Ingenious, quick-tempered and highly assertive – Ludwig van Beethoven fundamentally changed the image of the artist. Like no-one else he fearlessly began to permanently change music history. Whole generations have eagerly worked on the myth of Beethoven and made a perceived titan out of the man.
Together with the pianist Rudolf Buchbinder and the Beethoven biographer Jan Cayers this six-part series uncovers the person behind the myth. Beethoven’s piano sonatas serve as soundtrack as well as the leitmotif.
They accompanied and preoccupied him his whole life: when he was 25 years old, he published his first sonata, having recently arrived in Vienna – the last one five years before his death. In times of crisis and change the piano was for Beethoven his most important instrument for developing new paths. Like a secret journal the sonatas allow deep insights into his thoughts and emotions.
Documentary series, DE, 2016, 6 x 30 min.
Television Premiere: December 2016
Author & Director: Thomas von Steinaecker, Georg Wübbolt, Carl von Karstedt
Director of Photography: Oliver Indra, René Rothkopf, Dominik Spritzendorfer, Burhan Özdahl, Christoph Valentien
Sound: Max Leimstättner, Michael Alexa, Jens Mattner, Sascha Zenker
Editing & Animation: Michael und Andreea Wende
Recording Mixer: Jörn Steinhoff
Narration: Sandra Voss
Research: Benedikt von Bernstorff
Production Management: Lucie Tamborini, Pit Pallesche
Line Producer: Linn Sackarnd
Producer: Bernhard von Hülsen, Maria Willer
Commissioning Editor: Dietmar Klumm (3sat)
A co-production of 3B-Produktion, Unitel and ZDF/3sat.
International Distribution: Unitel
