back to him with her reflection!

Leichte Segler in den Höhen, Opus 98 - 3

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

In this third excerpt from "An die ferne Geliebte", the lover implores the clouds, the birds, and the little brook to remind his beloved of him.

Wo die Berge so blau, Op 98 - 2

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

The second excerpt from Beethoven's "An die ferne Geliebte" (To the distant Beloved) is "Wo die Berge so blau" (Where the mountains so blue).

Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend, Opus 98 - 1

Monday, May 10, 2021

This week I will commit the forgivable sin of separating the six songs which make up Beethoven’s Liederkreis, “An die ferne Geliebte”. This is a sin because Beethoven composed it to be continuous – the songs flow one to the next without pause; it’s forgivable because listening to these songs while studying the text and translation will infinitely enrich the future enjoyment of this music.

Iche Liebe Dich, WoO 123

Sunday, May 9, 2021

“Ich liebe dich” is one of the best-loved of Beethoven’s songs. He composed it in the mid-1790’s to a poem called “Zartliche Liebe” (Tender love).

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