BBC.The.Genius.of.Beethoven.1of3.The.Rebel - 4a of 7

[67Mannheim]

I'm glad to know that beethoven is after all a real skilled musical artist - the only ones who can improvise. Much like a good orator: it starts with the idea. There are many ways to say the same things. :)

[EliasCalabretta1]

Just a general question, did Beethoven actually have this duel in real life, or have something similar??

[Moon0Royalty]

@EliasCalabretta1

Yes, he actually did with Daniel Steibelt in the May of 1800. Hope that answers your question! :)

[Bischenka]

The heroic symphony was dedicated to Napoleon!!!!!! he was Beethoven's heroe, untill he declared himself as Imperator!!!!!! Beethoven could'nt forgive him at all. This symphony is about struggle, about strong human soul. And French Reolution, Napoleon inspired him.

[IceXMan87]

Beethoven is a beast, this is like putting Mike Tyson in his PRIME against a featherweight opponent. I'd be ashamed to even have thrown down the gauntlet against Beethoven and probably would resign to suicide.

[ggiiuulliiaaa]

the guy whoo plays beethoven reminds me of snape haha

[SpiritualFraud]

Paul Rhys : best actor ever!!

[CheekyVimto08]

i would have loved to get owned in a piano duel with beethoven

[dalecampbl5]

i wonder if Beethoven was comparable (from purely technical/interpretation standpoint) to Vladimir Horowitz or Rubenstine or Rachmaninoff.

[fievel3782]

@dalecampbl5 Based on my reading, Beethoven was probably less "technical" or less adhering to a steady beat, and relied more heavily on expressionism. Beethoven achieved fame through his unorthodox playing, and was known to be extremely violent at the keyboard. Contemporaries that challenged him actually felt subjugated into forms of revelation and depression where they couldn't touch their own pianos for days! So for his times, I definitely think Beethoven was beyond comparison.

[violakeenan12]

@fievel3782 Yes yes yes!! I love that he was so passionate with the piano! Its such a nice idea of him going mad at a piano!

[henrymbida]

poor Dniel Steibelt..he was one of the best pianists in this time, and Beethoven beated him like a child!!!

[metteholm75]

Steibelts style and his appearance was quite different from this. Michael Tilson Thomas draws a wonderful picture of those competitions, the contestants and of the situation between Beethoven and Steibelt. Enjoy.

[INTMUSICSYN]

They are slightly off in the contest. I doubt Beethoven would have said anything while Steibelt was playing. And it was Steibelt who put his music aside and when it was Beethoven's turn, he took the score, showed it to the audience, turned it upside down, and played the first four notes and then going from there. At least that's what the contemporary accounts reflect. However, this clip conveyed the spirit of the event.

[Theonedue]

But did Beethoven kick his ass?

[Rachmanomaniac]

HAHA RAP BATTLE! I love Beethoven.

[MellowD20]

What is the song at the beginning ofd this video, all I know is it was in F Minor with no key change.

[kaiserkill]

the first piano sonata.

[lahojitacantora]

Could be the reason why he had some weird behaivior late in life.

[lahojitacantora]

His father abused him!

[jackjiezhang]

Poor Daniel Stibern. All the way from Paris, we don't hold that against him. LoLs. No matter it's a real or fictional character, he's a good sport.

[kaiserkill]

his name is Daniel Steibelt (a real character), the documentary doesn't tell the real story..

[harrykinomoto]

But Beethoven still wiped the floor with him didn't he? If Wikipedia is correct, he sight read one of Steibelit's most difficult pieces, the Storm Rondo - with the score upside down LOL!! XDD

On an entirely different note, I want to play that improvisaion!! Anyone know what its called or where its from?

[thesir27]

my Mozart senses tell me it's a piece from The Magic Flute, called "Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja"

[otherjoe1234]

your senses be correct

[INTMUSICSYN]

Absolutely correct kaiserkill. They got a few facts mixed up. Even thought the film states it is based upon contemporary accounts, the accounts I have read indicates some differences in what is conveyed in this contest.

[henrymbida]

@kaiserkill So what is the thruth story if the documentary does not tell the real one

[ulsbolde89]

The contrast between the fellow and Beethoven's improvisations is uncanny

[Adamalgorithm]

awesome

[Ramanujan88]

So when you gonna start?

Now that wasn't nice.

[thebedtimestory]

This is the 1800s version of a rap battle

[Margotbear]

good one! the notorious LVB!

[brenonion]

LVB aint nuthin to fuck with

[ohorok2]

@thebedtimestory fcuk you, rap is not a music, and if is - it is music on the lowest level

[97aaroniscool97]

I think you mean that a rap battle is the modern version of this.

[PeriodinstrumentfaN]

The books say he is a very very very good improviser and even breaks strings of the Viennese Pianoforte.... they've captured/portrayed it well in the film. I like this docu... :>

[kaiserkill]

yes!

[sstuddert]

I the scene with the improvisation contest is good.

[GitSol]

Thank you! Fantastic