Episode Details

In 1802, Beethoven wrote the Heiligenstadt Testament, a heartbreaking letter describing his deafness and his resolve to keep going despite thoughts of ending his own life. The piece that is most often associated with the Testament is the 3rd symphony, the Eroica. But the piece that Beethoven was writing DURING his stay at Heiligenstadt is the much less played 2nd symphony, a piece full of joy and irresistible brightness. Why would Beethoven write a piece like this? We'll try to answer that question today.