“Learning about Beethoven is a joyful journey without end”
Photograph of bust statue of Ludwig van Beethoven by Hugo Hagen
British journalist and newscaster John Suchet has had a lifelong fascination with Ludwig van Beethoven, from the moment he discovered the great German composer’s music in his twenties. Beethoven’s music, in particular, the ‘Eroica’ Symphony has accompanied him on some of his most challenging reporting as a foreign correspondent (including the revolution of 1979, which Suchet covered for British TV news station ITN).
As the author of eight books on Beethoven, Suchet is regarded as one of the UK’s leading experts on the life of LvB, and his fascination with Beethoven’s life and music has taken him on many trips to places where Beethoven lived and worked. This latest book is part memoir, part biography of Beethoven, and part travelogue as Suchet describes his attempt to visit, with his wife Nula (who shares his passion) as many places as possible with a connection to the composer.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica” – I. Allegro con brio (Vienna Symphony Orchestra; Otto Klemperer, cond.)
John Suchet
Suchet’s affection and admiration for Beethoven are evident throughout, and the story of Beethoven’s life, which provides the foundation on which the rest of the content of this book rests, is told with enthusiasm, introducing the reader to a colourful cast of characters – Beethoven’s family, acquaintances, dedicatees – and locations (Bonn, Vienna, Heiligenstadt). It’s well-researched, witty and very readable (the episode towards the end of the book where Suchet meets descendants of Beethoven’s patrons and supporters has all the excitement of a thriller), but at times, the biographical detail rather gets in the way of Suchet’s personal story: there are some brief insights, for example, into the challenges of being a foreign correspondent and the need to squeeze a major news story into a two-minute report, but on the whole I was left feeling I’d be given far more insight into Beethoven’s story than Suchet’s. That said, Suchet does not allow his passion to excuse Beethoven’s difficult personality: he’s a clear-sighted devotee to his subject rather than an uncritical fan.
There are some interesting nuggets too, including ground-breaking and comprehensive new information drawn from the latest research from Cambridge University and the Max Planck Institute, which brings the reader closer to Beethoven. Suchet presents fresh insights into Beethoven’s heritage, health struggles, and pivotal life events, such as his interactions with Mozart.
“Beethoven scholarship does not stand still,” says Suchet, “and each new finding brings us closer to understanding the man behind the music.”
For the curious reader in search of a comprehensive, serious biography of Beethoven, this is not the book, but for the general reader, it’s an ideal introduction, written from the perspective of the truly passionate enthusiast.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110 – I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo (Igor Levit, piano)
In Search of Beethoven by John Suchet
In Search of Beethoven by John Suchet is published by Elliott & Thompson in hardback and EBook formats.
John Suchet is known as one of the UK’s best-loved television reporters and newscasters, having covered world events such as the Iran Revolution, the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the Lebanese civil war, the Philippines Revolution, then anchoring News at Ten and all other ITN bulletins. All through that period, he was researching the life and music of Beethoven, first publishing a trilogy, The Last Master in the late 1990s. Soon after retiring from the world of TV news, John began a second career as presenter on Classic FM radio.
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