Copying Beethoven (film)
Encyclopedia
Copying Beethoven is a 2006 dramatic film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
and directed by Agnieszka Holland
which gives a fictional take on the triumphs and heartaches of Ludwig van Beethoven
's last years.
.
It is set in 1824 as Beethoven (Ed Harris) is finishing his new symphony. He is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. A fictional character, a new copyist, Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger) is engaged to help the composer finish preparing the score for the first performance. Anna is a young conservatory student and aspiring composer. Her understanding of his work is such that she corrects mistakes he has made, while her personality opens a door into his private world. Beethoven is initially skeptical, but slowly comes to trust Anna's assistance and eventually grows fond of her. By the time the piece is performed, her presence is a necessity and she helps him conduct the premier from a spot hidden amongst the orchestra.
After the premiere, they collaborate and become closer. His eccentricities become more and more troublesome, but Anna continues to provide companionship. She eventually transcribes his compositions as he simply talks her through them.
The actual copyists neither contributed to nor altered the score, and as shown in the film were berated by Beethoven for any deviation that occurred from the original score.
The movie is set in 1824 during the composition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
. Throughout the movie Beethoven is shown to be hard of hearing but quite capable of understanding people who speak loudly. In reality, Beethoven had lost much of his hearing seven years earlier (1817). Beethoven never experienced permanent deafness; his condition fluctuated between total silence and terrible tinnitus
. The Ninth Symphony was composed at a time when Beethoven's hearing had deteriorated severely. At this point in his life, most of Beethoven's conversations were facilitated by the use of notebooks. It can be argued, however, that he was also able to read people's lips, evidenced by his insistence that people face him when they spoke to him.
In the film, Beethoven makes an allusion to the Moonlight Sonata. This is an anachronism
as the Sonata No. 14 "quasi una fantasia" was not referred to as "Moonlight" until 5 years after his death. The reference to the Appassionata piano sonata in the same scene is similarly anachronistic.
, the musical director of the Kärntnertor theater where the premiere took place. The two stood together on the podium; Umlauf did not lurk secretly amid the orchestra players as in the film.
The tale that Beethoven had to be turned around to be aware of the audience's applause is apparently authentic.
For further details on the premiere, see Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
.
website it received a score of 59.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
and directed by Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland is a Polish film and TV director and screenwriter. Best recognized for her highly political contributions to Polish cinema, Holland is one of Poland's most prominent filmmakers.-Personal life:...
which gives a fictional take on the triumphs and heartaches of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's last years.
Synopsis
A fictionalized version of the last three years of Beethoven's life, beginning with the composition of the Ninth SymphonySymphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and has been adapted for use as the European Anthem...
.
It is set in 1824 as Beethoven (Ed Harris) is finishing his new symphony. He is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma. A fictional character, a new copyist, Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger) is engaged to help the composer finish preparing the score for the first performance. Anna is a young conservatory student and aspiring composer. Her understanding of his work is such that she corrects mistakes he has made, while her personality opens a door into his private world. Beethoven is initially skeptical, but slowly comes to trust Anna's assistance and eventually grows fond of her. By the time the piece is performed, her presence is a necessity and she helps him conduct the premier from a spot hidden amongst the orchestra.
After the premiere, they collaborate and become closer. His eccentricities become more and more troublesome, but Anna continues to provide companionship. She eventually transcribes his compositions as he simply talks her through them.
Cast
- Diane KrugerDiane KrugerDiane Kruger is a German actress and former fashion model. She is known for roles such as Helen in Troy, Dr. Abigail Chase in National Treasure and its sequel, Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds, Anna in Mr...
– Anna Holtz - Ed HarrisEd HarrisEdward Allen "Ed" Harris is an American actor, writer, and director, known for his performances in Appaloosa, Radio, The Rock, The Abyss, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, A History of Violence, and The Truman Show. Harris has also narrated commercials for The Home Depot and other companies...
– Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of... - Matthew GoodeMatthew GoodeMatthew William Goode is an English actor. His notable films have included Match Point, Watchmen, Brideshead Revisited, Leap Year, Imagine Me and You and A Single Man.-Early life:...
– Martin Bauer - Phyllida LawPhyllida Law-Personal life:Law was born in Glasgow, the daughter of William and Megsie Law, who divorced after World War II. She was married to Eric Thompson from 1957 until his death in 1982. Their two children Emma and Sophie Thompson are both actresses...
– Mother Canisius - Joe Anderson – Karl van Beethoven
- Ralph RiachRalph RiachRalph Riach is a Scottish actor from Elgin, Moray. He is best known for his role as "John McIver" in BBC One Scotland's comedy/drama Hamish Macbeth. His career began at the age of 45, when he appeared in Lost Empires...
– Wenzel Schlemmer
Artistic license
The working manuscript of the score is attributed to two copyists, both of whom were male, not a single female as depicted in the film.The actual copyists neither contributed to nor altered the score, and as shown in the film were berated by Beethoven for any deviation that occurred from the original score.
The movie is set in 1824 during the composition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and has been adapted for use as the European Anthem...
. Throughout the movie Beethoven is shown to be hard of hearing but quite capable of understanding people who speak loudly. In reality, Beethoven had lost much of his hearing seven years earlier (1817). Beethoven never experienced permanent deafness; his condition fluctuated between total silence and terrible tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus |ringing]]") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period , ear...
. The Ninth Symphony was composed at a time when Beethoven's hearing had deteriorated severely. At this point in his life, most of Beethoven's conversations were facilitated by the use of notebooks. It can be argued, however, that he was also able to read people's lips, evidenced by his insistence that people face him when they spoke to him.
In the film, Beethoven makes an allusion to the Moonlight Sonata. This is an anachronism
Anachronism
An anachronism—from the Greek ανά and χρόνος — is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other...
as the Sonata No. 14 "quasi una fantasia" was not referred to as "Moonlight" until 5 years after his death. The reference to the Appassionata piano sonata in the same scene is similarly anachronistic.
The Ninth Symphony premiere
Much of the film centers on Beethoven's insistence on conducting his own work, particularly the premiere of his Ninth Symphony (1824). The arrangement of sharing the work of conducting so that Beethoven could appear on the podium and influence the performance despite his deafness, actually did take place. Beethoven's colleague was named Michael UmlaufMichael Umlauf
Michael Umlauf , was an Austrian composer, conductor, and violinist. His father, Ignaz Umlauf, was also a notable composer. His sister Elisabeth Hölzel had a career as a contralto and her son Gustav Hölzel was an important bass-baritone.Umlauf was born at Vienna. At an early age he became a...
, the musical director of the Kärntnertor theater where the premiere took place. The two stood together on the podium; Umlauf did not lurk secretly amid the orchestra players as in the film.
The tale that Beethoven had to be turned around to be aware of the audience's applause is apparently authentic.
For further details on the premiere, see Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and has been adapted for use as the European Anthem...
.
Critical reception
The film received mixed reviews. On the MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
website it received a score of 59.
External links
- Official site
- The Times Film Review: Copying Beethoven
- Biography
- Copying Beethoven at Metacritic.com