I agree with Richard from River Vale and would like to add Mendelssohn and Dvorak as contenders for a month of awareness.

I don't think the "late period" is being fairly represented by the Grosse Fuge alone without the entire quartet of which it was originally part of. We know that Beethoven created an alternate version with a different and less musically radical finale because of the outcry about the radical qualities of the Grosse Fuge. By itself the Grosse Fuge refects only one aspect of the late Beethoven and that, at its most extreme.

(note that the facts stated in the forgoing are "off the top of my head" and have not been check with reference to any written authoritative commentary or history).

Beethoven month was fabulous. How about a month of Schubert or Brahms? The Romantic Period is the greatest music of all time.

I absolutely loved last night's on air recording, as well as anecdotal material, of Beethoven's final violin Concerto. I need more information on that piece, catalog number and to whom again it was dedicated. Looking forward to more Beethoven music and information through the week, including in the Lunch Hour today!!

Keep Beethoven coming. At least every other month.)

thoroughly enjoyed this Beethoven month

Thanks so much for providing this listening opportunity! Your listeners appreciate it.

I'd love to hear the Grosse Fugue. Thanks.

While all periods of the maestro bear endless listening, the late period is where he pushed the envelope furthest. I recall listening to this in music school and agreeing with my friends that it presaged 12-tone music by several hundred years. Appropriate that it's played by the Berg quartet as well.

Please, the Middle Period, the Piano Sonata, Ashkenazy and Beethoven, who could resist such a combination?

Oh please, the Grosse Fugue. Beethoven's late period, especially the genius of his chamber music, can never be played enough for me. And what a great way to close out Beethoven Awareness Month - with a great valadictory work.

The Waldstein is great, no question about it - but it sounds positively ordinary next to pretty much anything from the late period. There's never been anything before or since that really compares to late Beethoven.

Can we please make it Beethoven Awarness YEAR???? :)

My question to WQXR is: Which composer will be next to have an Awareness Month? (How about Bruckner?)

The Waldstein Sonata is a favorite of mine as is Mr. Ashenazy.

I prefer Bach to Beethoven and I've never heard
Beethoven's Grosse Fugue so I'm interested in hearing it.

How to choose from these 3 fantastic works...?..
by the way....great idea "Beethoven awareness month"..
Thank you for the great music!

I chose the Fuge because I'm an organist and I'm very much aware of J S Bach's Fugues. I have not heard (I don't think) this fuge of Beethoven, therefore I chose it and will be listening to hear what Beethoven does with a fuge. I am aware that Beethoven was very aware of Bach as were
his contemporaries.

no comment

Those are all great recordings of some of the best music ever written - how to choose between them? After all the Thanksgiving feasting the other day, which of the three kinds of pie did you choose, for your second helping? As happened with the deserts, today I overindulged and voted twice - for the Waldstein and the Grosse Fugue. Happy holidays everybody!

This is so much FUN!!