I, Beethoven

By David Serero

"I, Beethoven" is a One-Man-Play where Ludwig van Beethoven returns in 2020 to tell his own story from birth to death, including his legacy. This play written at the first person, by David Serero, gives a theatrical dimension to this autobiographical text based on Beethoven's life. The play and recording are made in honor of the 250th Birthday Anniversary of one of the greatest classical composers of all time. Starring actor David Serero as Ludwig van Beethoven. Length is 70 minutes, in English language.

• Language: English
• Publisher: World Productions Group
• Release date: Oct 8, 2020

David Serero

DAVID SEREROSinger Baritone, Actor, Producer and Recording ArtistActor and baritone, David Serero, has received international recognition and critical acclaim from all over the world. At only 35 years old, he has already performed more than 1,000 concerts and performances throughout the world and played in over 100 films and recorded 20 albums. He has given concerts in Paris at the PARIS OPERA GARNIER, OLYMPIA, EIFFEL TOWER; in New York at the LINCOLN CENTER, CARNEGIE HALL, TIMES SQUARE; in London at the ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC, WEMBLEY STADIUM; and in Moscow at the TCHAIKOVSKY HALL; in Amsterdam at the CONCERTGEBOUW, the BUDAPEST OPERA conducted by PLACIDO DOMINGO and more. He made his sold out WEST END debuts at the Dominion Theatre. He has sung more than 30 lead roles in Opera, Operetta and Musical Theater. In 2012, David Serero performed Don Quixote from MAN OF LA MANCHA in Paris and the title role from the revival of Duke Ellington's only musical: BEGGAR'S HOLIDAY and also starred in the cast album recording. In 2013, David performed with JERMAINE JACKSON in YOU ARE NOT ALONE, a musical written, directed and produced by David Serero. He has also produced and arranged I WISH YOU LOVE an album of Jazz standards for Jermaine Jackson. In December 2013, David shared the cover of Theatre & Performances with Barbra Streisand in London, and made his BROADWAY solo debut at the Snapple Theatre in New York and released his first studio album ALL I CARE ABOUT IS LOVE. In 2014, he released The Broadway Baritone featuring Broadway classics and toured in the UK with a performance on WEST END. During the summer 2014, he recorded the entire love letters's correspondence of NAPOLEON to Josephine and released his new studio album THE CROONER BARITONE, The FRANK SINATRA Classics for the 100th anniversary of Sinatra. In 2015 and 2016, he played Off Broadway the lead roles of SHYLOCK (MERCHANT OF VENICE) and OTHELLO's title role with both critical acclaim. In 2015, he performed two open air concerts on TIMES SQUARE (New York) for BEST OF FRANCE with the presence of the French President Mr Francois Hollande. He released SEPHARDI, an album of Sephardic music in Ladino language and records the title role of RICHARD III in French. In 2016, he releases ALL MY LOVE IS FOR YOU, a Pop Rock album, entirely composed, performed, arranged and produced by himself. He also played NABUCCO (Nabucco) in New York; and the title roles of DON GIOVANNI and RIGOLETTO at the CARNEGIE HALL. In 2016, David entered the prestigious WHO'S WHO AMERICA for demonstrating outstanding achievements in the entertainment world and for the betterment of contemporary society.In American Television, he has appeared in: The Hunt with John Walsh (CNN), Mysteries at the Museum (Travel Channel), Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall (NBC), Six Degrees of Murder (Discovery Channel), Checked Out, On The Case with Paula Zhan (Discovery ID), Rabid Beast (Animal Planet TV), Suddenly Rich (TLC TV), Whistleblowers (Spike TV), Blood Feuds - Gangs of New York (Discovery Channel).In American Films he starred in Alice in America, Tango Shalom, Winter Has No Sun, Most Beautiful Island, Paisanos in Paris, Following Phil, Terminal 5, Sheepshead, Again, Overload Rock or Die, The Redemption, Kingdom of the Alley, Ring Ring, Laundry Day, Capicola, Make it Work, There Will Come Soft Rains, Amarena.He starred in several commercials for Sotheby's & eBay, Bank of America, Don Julio Tequila, Khiel's, Volkswagen, BJ's, Pepsi and more.​Full biography on www.davidserero.com

Book preview

I, BEETHOVEN

A One Man Play

by

David Serero

In Honor of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th Birthday

Hello and Welcome, My name is Ludwig van Beethoven. I was a German pianist and composer widely considered to be one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time. My innovative compositions combined vocals and instruments, widening the scope of sonata, symphony, concerto and quartet. I’m the crucial transitional figure connecting the Classical and Romantic ages of Western music.

I revealed more vividly than any of my predecessors the power of music to convey a philosophy of life without the aid of a spoken text. In the Ninth Symphony, I combined the worlds of vocal and instrumental music in a manner never before attempted. My personal life was marked by a heroic struggle against deafness, and some of my most important works were actually composed during the last 10 years of my life, when I was quite unable to hear.

MY EARLY YEARS

I was the eldest surviving child of Johann and Maria Magdalena van Beethoven. My family was Flemish in origin. It was my grandfather who had first settled in Bonn when he became a singer in the choir of the archbishop-elector of Cologne; he eventually rose to become Kappellmeister. My dad, Johann, was also a singer in the electoral choir; Though at first quite prosperous, our family became steadily poorer with the death of my grandfather in 1773, and the decline of my father into alcoholism.

MY CONTROVERSIAL BIRTHDAY

I was born on or about December 16, 1770, in the city of Bonn in the Electorate of Cologne, a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. Although my exact date of birth is uncertain, I was baptized on December 17, 1770.

As a matter of law and custom, babies at the time were baptized within 24 hours of birth, so December 16 is most likely my birthday.

However, I myself mistakenly believed that I was born two years later, in 1772, and I stubbornly insisted on the incorrect date even when presented with official papers that proved beyond any reasonable doubt that 1770 was my true birth year.

MY FAMILY

I had two