Culture

Beethoven and the silver screen

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

A lush orchestral backdrop courses through the opulent southern drama featuring stars Liz Taylor and Paul Newman. The movie score includes the fourth movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, and the music by the German composer sets the tone for the film's plot.

Beethoven and the silver screen

Fantasia

In this Walt Disney animated film, listeners are treated to Beethoven's Sixth Symphony. Figures from classical Greek mythology celebrate their resurrection to the sounds of the music: fauns, centaurs and Olympic gods offer a celebration in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine.

Beethoven and the silver screen

Star Trek: Insurrection

Beethoven sets the scene for an occupation aboard the USS Enterprise in the famous sci-fi saga "Star Trek." This instalment from 1998 is the ninth in a series of "Star Trek" films and features the first movement from Beethoven's well-known Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor - the "Pathetique."

Beethoven and the silver screen

A Clockwork Orange

Few directors have melded music and visuals quite as effectively as Stanley Kubrick did. Alex, the movie's protagonist, loves violence, sex and Beethoven's Ninth. The maestro's work is not employed here to express the desire for peace and brotherhood. Instead, it underscores the film's violent excesses.

Beethoven and the silver screen

The Horse Whisperer

The now world-famous actress Scarlett Johansson shined as a young star in this idyllic Hollywood flick from 1998. After a serious horseback riding accident, Johansson's character is deeply traumatized. Director and co-star Robert Redford calms the horse while the gentle sounds of Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 1 soothe the girl.

Beethoven and the silver screen

Age of Innocence

In a drama that examines the social conventions and narrow moral ideals of New York aristocracy at the end of the 19th century, director Martin Scorsese helps himself to canonical classical works. Attentive listeners will catch another instance of Beethoven's "Pathetique" in the score.

Beethoven and the silver screen

Hilary und Jackie

Two sisters study music, but only one of them goes on to earn international acclaim: cellist Jacqueline du Pre. Works by a number of classical composers can be heard in the film. Among them is Beethoven's Piano Trio in B-Flat Major, commonly known as the "Archduke Trio" as it was dedicated to the composer's pupil, Archduke Rudolph of Austria.

Author: Maria Santacecilia / gsw Editor: Rick Fulker

Author: Maria Santacecilia / gsw