The Beethoven Files Podcast

Terence J. O'Grady

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Ever wanted to take a closer look at the music of Beethoven? The Beethoven Files might make that a little easier. This podcast takes a look at some of the composer's most interesting and famous works.

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56 episodes

Ep. 55 Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Op. 123

We'll focus on the Missa Solemnis, Op. 123, composed between 1819 and 1823.

1h 14m
Dec 01
Ep. 54 Beethoven Piano Sonatas No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101 and No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106 ("Hammerklavier")

We'll focus on two piano sonatas, No. 28 in A major, Op 101 composed in 1816, and No. 29 in Bb major, Op 106 ("Hammerklavier"), completed two years later.  

1h 7m
Nov 01
Beethoven's Cello sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102, No.1, and Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2

We'll look at Beethoven's last two cello sonatas:  Cello sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102, No.1, and Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2. both completed in 1815.

1h 1m
Oct 01
Ep. 52 Beethoven's Song Cycle "An die ferne Geliebte," Op. 98

We're going to focus on the song cycle "An die ferne Geliebte," Op. 98, but also take a quick look at two songs from Beethoven's settings of Scottish songs from Op. 108.  

53m
Sep 01
Ep. 51 Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93

We'll focus on Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93. composed in 1812.  

1h 7m
Aug 01
Ep. 50 Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92

We'll focus on Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, completed in 1812.  

1h 2m
Jul 01
Ep. 49 Beethoven's String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95 ("Serioso") and the "Archduke" Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97

We'll focus on the "Serioso" String Quartet, No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95  (1810-1811), and the "Archduke" Piano Trio, B-flat Major, Op. 97 (1815).  

1h 11m
Jun 01
Ep. 48 Beethoven's Incidental Music for Egmont, Op. 84

We'll focus on the overture and a selection of varied movements from Beethoven's incidental music for Goethe's Egmont, Op. 84, completed in 1810.

51m
May 01
Ep. 47 Beethoven's Piano Sonatas No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a, and No, 27 in E Minor, Op. 90

We'll focus on Piano Sonatas No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a, completed in 1810, and No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90, completed in 1814.  

1h 2m
Apr 01
Ep. 46 Beethoven's Fidelio, Op. 72

We'll focus on the final version of the opera from 1814.  

1h 16m
Mar 01
Ep. 45 Beethoven's Overtures to Fidelio

We'll look at three of the four overtures Beethoven composed for Fidelio.

53m
Feb 01
Ep. 44 Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Nos. 24 in F-sharp Major, Op. 78, and 25 in G Major, Op. 79

We’re going to focus on Piano Sonata No. 24 in F# Major, Op. 78, and Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op 79, but we’ll also take a quick look at the two piano sonatinas of Op. 49. 

51m
Jan 01
Ep. 43 Beethoven’s String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74 (”Harp”)

We'll look at Beethoven's String Quartet No. 10  in E-flat Major, Op. 74, completed in 1809 and nicknamed the "Harp" quartet.

1h 0m
Dec 01, 2023
Ep. 42 Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (”Emperor”) in E-flat Major, Op. 73

We'll look at Beethoven's fifth and final piano concerto, the so-called "Emperor" Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 73.

1h 2m
Nov 01, 2023
Ep. 41 Beethoven’s Piano Trios Op. 70, No. 1 in D Major (”Ghost”) and No. 2 in E-flat major

We'll look at the two piano trios of Op. 70: No. 1, the famous "Ghost" Trio in D Major, and No. 2, the less famous but still very interesting Trio in E-flat Major.  

1h 0m
Oct 01, 2023
Ep. 40 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F Major (”Pastoral”), Op. 68

We'll talk about Beethoven's great "Pastoral" Symphony, No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68.  

1h 6m
Sep 01, 2023
Ep. 39 Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Op. 80, and Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69

We'll look at Beethoven's highly unusual Choral Fantasy, Op. 80, and his Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69.  

1h 3m
Aug 01, 2023
Ep. 38 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

We'll talk about Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67.   

1h 11m
Jul 01, 2023
Ep. 37 Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Op. 86

We'll focus on Beethoven's Mass in C Major, Op. 86, composed in 1807.  

1h 2m
Jun 01, 2023
Ep. 36 The Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 and Wellington’s Victory, Op. 91

We'll look at the Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 (1807) and Wellington's Victory, Op. 91 (1813).

58m
May 01, 2023
Ep. 35 Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61

We'll look at Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61, from 1806.  

1h 5m
Apr 01, 2023
Ep. 34 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60

We'll talk about Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60.

1h 2m
Mar 01, 2023
Ep. 33 Beethoven’s ”Razumovsky” String Quartets, Op. 59

We'll look at String Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1 and String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 59, No. 2.  

1h 10m
Feb 01, 2023
Ep. 32 Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58

We'll look at Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58.  

1s
Jan 01, 2023
Ep. 31 Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in F Minor, No. 23, Op. 57 (“Appassionata”)

We’ll look at the Piano Sonata in F Minor, No. 23, Op. 57, the famous “Appassionata” sonata.

57m
Dec 01, 2022
Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56

We’ll look at Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major (for violin, cello and piano soloists and orchestra), Op. 56.

59m
Nov 01, 2022
Ep. 29 Beethoven’s ”Eroica” Symphony, No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55

We'll look at Beethoven's great "Eroica" Symphony, No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55.

1h 7m
Sep 30, 2022
Ep. 28 Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (“Waldstein”) and Piano Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54

We’ll look at the famous Waldstein Sonata in C Major, Op. 53 and the Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54.  

58m
Sep 01, 2022
Ep. 27 Beethoven’s Early Lieder

We'll look at some of Beethoven's early lieder (art songs) including the collection from Op, 52, the Gellert Lieder of Op. 48, and the the song "Adelaide,"    

58m
Aug 01, 2022
Ep. 26 Beethoven’s Romances for Violin and Orchestra

In the two Romances for Violin and orchestra, Op. 40 in G Major and Op. 50 in F Major, we encounter not the innovative Beethoven, but rather the creator of graceful and attractive works designed to please performer and audiences alike.   

42m
Jul 01, 2022