Episodes
Series | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Marie And Alfred Ja\u00ebll | 20200901 | 20230711 (R3) | Donald Macleod explores the marriage of two virtuoso pianists, Marie Trautmann and Alfred Ja뀀ll For the first time in the history of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Marie Ja뀀ll [1846-1925]. Ja뀀ll was a piano prodigy, a composer across a wide spectrum of genres including opera and chamber music, and a revolutionary when it came to the art of teaching and playing the piano. She knew many distinguished musicians including Liszt, Saint-Sa뀀ns, C退sar Franck, Brahms, Faur退 and Rossini, but hers is a name which has been largely forgotten. Donald Macleod this week uncovers Ja뀀ll's music, and tells her story. In this programme, Donald Macleod explores the period in which Marie Trautmann met and married Alfred Ja뀀ll. Both were virtuoso pianists, and Alfred had a highly distinguished career as a performer, having settled in the USA for three years, and performing in 400 concerts during that time. His own teachers were Czerny and Moscheles, and once they married in 1866, Alfred and Marie pursued their own careers as concert pianists. Alfred would promote the music of his wife Marie in his own concerts. Despite their compatibility, Marie confided to friends that she was concerned that marriage would impact upon her individuality. However, the marriage was not to last for long, for in 1882 Alfred, after a period of illness, died of tuberculosis. Armour brûlant (La L退gende des ours) Chantal Santon-Jeffery, soprano Brussels Philharmonic Herv退 Niquet, director Album Leaf Alexandre Sorel, piano Dans les flammes (18 Pi耀ces d'apr耀s la lecture de Dante) Cora Irsen, piano Cello Sonata Lisa Erb耀s, cello Lara Erb耀s, piano Donald Macleod delves into Marie Trautmann's marriage to Alfred Ja\u00ebll. |
2020 | Marie Ja\u00ebll And Franz Liszt | 20200902 | Donald Macleod explores the friendship and subsequent impact of Franz Liszt upon Marie Ja뀀ll For the first time in the history of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Marie Ja뀀ll [1846-1925]. Ja뀀ll was a piano prodigy, a composer across a wide spectrum of genres including opera and chamber music, and a revolutionary when it came to the art of teaching and playing the piano. She knew many distinguished musicians including Liszt, Saint-Sa뀀ns, C退sar Franck, Brahms, Faur退 and Rossini, but hers is a name which has been largely forgotten. Donald Macleod this week uncovers Ja뀀ll's music, and tells her story. Marie Ja뀀ll claimed that hearing Franz Liszt perform was one of the most important experiences in her life. She said that once Liszt began to play, all her powers of hearing seemed to be transformed. A friendship developed between the two, and soon she was sending him her compositions to look over. Liszt edited some of her music, including her collection of Twelve Waltzes for piano, which he also performed with Saint-Sa뀀ns at Bayreuth. The relationship worked both ways, and Ja뀀ll edited his third Mephisto Waltz. After the death of her husband, Ja뀀ll would often stay in Weimar with Liszt, sometimes acting as his secretary - although she detested the group of admirers who surrounded him. Dein (Five Lieder) Catherine Dubosc, soprano Lara Erb耀s, piano Douze Valses et Finale Lidija Bizjak, piano Sanja Bizjak, piano Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor David Violi, piano Orchestre national de Lille Joseph Swensen, director Sphinx Cora Irsen, piano Donald Macleod delves into the relationship between Marie Ja\u00ebll and Franz Liszt. | |
2020 | Marie Ja\u00ebll And Isolation | 20200904 | 20230713 (R3) | Donald Macleod delves into the final years of scientific exploration and isolation for Marie Ja뀀ll For the first time in the history of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Marie Ja뀀ll [1846-1925]. Ja뀀ll was a piano prodigy, a composer across a wide spectrum of genres including opera and chamber music, and a revolutionary when it came to the art of teaching and playing the piano. She knew many distinguished musicians including Liszt, Saint-Sa뀀ns, C退sar Franck, Brahms, Faur退 and Rossini, but hers is a name which has been largely forgotten. Donald Macleod this week uncovers Ja뀀ll's music, and tells her story. In the last few decades of Marie Ja뀀ll's life, she turned her back on performing and composing, and devoted her time to studying the art of touch in keyboard playing, theorising, publishing books and articles, and teaching. Ja뀀ll also collaborated with the physiologist Dr F退r退, and they devised together a system of exercises intended to realise the potential of each individual finger. Ja뀀ll was pushing boundaries, but her friends started to feel she was going too far: in her research, she became fascinated with the rhythms of life, and would study the movement of trees. At the same time, she became increasingly isolated, and would often refuse people entry to her home if they called without an appointment. 