Beethoven biography john suchet pictures

John Suchet, Classic FM presenter and former ITN reporter, has just published his sixth book on Beethoven entitled &#;Beethoven: The Man Revealed&#;. I spoke to him about his passion for Beethoven and his music.

Why is Beethoven so important to you?

The background to it is that I am a failed musician. When I was at school and university I was actually quite good, the best in my year. I used to play the hymns at school, I played the violin in the orchestra, I played the trombone in the military band, the concert band &#; I was heavily into music and decided to become a professional but fortunately for the world of music I changed my mind as I just didn’t have enough talent, but music’s always been in the background of my life. I came to Beethoven fairly late, I suppose in my mid to late twenties. I was very into Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Mendelssohn, and one day I heard a bit of Beethoven and the harmonies slightly unsett John suchet biography!