Great Masters: Beethoven - His Life and Music

By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Greenberg

Have you ever wondered how the lives of great composers - especially when set against the social, political, and cultural context of their world - influenced their music?

After listening to this perceptive series of eight lectures on the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven, you will likely find that you hear his work in an entirely different way, with your insight informed by new knowledge of how Beethoven was able to create masterpieces from the crises of his life.

You'll learn about the years of progressive hearing loss - ultimately to produce total deafness - and the understandable agony and rage such a fate would bring upon a composer. About his deep depression over the end of his relationship with the woman he calls his Immortal Beloved. About his pathological hatred of authority, his persecution complex, even delusional behaviors.

But you'll also learn how each of these crises, and many others, served to drive Beethoven inward, to reinvent himself and redeem his suffering through art, creating disruptive works of profound passion and beauty that reinvented the nature of musical expression in the Western world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses

Wonderfully informative

The lecturer is lively and engaging. The subject is fascinating. The music is sublime. Highly recommended. I'm eager to return to Beethoven's music with fresh ears and deeper perception.

Great Discussion of Beethoven

Any additional comments?

This was my first experience with the Great Masters series. I went out and purchased 2 pieces of Beethovan's music that I did not have. I fully plan on listening to other Great Masters Series, for my favorite composers.

Amazing work.

Greenberg's analysis and comments are inspired, consice and an absolute joy to listen to.

Very informative

Liked everything leaves you with a desire to learn more. My into to classical music

Great Course

Would you consider the audio edition of Great Masters: Beethoven - His Life and Music to be better than the print version?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

How Beethovan did his best works following devastating trials in his life.

Have you listened to any of Professor Robert Greenberg’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Greenberg is great. He has passion and his use of language is awesome and refreshing. He is a good as many professional narrators.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending of the 9th Symphony when the singer turned him around so he could see the reaction of the audience.

Any additional comments?

I like this professor. He is inspiring because he knows so much about the subject of his courses. I can't imagine how long it must take him to write these lectures. He is passionate and funny/entertaining.

HIS HAIR! Yes, HIS HAIR!

Those are Professor Robert Greenberg's first words in this audio book. He describes how Beethoven was a nasty, yet kind, person (in other words, a relatively normal human being). Professor Greenberg teaches in a most entertaining way.

Engaging

I purchased this originally thinking that perhaps my preteen children might be able to this into this for homeschooling music studies. This was above their level, but in a good way. The presenter speaks relatively quickly and makes references that a youngster would not understand. But the humor is engaging, I enjoyed listening to this, and I learned more about Beethoven than I knew before. Recommended!

Another success for Robert Greenberg!!

Where does Great Masters: Beethoven - His Life and Music rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Every one of Professor Greenberg's courses is a pleasure and an adventure. He is a great lecturer and really knows his stuff!!!

He Certainly Brings Beethoven to Life!

I don't think you can be disappointed with a Robert Greenberg lecture unless you are a terrible stuffed shirt. He is so full of enthusiasm and knowledgeable about his subject you can't help but be drawn in. Just knowing these interesting tidbits of information about Beethoven makes listening to his amazing music that Greenberg samples for us so much more enjoyable.

I listened to the lectures with my daughter while on a recent working vacation helping her out with her new business in Hawaii. So many times we caught each others eyes and smiled or outright laughed at Greenberg's enthusiastic descriptions of the composer's life. This is educational entertainment at its best. I came to purchase this current offering after listening to Greenberg's much longer course, How To Listen To And Understand Great Music, a spectacular experience of a much bigger scope, of 36 plus hours.

So, of course, I am recommending this audio lecture.

Beethoven - His Life and Music

I like Beethoven's music and was eager to learn about his life. The lecturer is funny and excited about telling you about Beethoven's life. You get tidbits of his music which illustrate the lecture. This is a lecture but it is presented like a story from Beethoven's parents to the end of Beethoven's life. Not at all dry.