9/12 Gardiner on Beethoven

Here's a South Bank program on Beethoven with John Eliot Gardiner and his period orchestra.  He discusses his approach to Beethoven and how French nationalistic music possibly influenced Beethoven.  Not sure if I agree with everything he says, but Gardiner is without doubt a fascinating conductor who is not afraid to try new things.  A little less than an hour.  First half Beethoven's 5th, second half Berlioz' Romeo & Juliet.



Linklist

From the uploader:
Profile of the conductor John Eliot Gardiner and his work with The Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique. Gardiner travels to the South of France to recreate the spirit of the French Revolution with a local French village choir, and visits the birthplace of Hector Berlioz, the composer of "Romeo and Juliet".  The conductor Gardiner explain how Beethoven was influenced by French Revolution and how its slogan about liberty and revolution appears on his music. Then how Berlioz, as all romantic composers, was strongly influenced by Beethoven's music.

The SOUTH BANK SHOW: JOHN ELIOT GARDINER

Transmission date: Sunday May 12th, 1996
Country: Great Britain
Series/Slot: SOUTH BANK SHOW
Duration: 60 mins.
Channel: ITV
Presenter: Melvyn Bragg
Director and Producer: Tony Knox

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Oh yeah, this has been making the rounds....this is not a good Xmas present.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/09/10/blast-your-beethoven-through-beathoven/