Overcoming Despair with Work

Returning to Vienna, the thirty-five-year-old Beethoven responded to his growing deafness by surrounding himself with work.  He thought an opera would be a good endeavor. 

 In a groundbreaking move, he composed an opera - originally called Leonore (and later reworked as Fidelio) - with a female lead.  Unfortunately, Leonore opened to a small crowd, even though Beethoven used a famous singer of the day - Anna Milder - to perform the main role.

Beethoven, once again, had to endure a major disappointment.

Clip from “Beethoven,” a 2005 BBC television production, featuring Charles Hazlewood and starring Paul Rhys as Beethoven.

Credits

Clip from “Beethoven,” a 2005 BBC television production, featuring Charles Hazlewood and starring Paul Rhys as Beethoven.  Copyright, BBC, all rights reserved.  Clip provided here as fair use for educational purposes.

Online, courtesy BBC Worldwide Channel at YouTube.

Director:
Ursula Macfarlane

Key Cast Members:

Paul Rhys
Ludwig van Beethoven

Jack Shepherd
Joseph Haydn

David Bamber
Prince Lichnowsky

Alice Eve
Countess Giulietta Guicciardi

Nicholas Farrell
Stephan von Breuning

Tom Goodman-Hill
Anton Schindler

Gareth David-Lloyd
Older Karl

Casper Harvey
Young Karl

Sarah Hadland
Johanna van Beethoven

Christian Coulson
Archduke Rudolph

Charles Hazlewood
Himself - Presenter