Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2010

Early Years

20100920

Although he's responsible for some of the best known Spanish guitar pieces in the repertoire, Isaac Alb退niz didn't actually write any of them originally for that instrument. They are in fact all transcriptions and arrangements of some of the wealth of piano music he produced throughout his career. This week Donald Macleod introduces a selection of Alb退niz's piano music, both in its original form and in a variety of other guises, including his masterpiece 'Iberia'. There's also a chance to hear Alb退niz's two pieces for piano and orchestra, his only purely orchestral work and extracts from his rarely performed operas, which came to fruition thanks to an intriguing collaboration with an English businessman with a passion for poetry.

From an early age, Alb退niz made a good living as a highly respected pianist in his native Spain, and it wasn't long before his reputation spread to France and Britain. At first, composition followed in the wake of his performing career, though not for long. As well as producing a large quantity of elegant salon music, Alb退niz began writing more Spanish-style pieces, in which he adapted traditional dances with their characteristic rhythms and tunes. In programme one, Donald Macleod introduces a selection of these works from Alb退niz's formative years, including one of just two pieces he wrote for piano and orchestra - his Rapsodia Espaကola.

Donald Macleod begins with works from Albeniz's formative years.

2010

Paris And Fame

20100921

Soon after his marriage Albeniz moved to Madrid and continued his flourishing performing career there. A series of recitals at the 1888 Universal Exhibition in Barcelona caused such a sensation that he was invited to perform in Paris where he again received rave reviews. Donald Macleod introduces Albeniz's Concerto Fantastico which he'd played to great acclaim in both cities, together with another of his Spanish style piano works, and his charming, and very classical, fourth piano sonata.

The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.

2010

Opera Collaborations With Francis Money-coutts

20100922

While living in London Alb退niz met the solicitor, poet and aspiring librettist Francis Money-Coutts with whom he signed an exclusive contract for ten years. Coutts provided Alb退niz with a secure income and collaborated with him on three operas with varying degrees of success. Donald Macleod introduces extracts from two of those joint ventures, one based on a popular novel by a contemporary Spanish writer, and the other, a very English opera set in the time of the Wars of the Roses.

The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.

2010

Inspirations

20100923

By 1897, Albeniz was living in Paris, where he not only continued his dual roles of pianist and composer but he had also begun teaching. He and his patron Francis Money-Coutts now launched into another major collaboration in which they intended to produce a trilogy of operas based on the story of King Arthur and in doing so create an English national opera. Donald Macleod introduces an extract from the first and only one of the three operas actually completed, a piano work inspired by the countryside around Granada, and a performance of Albeniz's only purely orchestral work, evoking the songs and dances of a typical Spanish fiesta.

The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.

2010

05 LAST

Iberia

20100924

In the last five years of his life, Albeniz was in constant pain from a kidney infection, but it was during that time that he wrote his masterpiece - a cycle of piano pieces called 'Iberia', each evoking different aspects of Spain. Donald Macleod devotes the whole of the final programme to this remarkable work, playing extracts from it, both in its original form for piano and in various arrangements, finishing with an exuberant version of a trio of pieces for guitar and orchestra, brilliantly evoking Albeniz's beloved Andalucia.

The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2010	01	Early Years	20100920	Although he's responsible for some of the best known Spanish guitar pieces in the repertoire, Isaac Alb退niz didn't actually write any of them originally for that instrument. They are in fact all transcriptions and arrangements of some of the wealth of piano music he produced throughout his career. This week Donald Macleod introduces a selection of Alb退niz's piano music, both in its original form and in a variety of other guises, including his masterpiece 'Iberia'. There's also a chance to hear Alb退niz's two pieces for piano and orchestra, his only purely orchestral work and extracts from his rarely performed operas, which came to fruition thanks to an intriguing collaboration with an English businessman with a passion for poetry. From an early age, Alb退niz made a good living as a highly respected pianist in his native Spain, and it wasn't long before his reputation spread to France and Britain. At first, composition followed in the wake of his performing career, though not for long. As well as producing a large quantity of elegant salon music, Alb退niz began writing more Spanish-style pieces, in which he adapted traditional dances with their characteristic rhythms and tunes. In programme one, Donald Macleod introduces a selection of these works from Alb退niz's formative years, including one of just two pieces he wrote for piano and orchestra - his Rapsodia Espaကola. Donald Macleod begins with works from Albeniz's formative years.
2010	02	Paris And Fame	20100921	Soon after his marriage Albeniz moved to Madrid and continued his flourishing performing career there. A series of recitals at the 1888 Universal Exhibition in Barcelona caused such a sensation that he was invited to perform in Paris where he again received rave reviews. Donald Macleod introduces Albeniz's Concerto Fantastico which he'd played to great acclaim in both cities, together with another of his Spanish style piano works, and his charming, and very classical, fourth piano sonata. The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.
2010	03	Opera Collaborations With Francis Money-coutts	20100922	While living in London Alb退niz met the solicitor, poet and aspiring librettist Francis Money-Coutts with whom he signed an exclusive contract for ten years. Coutts provided Alb退niz with a secure income and collaborated with him on three operas with varying degrees of success. Donald Macleod introduces extracts from two of those joint ventures, one based on a popular novel by a contemporary Spanish writer, and the other, a very English opera set in the time of the Wars of the Roses. The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.
2010	04	Inspirations	20100923	By 1897, Albeniz was living in Paris, where he not only continued his dual roles of pianist and composer but he had also begun teaching. He and his patron Francis Money-Coutts now launched into another major collaboration in which they intended to produce a trilogy of operas based on the story of King Arthur and in doing so create an English national opera. Donald Macleod introduces an extract from the first and only one of the three operas actually completed, a piano work inspired by the countryside around Granada, and a performance of Albeniz's only purely orchestral work, evoking the songs and dances of a typical Spanish fiesta. The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.
2010	05 LAST	Iberia	20100924	In the last five years of his life, Albeniz was in constant pain from a kidney infection, but it was during that time that he wrote his masterpiece - a cycle of piano pieces called 'Iberia', each evoking different aspects of Spain. Donald Macleod devotes the whole of the final programme to this remarkable work, playing extracts from it, both in its original form for piano and in various arrangements, finishing with an exuberant version of a trio of pieces for guitar and orchestra, brilliantly evoking Albeniz's beloved Andalucia. The life and music of this colourful Spanish composer, introduced by Donald Macleod.