Lektion 10: English for the Arts

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) was born in Bonn, which is a small town in Germany on the River Rhine. Beethoven, who first became famous as a piano virtuoso, became the predominant composer of his time and is one of the greatest figures in the history of Western music. As a musician and conductor he was famous for his powerful and emotional personality. This is also evident in his compositions, which include piano sonatas, five piano concertos, nine symphonies and one opera. The theme of the fourth movement of his 9th symphony, which was inspired by Schiller's “Ode to Joy”, is now the European Anthem.

Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890), who powerfully influenced the development of much modern painting, is generally considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt. In the first four years of his career as an artist, Van Gogh limited himself to sketches and watercolours. In 1886 he went to Paris to join his brother Theo, who was his greatest friend and supporter. There he was introduced to Impressionism, which made his palette more colourful. In 1888 he moved to Arles, where he painted many of his finest works, including “Self-Portrait with Pipe and Bandaged Ear.”

William Shakespeare, who was born in 1564 and died in 1616, is often regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist of all time. He wrote his plays, which include comedies, historical plays and tragedies such as `Macbeth', `Hamlet' and `Romeo and Juliet', for a small theatre in London that was called “The Globe”, but today they are performed more often and in more countries than ever before. He was also the author of two narrative poems and 154 sonnets.

Orson Welles, whose father was an inventor and whose mother was a beautiful concert pianist, was gifted as a child in many arts, including magic, piano, and painting. He is recognised as one of the greatest actors and directors who ever lived. Considered a genius by many, Welles conquered the stage, radio, and movie screen. He was married three times. His second wife was the actress Rita Hayworth and in Hollywood they were known as the Beauty and the Brain. From his early days directing and acting in plays until his later years making films in Europe, Welles displayed an artistry which few others could equal. His first film `Citizen Kane' is considered his best and most famous film.

The Renaissance, which began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe, marked the end of the Middle Ages and the transition to modern times. Culture was born again, with an explosion of interest in all aspects of culture and science. The classical Greek and Roman philosophers were studied again. Painters, sculptors, architects and engineers applied new techniques, and experiments with musical form led to the development of new types of composition.

One man above all represents the spirit of the Renaissance. Born in 1452 near Florence, he was a sculptor, scientist, inventor and engineer, and was one of the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance. He was among the first to take a scientific approach towards understanding how our world works and how we see it. His powers of observation and skill as an illustrator enabled him to improve existing machines and create inventions of extraordinary new machines. He worked slowly, and produced comparatively little, but there is no artist of his time who does not owe him something. He died in France in

1. His name was Leonardo da Vinci.

The Renaissance, which began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe, marked the end of the Middle Ages and the transition to modern times. Culture was born again, with an explosion of interest in all aspects of culture and science. The classical Greek and Roman philosophers were studied again. Painters, sculptors, architects and engineers applied new techniques, and experiments with musical form led to the development of new types of composition.

One man above all represents the spirit of the Renaissance. Born in 1452 near Florence, he was a sculptor, scientist, inventor and engineer, and was one of the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance. He was among the first to take a scientific approach towards understanding how our world works and how we see it. His powers of observation and skill as an illustrator enabled him to improve existing machines and create inventions of extraordinary new machines. He worked slowly, and produced comparatively little, but there is no artist of his time who does not owe him something. He died in France in

1. His name was Leonardo da Vinci.