NO OTHER composer has been so often quoted, written about, adopted for political and revolutionary causes (ranging from Marxism to fascism ) and painted, but who was the real Beethoven? Who was the man behind the romantic image of the tortured artist with the unruly hair, unhinged personality, and furrowed brow?
To find out, go see film-maker Phil Grabsky’s acclaimed documentary In Search Of Beethoven in the Town Hall on Tuesday May 5 at 8pm - just weeks after its world premiere in London.
In Search Of Beethoven brings together the world’s leading performers and experts on Beethoven to reveal new insights into this legendary composer. The line-up includes Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Roger Norrington, Riccardo Chailly, and Emanuel Ax among others. The film is narrated by Juliet Stevenson and RSC actor David Dawson.
The documentary follows on from Grabsky’s much-praised 2007 documentary, In Search of Mozart (“a myth-busting stride through a prodigiously talented life” - New York Times ). Grabsky travelled across Europe and North America to interview historians and musicians between rehearsals and performances of Beethoven’s work.
He managed to film a remarkable 55 performances for the film - and has once again captured the raw energy of these world-class artists. It includes exclusive footage of Claudio Abbado’s critically-acclaimed performance of Beethoven's opera Fidelio.
There are further performances from Frans Brüggen’s Orchestra of the 18th Century, the Salzburg Camerata with Sir Roger Norrington, Leipzig Gewandhaus with Riccardo Chailly, Vienna Symphony with Fabio Luisi. Violinists Vadim Repin and Janine Jansen or pianists Leif Ove Andsnes, Ronald Brautigam, Jonathan Biss, Emanuel Ax, Lars Vogt, and cellist Alban Gerhardt reveal their unique approach and share their passions. The Endellion String Quartet gave exclusive access to film a number of complete Beethoven quartets.
Above all, In Search Of Beethoven addresses the romantic myth that Beethoven was a heroic, tormented, figure battling to overcome his tragic fate, struck down by deafness, who searched for his ‘immortal beloved’ but remained unmarried. It delves beyond the image of the tortured, cantankerous, unhinged, personality to reveal someone quite different.
Phil Grabsky is an award-winning documentary film maker with a career spanning 20 years in film and television. His previous works include The Boy Who Plays On The Buddahs of Bamiyan, Heavy Water; A Journey to Chernobyl, and six history films with Monty Python’s Terry Jones.
Tickets are €8/6 and are available from the Town Hall on 091 - 569777.
