6 episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20050829 | 20050905 | Bad luck seemed to dog Carl Maria von Weber's professional life; there was always a rival faction, a temperamental diva or political intrigue to complicate matters. Donald Macleod finds Weber working for the aristocratic and eccentric Württemberg family, with whom Weber's own sense of mischief landed him in hot water. Ruler of the Sprits Overture The Hanover Band Roy Goodman (director) Symphony No 1 Philharmonia Orchestra Claus Peter Flor (conductor) Seven Variations on Vien quà, Dorina bella Alexander Paley (piano). | |||
| The Early Years | 20080324 | Six Fughettas, Op 1 No 1 Florian Pagitsch (organ) Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm Concertino in E minor for horn and orchestra, Op 41 Herman Baumann (horn) Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Kurt Masur (conductor) Grande Polonaise in E flat for piano, Op 21 Alexander Paley (piano) Quartet in B flat for piano, violin, viola and cello, Op 8 Kremerata Musica Gidon Kremer (violin) Veronika Hagen (viola) Clemens Hagen (cello) Vadim Sakharov (piano). | |||
| 20080325 | Weber goes wandering, begins a novel, completes an opera, gets thrown in jail and enjoys his first major success. Melodie in F for unaccompanied clarinet Victoria Soames (cello) Julius Drake (piano) Momento capriccioso for piano, Op 12 Alexander Paley (piano) Adagio and Rondo in B flat for two clarinets, two french horns and two bassoons German Wind Soloists Ulf Rodenhauser, Wolfgang Teschner (clarinet) Wolfgang Gaag, Alois Schlemer (horn) Eberhard Marschall, Klaus Thunemann (bassoon) Andante and Hungarian Rondo in C minor for viola and orchestra, Op 35 Ernst Wallfisch (viola) NDR-Sinfonieorchester, Hamburg Wilhelm Bruckner-Ruggeberg (conductor) Piano Concerto No 1 in C, Op 11 Nikolai Demidenko (piano) Scottish Chamber Orchestra Charles Mackerras (conductor) Concertino for clarinet and orchestra, Op 26 Andrew Marriner (cello) Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields Neville Marriner. | ||||
| 20080326 | Rptoftoday12.00pm | Donald Macleod finds Weber finally putting down roots in Munich and also fulfilling a royal commission. Clarinet Concerto No 1 in F minor, Op 73 Emma Johnson (cello) English Chamber Orchestra Gerard Schwarz (conductor) Sonate progressive No 2 pour le piano-forte, avec violon oblige Luigi Alberto Bianchi (violin) Caroline Haffner (piano) Bassoon Concerto in F, Op 75 Valeri Popov (bassoon) Russian State Symphony Orchestra Valeri Polyansky (conductor) | |||
| 20080327 | Donald Macleod charts Weber's time at the Prague Opera and explores his tempestuous relationship with the high-spirited soprano Caroline Brandt, who was eventually to become Mrs Weber. Piano Sonata No 2 in A flat, Op 39 Alfred Brendel (piano) Grand Duo concertant in E flat for clarinet and piano, Op 48 Kalman Berkes (cello) Jeno Jando (piano). | ||||
| COTW | 05 LAST | 20080328 | Donald Macleod concludes his exploration of Weber's life and instrumental music, focusing on his marriage, the creation of his opera Der Freischutz and a meeting with Beethoven. The programme includes three works from the composer's time at the Dresden Opera. Aufforderung zum Tanze (Invitation to the Dance), rondeau brillant for piano, Op 65 Hamish Milne (piano) Trio in G minor, Op 63 Nash Ensemble: Judith Pearce (flute) Christopher van Kampen (cello) Ian Brown (piano) Konzertstuck in F minor for piano and orchestra, Op 79 Benjamin Frith (piano) RTE Sinfonietta Proinnsias O Duinn (conductor). |