There are many works which some of you may know but others definitely will not.  I am primarily a choral conductor, but I don't expect many, if any of my suggestions to be choral works - more things which I have grown up with and come to enjoy and appreciate and been moved by.  As you are aware, in a simplistic way I dismiss a lot of 'happy' music as relatively dull.  What I mean is that the greatest music engages ones thoughts and intellect more deeply so that even if it is exuberant ('happy'), such as the opening orchestral section to the last movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, it's scope of expression through harmony, melody and rhythmic impact also engage one's reactions far beyond just that.  I have to say that conducting a work like Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, even just the first page, is an exercise in self-control for fear of letting ones emotions take over entirely!  Though sometimes more on the surface (Tchaikovsky 6th finale) than on other occasions, most great music engages a good degree of underlying pathos, no matter how lively.

I hope you can access the music choices to listen to, either on Spotify (I will give you links) or some other means.  One may also be lucky with YouTube.

It's Beethoven 250th year so I am going to start with a real favourite - and a real Tigger of a piece.

Kreutzer Sonata Op.47

Beethoven's works for string solo (violin/cello) and piano are often, or even commonly, referred to as a 'violin' or 'cello' sonatas.  That's half the truth only because the piano is always equal in prominence and importance.  The Kreutzer sonata is a work of great stature and, in the hands of the right performers, is more like a battle with both players on the same side - an 'Eroica' for two people.  You can observe this by looking on the following youtube link - about as extreme as it gets, and a bit over the top maybe - but you will enjoy the outstanding pianist.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF9fneQ50Us

The first movement opens with a short stop-start slow section, but then the real Beethoven gets going and a virtuosic showcase ignites with Beethoven at his most fiery.  Difficult to sit still!

The second movement is an intriguing set of variations with a subdued and understated opening theme, but what follows is also inspired - sometimes tantalising like Mozart, and sometimes introspective.

The third and final movement is once again explosive and virtuosic, and with two exquisite moments where Beethoven suddenly holds everything up for a few seconds of beauty and reflection - a short burst of pathos between the performers.

I have struggled to find a performance on spotify which ticks every box (to my subjective liking...).  Too often the piano detail is muffled but here are my recommendations for searching on Spotify - you could try them all!

1) Vadim Repin and Marta Argerich.  This is probably the best to listen to with two outstanding players

https://open.spotify.com/track/7a0m0m1gZecJD6ZEAuSp3w?si=ZS1WYEruRJSAZTuVK8sBdg

https://open.spotify.com/track/47WNFZW3XPSJh49Dw2DlWm?si=1R6MWCFuRdqsHu6XVW9zlA

https://open.spotify.com/track/6vhDyXWjRyJ4JxM0pEeNiq?si=YRggpNh-SKq7YdjKBo3ICw

2) Viktoria Mullova - a performance with a fortepiano but very fine if you don't mind the piano 'old sound'.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2YNtP4j7bRoLAJff5wTvqt?si=PINsma1sRLCC5S5hRRtrWw

https://open.spotify.com/track/6fZqSiNXcCddyC3FXXAfcV?si=4OLucud3TfKS97iG7Tc7hg

https://open.spotify.com/track/2ioDDRNjv02eTKAuC9Upps?si=dgkpjZjGS_qMQx9kXVIgkg

3) Josef Suk and Jan Panenka.  I grew up with this CD, but the weakness is the old ’Supraphon’ sound which was always too bright and top-heavy.  If you can’t adjust the ’treble’ on your listening device then this will be too harsh.  The piano playing is powerful and energetic and Josef Suk was a wonderful violinist.  

https://open.spotify.com/track/4UwNhnnlvcVj0tMMIARRiN?si=NQGQeGx8QyqMYaYKttmLCA

https://open.spotify.com/track/2njZM3bv4QKo19Tv4PUY3i?si=wkhm29TDSruPnuV8AIdxkg

https://open.spotify.com/track/3CIp4JkEtandGRym59tAwe?si=GJEd8LzMRQmhUN0M5y-AaQ

There are some performances out there which, for my personal taste, do not capture the spirit on the revolutionary Beethoven. We know he could write moving and lyrical music of the very best that any composer could produce (opening of Missa Solemnis and slow movement of the 9th) but without fire in its belly I feel performances of the Kreutzer fall short of what he intended.

Beethoven is acknowledged to have said: "To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.”

As an extra, look up the following on youtube with the Stern-Rose-Istomin trio, and if you don’t have time for the whole work then go to 20’05’ for the finale.  It is Beethoven’s Piano trio Op.1 No.3 in C minor, one of his very early works and gives a flavour of what was to come.  Breathtaking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocHThotlxQ

Enjoy listening.  I will miss you, and I’m more and more realising how much.  Today it will be 13 degrees ….. bike ride then.