Lectures, Interviews, & Concerts

The Music Division has supported and facilitated many performances of Beethoven's music as well as scholarship focused on it. These materials have been shared and made available on the Library's website as part of the Event Videos Collection. Many of these lectures, interviews, and concerts include music for which the Music Division holds Beethoven's manuscript scores or sketches. See the "Music Manuscripts and Facsimiles" page of this research guide.

On April 12, 2019, the Jerusalem Quartet presented a program including Beethoven's Quartet in A major, op. 18/5 (1798-1800).

Lectures

Music Division staff have both presented and facilitated lectures on Beethoven and his music. These lectures have been shared and made available on the Library's website as part of the Event Videos Collection. Some of these lectures are linked below:

"Diabellical" Plots in the Music of Beethoven, Haydn & Brahms
David Plylar discusses "variations," as featured in the works performed by pianist Paul Lewis in his performance at the Library of Congress. Works discussed include Haydn's Sonata in E minor, H.XVI:34, Brahms' Intermezzi, op. 117 and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, op. 120.
Acquired Tastes: Recent Keyboard Manuscript Acquisitions in the Library of Congress
David Plylar speaks about recent keyboard manuscript acquisitions, including a Haydn Capriccio, Beethoven "Hammerklavier" sketches, a few "Songs without Words" by Mendelssohn, three works by Liszt ("Madrigal/Consolation no. 5," a version of "Liebestraume no. 2" and "Schlummerlied im Grabe/Elegie no. 1") and an Intermezzo by Brahms (op. 119/2).
Beethoven: The Universal Composer
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edmund Morris discusses his new book, "Beethoven: The Universal Composer." The Library's Music Division cosponsored the event with the Center for the Book. Morris, a classically trained pianist, has studied Beethoven and his music for 40 years.
Fugal Lords: Subjectivity in Bach, Beethoven & Brahms
Explores subjectivity in Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms in conjunction with a performance by pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard of works by the composers.
Gentlemen Prefer the Taubenpost: Love & Longing in the Songs of Beethoven & Schubert
David Plylar lectures on love and longing in the songs of Beethoven and Schubert in conjunction with a recital by tenor Mark Padmore and pianist Andrew West.
Lecture and Demonstration of String quartet in E-flat, op. 127
Pre-concert lecture by Lewis Lockwood about the Beethoven String quartet in E-flat, op. 127, which the Juilliard String Quartet performed the following evening in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress.
Motive Cello: Motivations in the Cello Sonatas of Beethoven, Brahms & Chopin
As part of a talk preceding a performance by Daniel Müller-Schott and Simon Trpceski, David Plylar speaks about some of the relationships between musical materials in three major sonatas for cello and piano -- in essence, an introduction to motives and their motivations. Works addressed include Beethoven's Sonata in C major, op. 102/1, Brahms' Sonata in F major, op. 99 and Chopin's Sonata in G minor, op. 65.
Violin Master Class with Christian Tetzlaff
Virtuoso violinist Christian Tetzlaff conducts a violin master class at the Library for area students and teachers.
What the Autograph Can Tell Us: Beethoven's Sonata in E Major, op. 109
William Meredith presents a fascinating event with a distinguished collaborator, Malcolm Bilson, as partner, discussing the op. 109 piano sonata. The talk and performance focuses on elements of the creative process visible in Beethoven's manuscript score, and some interesting details it can reveal about what Beethoven does not want the composer to do.

Interviews

Often as part of the yearly concert series, Music Division staff have interviewed performers of Beethoven's music. These events have been shared and made available on the Library's website as part of the Event Videos Collection. Some of these interviews are linked below:

Artist Encounter: Kristian Bezuidenhout, Fortepiano
Following a fortepiano performance at the Library, keyboardist Kristian Bezuidenhout speaks with David Plylar about several treasures in the collection, including Mozart's Violin Sonata in G major, K.379, Haydn's Capriccio in G major, H.XVII:1, Haydn's Sonata in E-flat, H.XVI:52, and Beethoven's Sonata in E major, op.109.
Artist Encounters: Paul Lewis, Pianist
Renowned pianist Paul Lewis speaks with David Plylar about selected manuscripts of music by Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt, including transcriptions by Liszt.
Camerata Ireland
Camerata Ireland, with found and pianist Barry Douglas, performs works by Carter, Mozart and Beethoven as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland Program cosponsored by the Library's Music Division and American Folklife Center along with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure/Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Conversation with Jenny Lin, Matthew Mishory & Markus Pawlik
Pianist Jenny Lin and filmmakers Matthew Mishory and Markus Pawlik speak with David Plylar of the Music Division about the life and music of Artur Schnabel, who was also a famed interpreter of Beethoven's piano works.
Conversation with Phaeton Trio
Friedemann Eichhorn, Peter Horr, and Florian Uhlig of the Phaeton Trio discuss the evening's concert program in a conversation led by the Library's David Plylar. The Phaeton Trio appeared for the first time in the U.S. at the Library and revealed the premiere of a new completion of a Beethoven piano trio fragment by Victor Kissine.
Conversation with the Elias String Quartet
Donald Grant, violin, and Martin Saving, viola, of the Elias Quartet, discuss their work and the music of Haydn, Kurtag, and Beethoven.
Conversation with the Juilliard String Quartet
Members of the Juilliard Quartet discuss their program at the Library (including works by Carter, Schubert and Beethoven), their work over the years with the Library's Stradivari instruments, the general history of the Juilliard Quartet, and their experiences with the development of an app for the study of Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" string quartet.
Doric Quartet: Conversation with the Artists
Alex Redington and Helene Clement of the Doric Quartet speak about the quartet's program at the Library of Congress. The discussion covers music by Haydn, Britten and Beethoven.
Jerusalem Quartet Conversation
Anne McLean speaks with two members of the Jerusalem Quartet about the history of the group and the evening's program, which included Beethoven's string quartet in A major, op. 18/5, Ravel's string quartet and Shostakovich's third string quartet.
Kristian Bezuidenhout Pre-Concert Conversation
Anne McLean and David Plylar interviews fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhout prior to her Library of Congress concert.

