A new book, a new recording and some old instruments, all addressing the most memorable phrase in music: the opening of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Matthew Guerrieri has written a book about this symphony, called The First Four Notes: Beethoven's Fifth and the Human Imagination. Guerrieri writes about how Beethoven's piece resonated with everyone from revolutionaries to Romantics, and German nationalists to anti-German resistance fighters.
Beethoven is in the air! The Philadelphia Orchestra, with The Philadelphia Singers and soloists, including AVA's Margaret Mezzacappa, wowed the audience at the Mann Center last Wednesday night with an intense performance of Beethoven's 9th symphony. WRTI's Susan Lewis explores the life and work of one of the world's most influential composers.
WRTI's Jill Pasternak speaks with violinist Tom Stone and cellist Jennifer Kloetzel from the Cypress String Quartet about their new CDs - The American Album and the three-volume set Beethoven's Late Quartet.
