Beethoven and Eyecatcher

TGIF!  I have a wonderful way to celebrate Friday for all you loyal fans of Nichevo.  Yesterday we featured music from Franz Joseph Haydn, today we are featuring his pupil, Ludwig von Beethoven.  Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany where he lived until his early twenties when he moved to Vienna to study with Haydn.  Beethoven is considered the crucial figure in the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in classical music.  In addition to being a prolific composer, Beethoven was also a virtuoso pianist.  I have chosen pieces today to illustrate the diversity of his compositions.  We start with his Piano Concerto Number 5 in E flat Major, Opus 73 performed by the London Festival Orchestra featuring Sylvia Capova on Piano; we then move to his Fidelio Overture performed by L'Opera De Zurich; the third piece is movement 5 from his Pastoral Symphony performed by the New Philharmonia Orchestra illustrated with Scot Miller's photographs of Walden Pond; and then the set piece of his Quartet in A minor, Opus 132 performed by the Blair Quartet from Vanderbilt University.  The last piece is the complete quartet and runs some 51 minutes of beautiful music.  If that is not enough to satisfy your senses, then scroll on down the page where I have selected the best photos of the last 500 posted at the Eyecatcher blog.  That should satisfy the more carnal of your senses.  Thank you for stopping by to visit, come back soon and tell your friends!  Until next time as always, Enjoy.