Cultural depictions of Ludwig van Beethoven
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This article summarizes works of fiction and other cultural representations of Ludwig van Beethoven.
[edit] Fiction
[edit] Quasi-biographical works
By all accounts, Beethoven possessed a forceful personality that made a powerful impression--for good or ill--on all who knew him. Moreover, a great number of vivid tales about Beethoven (of which a certain fraction are undoubtedly true) persisted after the composer's lifetime. Thus it is not surprising that many authors and filmmakers have made Beethoven a character in works of fictionalized biography.
The following are examples:
- Un grand amour de Beethoven ("A Great Love of Beethoven", 1936), film directed by Abel Gance.
- Eroica (1949), Austrian film directed by Karl Hartl and Walter Kolm-Veltée.
- Beethoven Lives Upstairs (1989), television special directed by David Devine.
- Immortal Beloved (1994), film directed by Bernard Rose.
- Le neveu de Beethoven ("Beethoven's Nephew," 1985), directed by Paul Morrissey.
- Copying Beethoven, a 2005 film directed by Agnieszka Holland.
As always with such works (see also Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), it is ill-advised to take them as a source of knowledge concerning their subject, since the author's purpose will normally be artistic rather than scholarly.
[edit] Fantasy works
Other material in which Beethoven appear as a character is not focused on the composer as such, but rather simply as the representative of the type "great man" or "famous composer", and develops a fantasy centered on this concept.
- In the comedy film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Beethoven is one of many "historical dudes" kidnapped by the dimwitted protagonists. His name is mispronounced as "Beeth-Oven." When shown an electric synthesizer at the San Dimas Mall, Beethoven is ecstatic and begins to play wildly.
- Beethoven was the title character in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's concept album, Beethoven's Last Night. In it, he makes a deal with the Devil to ease the suffering of a child sitting outside his door.
- In the anime OVA Read or Die, the clone of Beethoven appears briefly. This clone is part of the I-Jin, a group of people that are clones of famous people who are trying to wipe out the rest of the world, so they can have it to themselves. According to the story, Beethoven composed a symphony that will compel any who listen to it to commit suicide. The story of the anime series revolves around preventing the symphony from being broadcast to the world. This clone of Beethoven is slain by Yomiko Readman.
- In Anne Rice's novel Violin, Beethoven appears as the wise mentor of the ghostly violinist. He also figures strongly in the climax, in ghost form.
- In the comic strip Peanuts the piano playing boy Schroeder has a bust of Beethoven on his minature piano.
- The Muppet Show featured a bust of Beethoven which figured in a series of sketches with Rowlf the piano-playing dog. The bust could speak and would often be heard making wisecracks at the expense of the performer usually playing a piece by Beethoven. As an inanimate object, the bust did not claim to actually be Beethoven, stressing the fact that he was merely a bust.
- In the Simpsons, episode 11 of season 15, Margical History Tour, Salieri/Lisa rejoices at the death of Mozart/Bart and goes to hand over the score of the Requiem, whereupon she encounters Beethoven/Nelson, playing the "Ode to Joy" from the 9th symphony. The Emperor of Austria then declares all other music obsolete.
- Beethoven has appeared in the webcomic Thinkin' Lincoln
- In the cartoon Time Squad, Beethoven was one of the historical figures that Tuddrussel and crew were sent to rescue. Instead of a composer, Beethoven was a wrestler.
