Tracks & Tangents

I recently discovered Ludwig on BritBox, and it’s absolutely delightful! The premise is this: a detective disappears, and his twin brother—a reclusive puzzle creator who writes under the pseudonym “Ludwig”—must step into his shoes to solve the mystery. It’s the perfect setup for a cozy, brainy whodunit.

What makes the show even more brilliant is the soundtrack. The entire series reimagines Beethoven’s compositions, giving his classical pieces a sleek, modern twist that beautifully echoes the puzzle-solving theme.

🎵 Here’s a track from Ludwig:
https://youtu.be/fY70ifamU_o?si=I11ZdN2qtpjoFW25

🎹 And here’s the original Beethoven piano sonata it’s based on:
https://youtu.be/hKkR4YFtyJk?si=KEaYnowcqC2j44u6

This kind of creative reimagining reminds me of other modern-classical crossovers. For example, the Vitamin String Quartet, famous for their Bridgerton soundtrack, flips the concept: instead of modernizing classical pieces, they “classify” pop music, giving contemporary hits a classical string quartet treatment.

Here’s my favorite—Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy covered by Vitamin String Quartet:
https://youtu.be/PWUbCwmBmgE?si=lIaoGGX3TPaJNNiu

Another brilliant example is Max Richter’s Recomposed: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, where he reimagines Vivaldi’s masterpiece for today’s listeners:
https://youtu.be/41IOkVjy3MM?si=YhFeZDcFdM2dftI2

I love how these projects bridge the gap between classical and modern, either by reshaping timeless works for today’s ear or by translating pop music into a classical voice. In Ludwig, Beethoven feels fresh and perfectly matched to the show’s clever atmosphere.

✨ Do you have any favorite examples of classical music reimagined in modern ways—or pop songs adapted into classical form? Share them below!

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