To celebrate Beethoven's birthday, listen to three of his "essential and forever" masterworks

By Dan Margolies,

Published December 12, 2023 at 11:47 AM CST

Pinchas Zukerman joins Michael Stern and a the Kansas City Symphony for a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Violin Concerto in D major," February 2020

While the exact date of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth in December of 1770 is debated by scholars, what is inarguable was his musical genius. We'll hear the Kansas City Symphony perform his "Coriolan" Overture, Violin Concerto featuring Pinchas Zukerman, and his "Eroica" Symphony No. 3.

An agreement with the Kansas City Symphony allows us to share audio for this program up to four weeks after the program's original air date. You can listen to currently available episodes here.

Hosts

Michael Stern
Dan Margolies

Program

Overture to Coriolan, Op. 62
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Yoav Talmi - guest conductor
Live performance, November 2015

Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 61
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Pinchas Zukerman - violin
Live performance, February 2020

Symphony No. 3 in Eb major, Op. 55 "Eroica"
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Live performance, February 2018