Greatest Showstoppers

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2023

Teresa Carre\u00f1o

20231226

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the 'Valkyrie of the Piano', Teresa Carreño.

The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – particularly if you had the talent and star-power to attract audiences in large numbers! A new breed of performer began to emerge: extraordinary virtuosos whose dazzling abilities made them into international sensations. Liszt, Chopin, Clara Schumann and Paganini are among the names best remembered today, but there were many others. This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of four more 19th-century ‘showstoppers' who were equally celebrated in their day, and who also turned their talents to composing.

Venezuelan pianist Teresa Carreño was a formidable character. She was revered as the Lioness, the Empress, the Valkyrie of the piano, and lauded for the power and precision of her performances. Audiences loved her, including President Abraham Lincoln; she performed for him at the White House while still a child. However, Carreño sometimes struggled to balance her family life with her professional ambitions, and her complicated love life made her a magnet for the gossip columns.

Vals gayo

Clara Rodriguez, piano

Florence, Cantilène Op.34

Rosario Marciano, piano

Souvenirs de mon pays, Op. 10

Alexandra Oehler, piano

Le printemps, Op. 25

String quartet in B minor: I. Allegro, II. Andante

Arriaga String Quartet

Elégie Op. 22, No. 6, ‘Plaintes au borde d'une tombe

Little Waltz ‘Mi Teresita

Teresa Carreño, piano [Welte-Mignon piano roll recording]

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the 'Valkyrie of the Piano', Teresa Carre\u00f1o.

2023

Elias Parish Alvars

20231227

Donald Macleod explores the story of Devon-born harp virtuoso Elias Parish Alvars.

The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – particularly if you had the talent and star-power to attract audiences in large numbers! A new breed of performer began to emerge: extraordinary virtuosos whose dazzling abilities made them into international sensations. Liszt, Chopin, Clara Schumann and Paganini are among the names best remembered today but there were many others. This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of four more 19th-century ‘showstoppers' who were equally celebrated in their day, and who also turned their talents to composing.

Today, Elias Parish Alvars steps into the spotlight. He was born in Teignmouth, Devon in relatively humble circumstances, but his talents as a harpist took him right across the world. Elias had travelled to Europe, Moscow, Constantinople, Kiev, Odessa and the Black Sea, all by the time he was 26. We meet him as he arrives in Vienna, now craving a more settled life and looking for love.

Introduction, Cadenza & Rondo (extract)

Judy Loman, harp

Grand March Op.67

Katherine Thomas, harp, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham

Grand Duo on Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix, Op.65

Simon Callaghan, piano

Clíodna Shanahan, piano

Harp Concerto in E flat Op.98, I. Allegro brillante

Marielle Nordmann, harp, Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Theodor Guschlbauer

Grand Study in Imitation of a Mandolin Op.84

Joel von Lerber, harp

2023

Maria Szymanowska

20231228

Donald Macleod follows Polish pianist Maria Szymanowska as she strikes out on her own.

Today, Donald follows the storied career of Polish pianist Maria Szymanowska, who might have settled for a comfortable and relatively cloistered existence as the wife of a wealth landowner in Warsaw. Instead, she chose to break free from her marriage, and embark on an international performing career. Audiences admired her brilliant musical style, which is often brimming with good humour and a sense of fun.

Polonaise in C major

Alexander Kostritsa, piano

Prélude No. 18 in E major

24 Mazurkas, Nos. 21-24

Anna Ciborowska, piano

Caprice sur la romance de Joconde in E major

Carole Carniel, piano

Fantaisie in F major

Cotillon, ou valse figurée

Nocturne in B flat major

Sławomir P Dobrzański, piano

18 Dances of Different Genres, Nos. 9-12 & No.18

2023

04 LAST

Joseph Joachim

20231229

Donald Macleod examines how violinist Joseph Joachim found himself at the centre of fierce musical and personal rivalries.

The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – particularly if you had the talent and star-power to attract audiences in large numbers! A new breed of performer began to emerge: extraordinary virtuosos whose dazzling abilities made them into international sensations. Liszt, Chopin, Clara Schumann and Paganini are among the names best remembered today but there were many others. This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of four more 19th-century ‘showstoppers' who were equally celebrated in their day, and who also turned their talents to composing.

Today, we follow the fortunes of one of the greatest violinists of the 19th century. Joseph Joachim was a new breed of virtuoso, a humble and generous musician who was determined to put his considerable abilities at the service of the music and composers he most admired. But he could also be stubborn and jealous, leading him to fall out with friends and mentors, and even to sabotage his own marriage.