6 Melancholy Waltzes: No 5 in A minor; No 3 in G sharp minor Alexandre Sorel, piano Ce qu'on entend dans le Paradis (18 Pieces for piano after reading Dante) Cora Irsen, piano Pieces for Children D退sirs ardents; Amour involontaire; Union malheureuse; ɀpilogue (La L退gende des ours) Chantal Santon-Jeffery, soprano Brussels Philharmonic Herv退 Niquet, director Donald Macleod explores Marie Ja\u00ebll's final years. |
2020 | Marie Ja\u00ebll The Pianist | 20200831 | 20230710 (R3) | Donald Macleod delves into the life and career of piano prodigy Marie Ja뀀ll For the first time in the history of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Marie Ja뀀ll [1846-1925]. Ja뀀ll was a piano prodigy, a composer across a wide spectrum of genres including opera and chamber music, and a revolutionary when it came to the art of teaching and playing the piano. She knew many distinguished musicians including Liszt, Saint-Sa뀀ns, C退sar Franck, Brahms, Faur退 and Rossini, but hers is a name which has been largely forgotten. Donald Macleod this week uncovers Ja뀀ll's music, and tells her story. Marie Ja뀀ll took to the piano as a young girl, giving public concerts from the age of nine. One reviewer compared her to Clara Schumann, and her reputation was such that she toured Europe and performed for Queen Victoria. She studied at the Paris Conservatoire from the age of sixteen, and by 1866, had met and married the virtuoso pianist Alfred Ja뀀ll. Husband and wife embarked on a programme of touring as pianists, and Marie would go on to collaborate with the piano manufacturer Pleyel, to promote their instruments. In 1894, Marie Ja뀀ll turned her back on the concert platform, to focus more on developing her method of playing the piano. Aube (Promenade matinale, esquisses pour piano) Cora Irsen, piano Dans le doute; Essaim de mouches; Entrainement (Promenade matinale, esquisses pour piano) Folies d'ours (La L退gende des ours) Chantal Santon-Jeffery, soprano Brussels Philharmonic Herv退 Niquet, director Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor Romain Descharmes, piano Orchestre national de Lille Joseph Swensen, director Reflets Chantants (Prisme. Probl耀mes en musique) Donald Macleod explores the music of piano prodigy Marie Ja\u00ebll. |
2020 | Marie Ja\u00ebll: Composer And Scientist | 20200903 | 20230712 (R3) | Donald Macleod explores Marie Ja뀀ll's change in career from composer to exploring the science and art of touch For the first time in the history of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Marie Ja뀀ll [1846-1925]. Ja뀀ll was a piano prodigy, a composer across a wide spectrum of genres including opera and chamber music, and a revolutionary when it came to the art of teaching and playing the piano. She knew many distinguished musicians including Liszt, Saint-Sa뀀ns, C退sar Franck, Brahms, Faur退 and Rossini, but hers is a name which has been largely forgotten. Donald Macleod this week uncovers Ja뀀ll's music, and tells her story. Marie Ja뀀ll always had a broad range of interests, reading widely in morality, religion and science. She turned away from her life as a concert pianist to focusing more on composition, writing in many genres - her willpower and determination generating for her the nickname `volcano`. At the recommendation of Faure and Saint-Sa뀀ns, Ja뀀ll became one of the first women to be accepted into the French Society of Composers. However she was soon exploring new avenues, including the art of touch at the keyboard. She'd eventually give up composing altogether and, through scientific experimentation and study, focus on piano technique, believing that her soul was at the end of her fingertips. Reflets dansants (Prisme. Probl耀mes en musique) Cora Irsen, piano Cello Concerto in A Minor Xavier Phillips, cello Brussels Philharmonic Herv退 Niquet, director Ce qu'on entend dans le Purgatoire (18 Pi耀ces d'apr耀s la lecture de Dante) Rꀀverie; Clair de lune (Les Orientales) Catherine Dubosc, soprano Lara Erb耀s, piano Donald Macleod looks into Marie Ja\u00ebll's journey from composition to science. |