Concerts

Many concerts presented as part of "Concerts from the Library of Congress" include the music of Beethoven. These concerts have been shared and made available on the Library's website as part of the Concerts from the Library of Congress Collection. Some of these concerts are linked below:

Alexander String Quartet with Robert Greenberg
The Alexander String Quartet and composer-pianist-musicologist Robert Greenberg, who has been called "the Elvis of music history and appreciation" unravel the mysteries and marvels of Beethoven's String Quartet op. 130, bringing to life the history, art, politics, intrigue and romance that have shaped this music.
ATOS Trio in Concert
Beethoven's monumental op. 97 piano trio, dedicated to his friend and supporter Archduke Rudolf of Austria, closes the program.
Celebration of Roman Totenberg
Legendary violinist and teacher Roman Totenberg is celebrated with this evening of chamber music that features one of his former students, Mira Wang, with chamber music partners Jan Vogler and Antti Siirala. The program included Beethoven, Sonata for cello and piano in D major, op. 102/2.
Daniel Müller-Schott, Cello & Simon Trpčeski, Piano
Cellist Daniel Müller-Schott and pianist Simon Trpčeski perform Beethoven's Sonata in C major, op. 102, no. 1, Brahms' Sonata in F major, op. 99, and Chopin's Sonata in G minor, op .65.
Doric Quartet Concert
The Doric Quartet performs the music of Haydn and Beethoven, including the original "Grosse Fuge" finale to the op. 130 string quartet.
Escher String Quartet
Performance of Quartet for two violins, viola and violoncello in A minor, op. 132.
Gerald Finley & Julius Drake
The first half focuses on Beethoven and Schubert settings of Goethe.
Jenny Lin, Marlissa Hudson & Cornelius Dufallo
Pianist Jenny Lin is joined by soprano Marlissa Hudson and violinist Cornelius Dufallo in an homage to pianist/composer Artur Schnabel. Best known as a pianist who recorded and edited Beethoven's music, Schnabel was also a composer whose music ranges from the high-Romantic to the uncompromisingly modern.
Jerusalem Quartet
Program - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Quartet in A major, op. 18/5 (1798-1800) (1:00); Allegro (1:00); Menuetto--Trio (8:00); Andante cantabile--Poco Adagio (13:20); Allegro (22:30).
Juilliard String Quartet
Featured on the concert program are Schubert's "Quartettsatz" in C minor, D. 703, Elliott Carter's String Quartet no. 1, Beethoven's String Quartet in F major, op. 135, and the "Andante cantabile" from Mozart's String Quartet in C major, K. 465 ("Dissonance"). This concert by the Juilliard String Quartet is the final appearance at the Library by retiring cellist Joel Krosnick.
Kristian Bezuidenhout Concert
Kristian Bezuidenhout performs a fascinating program of works by Beethoven and Haydn on the fortepiano. Alongside the famous "Pathétique" are lesser-known works that shine on the fortepiano.
Mark Padmore Sings Beethoven & Schubert
World-renowned English Tenor Mark Padmore makes his Library of Congress debut in a recital with pianist Andrew West. On the program are Beethoven's "Mailied," op. 52/4; "Neue Liebe, neues Leben," op. 75/2; "Adelaide," op. 46; An die ferne Geliebte, op. 98; as well as Schubert's song cycle Schwanengesang, D957 & D965a.
Musicians from Marlboro Concert January 2017
Members of Musicians from Marlboro perform Haydn's Quartet in D major, op. 76, no. 5, HIII:79; Selections from Beethoven's "Irische Lieder, WoO 152" ("Irish Songs"); "On Wenlock Edge" by Ralph Vaughan Williams; and Beethoven's String Quartet in C major, op. 59, no. 3.
Paul Lewis Concert
Paul Lewis, one of the world's great interpreters of Beethoven and Schubert, performs a favorite Haydn sonata and three autumnal gems by Brahms, as well as Thirty-Three Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, op. 120
Phaeton Piano Trio
The Phaeton Trio appears for the first time in the U.S. at the Library of Congress. The trio reveals the premiere of a new completion of a Beethoven piano trio fragment by Victor Kissine, of which we offer a portion here.
Pieter Wispelwey and Lois Shapiro
Wispelwey and Shapiro perform Beethoven's Sonata in A major, for cello and piano, op. 69, and Variations on "Ein Madchen oder Weibchen," op. 66.
St. Lawrence String Quartet with Hsin-Yun Huang
The St. Lawrence String Quartet is joined by violist Hsin-Yun Huang for the Library's annual Stradivari Anniversary Concert. The program includes Erwin Schulhoff's "Five Pieces for String Quartet," Mozart's String Quintet in G minor, KV 516, and Beethoven's String Quartet in C-sharp minor, op. 131.

Beethoven: A Guide to Primary and Secondary Resources at the Library of Congress

Performing Arts: Ask a Librarian

Lectures, Interviews, & Concerts

Lectures

Interviews

Concerts