Episode 32 – A Disastrous Night

John explores the night that should have been one of the greatest of Beethoven’s professional life. But his long-awaited benefit concert was overly long, took place on a cold December night and was performed by an under-par orchestra in front of an unforgiving audience. John reveals why the evening was such a disaster, and plays one of the arias that was sung that night; a performance that the soprano got dramatically wrong. John also reveals which Piano Sonata Beethoven gave as a parting gift to one of his patrons, who was escaping the backdrop of war and panic that was engulfing Vienna at the hands of Napoleon, and discovers how Beethoven was persuaded to stay in the city to compose his final, and most mighty Piano Concerto; No.5 - the Emperor. 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.