Beethoven's Birthday: A Celebration in Vienna with Leonard Bernstein (1970)

This program is a 125 Minute documentary in four chapters that celebrated the 200th birthday of the famous classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Presented by the famous composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, Bernstein analyzes the life of Beethoven, and illustrates his analysis with excerpts from three of Beethoven's works. It was originally televised by the CBS Television Network. Chapter one is the opening, where Bernstein introduces us to Beethoven, the person, and explains - through Beethoven's music - his personality, and the effect of his personality on his music and the effect of his music on his public persona. The music that is most heard during this chapter is excerpts from Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major. Chapter two is a presentation on Beethoven's single opera: Fidelio. In it, you are a fly on the wall as Bernstein and the Company rehearse the opera, and then you experience scenes from the actual performance which is analyzed scene by scene by Bernstein. Chapter three is a presentation on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in D Minor. Bernstein starts off by discussing the work itself, its impact on us all, and how Beethoven is portrayed in the work. The listening emphasis for this chapter is the fourth movement known as "Ode To Joy". Incidentally, one of the four soloists in this work is a young Placido Domingo.