A New Way to Hear Beethoven’s Symphonies

In this opening episode of our new eleven-part Beethoven series, Alberto Sanna and I lay the foundation for the journey ahead. We discuss how this project began, why Czerny’s four-hand transcriptions of the symphonies are so extraordinary, and what we discovered while recording them on fortepiano.This is not just an introduction to the series. It is also an introduction to a way of listening. We talk about tempo, structure, harmonic tension, articulation, accompaniment, and the whole beat perspective that shaped our understanding of these works. Along the way, we reflect on why Beethoven’s symphonies remain so overwhelming, and why hearing them in this way can change the listener’s experience completely.Over the coming episodes, we will explore each symphony in detail. This first installment opens the door. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wimwinters.substack.com/subscribe