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Beethoven at Parnassus, Part II

April 24, 2023, 7:00 pm

In the second part of a two-week series, we’ll take an in-depth look at this music of a master reaching the pinnacle of his abilities. Bill starts with Missa Solemnis and Consecration of the House and ends in the rarified atmosphere of Mt. Parnassus as we take on Opus 135 performed by the Guarneri Quartet. Robert Schumann said, “[Beethoven’s quartets] stand…on the extreme boundary of all that has hitherto been attained by human art and imagination.” In 1977 his quartets were added to the Time Capsule of Humanity and sent into space in Voyager I.

Listen to the past two weeks of Exploring Music episodes

Playlist

Episode 1

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Missa Solemnis, Op. 123
Kyrie
New Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Klemperer
Söderström, soprano; Kmentt, tenor; Höffgen, alto; Talvela, bass
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
EMI 67547
9:26

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Missa Solemnis, Op. 123
Gloria, Credo
New Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Klemperer
Söderström, soprano; Kmentt, tenor; Höffgen, alto; Talvela, bass
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
EMI 67547

Episode 2

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Missa Solemnis, Op. 123
Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, Dona nobis pacem
New Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Klemperer
Söderström, soprano; Kmentt, tenor; Höffgen, alto; Talvela, bass
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
EMI 67547
31:01

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Consecration of The House Overture, Op. 124
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernstein
Violin Concerto – Overture “Consecration of the House”
Sony 47521
9:52

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat, Op. 127
I. Maestoso, Allegro
Hagen Quartet
Beethoven – String Quartets Op. 127 & 132
DG 4775705
6:12

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Consecration of The House Overture, Op. 124
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernstein
Violin Concerto – Overture “Consecration of the House”
Sony 47521
1:32

Episode 3

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130
Emerson Quartet
Beethoven Late String Quartets
DG 447075
1:16 (excerpt)

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130
Emerson Quartet
Beethoven Late String Quartets
DG 447075
1:17 (excerpt)

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 13 in B-Flat Major, Op. 130
I.II.III.IV.
Emerson Quartet
Beethoven Late String Quartets
DG 447075
25:12

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130
V.VI.
Emerson Quartet
Beethoven Late String Quartets
DG 447075
21:55

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130
VI.
Emerson Quartet
Beethoven Late String Quartets
DG 447075
3:06 (excerpt)

Episode 4

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet in C-Sharp minor, Op. 131
Orion Quartet
Beethoven: Late String Quartets
Koch 7683
1:16 (excerpt)

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet in C-Sharp minor, Op. 131
Orion Quartet
Beethoven: Late String Quartets
Koch 7683
38:83

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Bagatelles, Op. 126
No. 1 in G Major – Andante con moto cantabile e compiacevole
No. 6 in E-Flat Major- Presto; Andante amabile e con moto
Glenn Gould, piano
Beethoven: Variations, Bagatelles
Sony 541287
9:26

Beethoven, Ludwig van: Bagatelles, Op. 126
No. 5 in G Major- Quasi Allegretto
Glenn Gould, piano
Beethoven: Variations, Bagatelles
Sony 541287
2:45

Episode 5

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132
“Heiliger Dankgesang”
Budapest Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartets Opp. 127, 131, 132 & 135
Sony Classical 62873
1:12 (excerpt)

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No. 15 In A Minor, Op. 132
Heiliger Dankgesang
II. Allegro Ma Non Tanto (excerpt)
III. Molto Adagio
IV. Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace
V. Allegro Appassionato
Beethoven: String Quartets Opp. 127, 131, 132 & 135
Sony Classical 62873
24:31

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet NO. 16 in F, Op. 135
I. Allegretto
II. Vivace
III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
IV. Der schwer gefasste Entschluss: Grave – Allegro
Guarneri Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartets Opp 130 & 133
Phi 422059
25:24