“Zooming Up on Beethoven” Music Lecture Series 【Online Programme】

Conducted in Cantonese.

The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.  The presenter reserves the right to vary the broadcast time of the lectures.

2 July    On Beethoven as a Person and a Composer

This episode looks at Beethoven’s personality, the characteristics of his music, and the intricate connections between him, Mozart and Haydn.

9 July   Beethoven and the French Revolution

This episode discusses the impact of French Revolution on Beethoven and his Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”.

16 July    A Revolution through Music

This episode explores the innovations and breakthroughs of Beethoven’s symphonies and piano sonatas, as well as his subversion of the traditional views of the aesthetics of music.

23 July    A Literary Perspective

This episode introduces to the audience a number of literary works on Beethoven.  It will also talk about how music holds dialogue with texts.

30 July    Philosophical Perspectives

Throughout his life, Beethoven had held Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), the influential German philosopher in the Age of Enlightenment, in high esteem.  This is evidenced by a note he wrote, “The moral law in us, the starry sky above us – Kant!!!”  This episode will also discuss the book by the late German philosopher, Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969), Beethoven: The Philosophy of Music.

6 August    Beethoven: Revelations in Times of Upheavals

Whenever hardships strike – be it the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany in 1989, the 911 attacks in the United States in 2001, the 311 earthquake in Japan in 2011, or even the coronavirus pandemic that is happening now – we can hear Beethoven’s Ode to Joy ring out in different modes and variations.  What exactly is the universal message behind this musical work?

13 August    The Beethoven 1808 Concert

Beethoven gave a marathon benefit concert on 22 December, 1808.  This episode gives an account of its historical background and the works premiered on this occasion.

William Ting

Graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist University and later earned his Master Degree in Historical Musicology from the Royal Holloway University of London, William Ting is a music critic and scholar in Hong Kong.  His articles have been widely published in art magazines, newspapers and on the internet.  Recently, he has conducted several series of public lectures that touch upon the topics of music history, philosophy, literature and art painting.