Episode 22 – Beethoven’s Patrons

In this episode, John examines those wealthy, aristocratic individuals who bank-rolled Beethoven’s career. But how did this young man from hundreds of miles away to the northwest, in ill-fitting, unkempt clothes, with an accent from the Rhineland that was harsh and gutteral on the sophisticated ears of the Viennese, acquire such a dazzling array of wealthy patrons? This week, John answers that question, and plays music dedicated to some of Beethoven’s benefactors, including a string quartet that still carries a patron’s name, a piano trio dedicated to an Archduke which suffered from a problematic premier because of the composer’s worsening deafness, and the symphony Beethoven wrote for a Prince, with whom he had a huge falling out. All the Beethoven pieces featured in this podcast are taken from the 90-disc Naxos box set, the Complete Beethoven Edition. You can buy yours by heading to Presto Classical and Europadisc.