Dear Mr. Seaton, it occurred to me that you might know the answer to a question the pops into my mind every couple of years. Beethoven is my all time favorite composer/musician and I was wondering if you knew of any decent documentaries about him. Ideally, something that explores his life as a performer and composer but that also explores his personal life too.

Any ideas?

There is a new one coming out on the BBC. The same man who made "In Search of Mozart" is making "In Search of Beethoven" It will hopefully show up on one of the cable channels.
Here is a link to director Phil Grabsky. Click on productions to see something about this one due out next year.
http://www.seventh-art.com/
I encourage others to reply to this with suggestions of more films about Beethoven.

Michael Tilson Thomas did a great one about Beethoven and his Third Symphony. I recommend it!

There is a new one coming out on the BBC. The same man who made "In Search of Mozart" is making "In Search of Beethoven" It will hopefully show up on one of the cable channels.
Here is a link to director Phil Grabsky. Click on productions to see something about this one due out next year.
http://www.seventh-art.com/
I encourage others to reply to this with suggestions of more films about Beethoven.


Many thanks Mr. Seaton. To me Beethoven was nothing short of miraculous.

You may find this interesting: http://www.beethovenshair.ca/flash.html

A piece of Beethoven's hair from his deathbed turned up in the States. It was analyzed and he had mercury (or was it lead) poisoning. This may explain his bizarre personal life and strange compositions near the end of his life. Ex's - his obsession with his nephew and the Grosse Fugue

You may find this interesting: http://www.beethovenshair.ca/flash.html

A piece of Beethoven's hair from his deathbed turned up in the States. It was analyzed and he had mercury (or was it lead) poisoning. This may explain his bizarre personal life and strange compositions near the end of his life. Ex's - his obsession with his nephew and the Grosse Fugue

During that time period, there were quack medical remedies with every toxic element that people could lay their hands on -- lead, mercury, arsenic, and so forth. A hazard of being wealthy or successful was being killed by your doctor.