3 Stücke, Op.2, No.1, Romanze

Rainer Schmidt, violin; Saiko Sasaki, piano

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major (1st movt cadenza by Joseph Joachim)

Henryk Szeryng, violin, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink

Joachim: Notturno Op.12

Daniel Hope, violin, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sakari Oramo

Quartettsatz

Israel String Quartet

Violin Concerto No.2 in D minor, Op.11 'A la hongroise': III. Finale alla Zingara: Allegro con spirito

Christian Tetzlaff, violin, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, directed by Thomas Dausgaard

Donald Macleod explores Joachim's story of faithful admirers and broken friendships.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2023	01	Teresa Carre\u00f1o	20231226	Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the 'Valkyrie of the Piano', Teresa Carreño. The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – particularly if you had the talent and star-power to attract audiences in large numbers! A new breed of performer began to emerge: extraordinary virtuosos whose dazzling abilities made them into international sensations. Liszt, Chopin, Clara Schumann and Paganini are among the names best remembered today, but there were many others. This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of four more 19th-century ‘showstoppers' who were equally celebrated in their day, and who also turned their talents to composing. Venezuelan pianist Teresa Carreño was a formidable character. She was revered as the Lioness, the Empress, the Valkyrie of the piano, and lauded for the power and precision of her performances. Audiences loved her, including President Abraham Lincoln; she performed for him at the White House while still a child. However, Carreño sometimes struggled to balance her family life with her professional ambitions, and her complicated love life made her a magnet for the gossip columns. Vals gayo Clara Rodriguez, piano Florence, Cantilène Op.34 Rosario Marciano, piano Souvenirs de mon pays, Op. 10 Alexandra Oehler, piano Le printemps, Op. 25 String quartet in B minor: I. Allegro, II. Andante Arriaga String Quartet Elégie Op. 22, No. 6, ‘Plaintes au borde d'une tombe Little Waltz ‘Mi Teresita Teresa Carreño, piano [Welte-Mignon piano roll recording] Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the 'Valkyrie of the Piano', Teresa Carre\u00f1o.
2023	02	Elias Parish Alvars	20231227	Donald Macleod explores the story of Devon-born harp virtuoso Elias Parish Alvars. The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – particularly if you had the talent and star-power to attract audiences in large numbers! A new breed of performer began to emerge: extraordinary virtuosos whose dazzling abilities made them into international sensations. Liszt, Chopin, Clara Schumann and Paganini are among the names best remembered today but there were many others. This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of four more 19th-century ‘showstoppers' who were equally celebrated in their day, and who also turned their talents to composing. Today, Elias Parish Alvars steps into the spotlight. He was born in Teignmouth, Devon in relatively humble circumstances, but his talents as a harpist took him right across the world. Elias had travelled to Europe, Moscow, Constantinople, Kiev, Odessa and the Black Sea, all by the time he was 26. We meet him as he arrives in Vienna, now craving a more settled life and looking for love. Introduction, Cadenza & Rondo (extract) Judy Loman, harp Grand March Op.67 Katherine Thomas, harp, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Jonathan Bloxham Grand Duo on Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix, Op.65 Simon Callaghan, piano Clíodna Shanahan, piano Harp Concerto in E flat Op.98, I. Allegro brillante Marielle Nordmann, harp, Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Theodor Guschlbauer Grand Study in Imitation of a Mandolin Op.84 Joel von Lerber, harp
2023	03	Maria Szymanowska	20231228	Donald Macleod follows Polish pianist Maria Szymanowska as she strikes out on her own. The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – particularly if you had the talent and star-power to attract audiences in large numbers! A new breed of performer began to emerge: extraordinary virtuosos whose dazzling abilities made them into international sensations. Liszt, Chopin, Clara Schumann and Paganini are among the names best remembered today, but there were many others. This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of four more 19th-century ‘showstoppers' who were equally celebrated in their day, and who also turned their talents to composing. Today, Donald follows the storied career of Polish pianist Maria Szymanowska, who might have settled for a comfortable and relatively cloistered existence as the wife of a wealth landowner in Warsaw. Instead, she chose to break free from her marriage, and embark on an international performing career. Audiences admired her brilliant musical style, which is often brimming with good humour and a sense of fun. Polonaise in C major Alexander Kostritsa, piano Prélude No. 18 in E major 24 Mazurkas, Nos. 21-24 Anna Ciborowska, piano Caprice sur la romance de Joconde in E major Carole Carniel, piano Fantaisie in F major Cotillon, ou valse figurée Nocturne in B flat major Sławomir P Dobrzański, piano 18 Dances of Different Genres, Nos. 9-12 & No.18
2023	04 LAST	Joseph Joachim	20231229	Donald Macleod examines how violinist Joseph Joachim found himself at the centre of fierce musical and personal rivalries. The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – particularly if you had the talent and star-power to attract audiences in large numbers! A new breed of performer began to emerge: extraordinary virtuosos whose dazzling abilities made them into international sensations. Liszt, Chopin, Clara Schumann and Paganini are among the names best remembered today but there were many others. This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of four more 19th-century ‘showstoppers' who were equally celebrated in their day, and who also turned their talents to composing. Today, we follow the fortunes of one of the greatest violinists of the 19th century. Joseph Joachim was a new breed of virtuoso, a humble and generous musician who was determined to put his considerable abilities at the service of the music and composers he most admired. But he could also be stubborn and jealous, leading him to fall out with friends and mentors, and even to sabotage his own marriage. 3 Stücke, Op.2, No.1, Romanze Rainer Schmidt, violin; Saiko Sasaki, piano Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major (1st movt cadenza by Joseph Joachim) Henryk Szeryng, violin, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink Joachim: Notturno Op.12 Daniel Hope, violin, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sakari Oramo Quartettsatz Israel String Quartet Violin Concerto No.2 in D minor, Op.11 'A la hongroise': III. Finale alla Zingara: Allegro con spirito Christian Tetzlaff, violin, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, directed by Thomas Dausgaard Donald Macleod explores Joachim's story of faithful admirers and broken friendships.