Great Masters: Beethoven - His Life and Music

By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Greenberg

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Engaging and informative

Engaging and informative. I didn’t always see why the material was presented in the order it was, and might have preferred something a bit more linear, but this is probably a matter of taste.

Entertaining and Engaging

Did not know a college lecture could be so engaging. Most of my early year lectures were downright boring. Wish I had professors like this, my passion for any subject would be immeasurable
if spoken as the history of Beethovan’s life is.

Ahh... Beethoven

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

n/a

What other book might you compare Great Masters: Beethoven - His Life and Music to and why?

Mozart, his life and music. Excellent overview

What about Professor Robert Greenberg’s performance did you like?

That he didn't edit the ugly with the good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh, and think deeply about the man who wrote the music I love to play and listen to.

Superlative "lecture:"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Excellent. Not exactly irreverent, but not worshipful, down-to-earth telling of the story of the greatest composer so far. The book is entertaining, no, very entertaining, and informative. It had me laughing aloud, to my surprise. I expect to do something I haven't done before -- when it ends, immediately start it over. Then I'll look for others by the same author/reader.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Delivery occasionally over the top, forgivable.

Educational AND a rip roaring good time!

This biography is not only educational but FUN! What a genius! What a life and the professor/lecturer is great, nary a dull moment. Sure, Beethoven was cranky but he had his reasons and after listening to this book, I have one of the greatest critic rebuff quotes of all time from the lips of maestro Beethoven himself !I could sit in this guy's class all day long and be enlightened. I plan on listening to more books in the series. Hoping others are as knowledgable and enthusiastic as this prof!

Excellent introduction to Beethoven

Professor Greenberg is outstanding: passionate, knowledgeable; articulate and very entertaining. The music excerpts are used very well. The only minor quibble I have is with the structure of the course - it seems to jump forward and back in time a little more than was perhaps necessary. I look forward to taking more of Greenberg’s courses.

Very good lecturer

If you could sum up Great Masters: Beethoven - His Life and Music in three words, what would they be?

Very good lecturer

What did you like best about this story?

Lots of good info about the life of Beethoven, but more importantly, Professor Greenburg did a fabulous job of making it very entertaining

Which character – as performed by Professor Robert Greenberg – was your favorite?

n/a

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

45 minute lectures. 8 of them. We usually did 2 at a time and let it soak in.

Tragedy and Beauty

Thank you so much Master Greenberg for this bittersweet glimpse into the man and his music. As a fellow human being, one cannot help but empathize with Beethoven and his struggles, and rejoice with him in his triumphs. In his life we see both tragedy and beauty in unequal measure. Beethoven, another genius come and gone, another bright light to help us see our way.

Robert Greenberg Scores

Robert Greenberg is absolutely amazing. We, as a family, will look for more lectures ‘performed’ by him. In the beginning there were eye rolls; after the first lecture listening through to the conclusion became an event of the evening. Thank Audible and thank you Robert Greenberg!

What a lunatic diva. But made great music!

I got this lecture by Robert Greenberg because I needed to pick a second book for a 2 for one sale on Audible

I found it to be entertainingly educational. I didn’t know much about Beethoven’s personal life. He was a genius but also a lunatic diva. I don’t even know where to begin. It can’t all be the cause of lead poisoning. It’s the abuse he endured as a child and just a nutty personality.

I hate what he did to his sister-in-law and nephew. That custody case was cruel.

I did laugh at all the names that he called his brother Nikolaus Johann.

I also learned about the politics of the times with Napoleon wars.

I liked the inclusion of Beethoven's music. Robert Greenberg would explain something and play the music as an example. Some of the technical stuff went over my head because I never studied music, but I enjoyed listening to it. Robert Greenberg was manic as he lectured which matched Beethoven’s demeanor, I think.

4 out of 5 Symphonies.