32 short pieces about Beethoven

The myth of Beethoven is something with which most of us are familiar. The rough, unapproachable and outspoken character lodges itself in the mind easily. And as with all such cliches, this one probably contains some truth alongside a fair bit of exaggeration. But what is highly suspect is the idea that this tells us anything about his music.Spending time with Beethoven's music offers a broader and more honest view of him. No composer was more able to convey his innermost feelings with more lucidity and expressive clarity than he was. It is this directness, the ability to translate his message into an immediately comprehensible musical language, that continues to amaze, inspire and shock us 200 years on.The piano sonatas, the 32 masterpieces that make up Beethoven's most comprehensive...