Schubert - Swansong

Schubert - Swansong

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2016

The Beginning Of The End

20161107

Donald Macleod explores the remarkable and prolific final year of Schubert's life, during which he battled failing health to compose a succession of masterpieces.

There are few composers whose genius is so fertile that you can make a whole week of programmes from a single year of their life. Yet even by Franz Schubert's remarkably prolific standards, his last 12 months were utterly extraordinary. As his body entered terminal decline through a mixture of alcoholism and syphilis, masterpiece upon masterpiece poured from his pen: the String Quintet in C, the delirious last three piano sonatas, his Mass in E flat, the last collection of lieder, posthumously titled 'Swansong' - and many more besides. This week Donald Macleod takes us through the last year of Schubert's tragically foreshortened life and death at the age of only 31.

Donald Macleod begins the week with Schubert's last - typically boozy - New Year's Eve party, of 1827/8, before introducing his last collection of songs, cobbled together and titled 'Swansong' by his publisher after the composer's death. We'll hear excerpt from the set, sung by some of the greatest contemporary interpreters of Schubert's work, all week.

Die Taubenpost (Schwanengesang)

Matthias Goerne, baritone

Christoph Eschenbach, piano

Piano Trio in E flat, D929 - II. Andante

Trio Wanderer

Fantasy in C major, D934

Vineta Sareika, violin

Amandine Savary, piano

Impromptu in F minor, D935 no.4

Mitsuko Uchida, piano

Liebesbotschaft (Schwanengesang)

Christoph Eschenbach, piano.

Donald Macleod discusses Schubert's last New Year's Eve party and final song collection.

2016

Foreboding And Fantasy

20161108

Donald Macleod continues his exploration of the extraordinary last year of Schubert's life. Featuring excerpts all week from his final song collection Schwanengesang (Swansong).

There are few composers whose genius is so fertile that you can make a whole week of programmes from a single year of their life. Yet even by Franz Schubert's remarkably prolific standards, his last 12 months were utterly extraordinary. As his body entered terminal decline through a mixture of alcoholism and syphilis, masterpiece upon masterpiece poured from his pen: the String Quintet in C, the delirious last three piano sonatas, his Mass in E Flat, the last collection of lieder, posthumously titled 'Swansong' - and many more besides. This week Donald Macleod takes us through the last year of Schubert's tragically foreshortened life and death at the age of only 31.

In early 1828, as Schubert's close friends become variously engaged and married, he sinks deeper into loneliness and depression. Donald Macleod explores Schubert's brooding personality, and the ongoing debate regarding his sexuality.

Kriegers Ahnung (Schwanengesang)

James Rutherford, baritone

Eugene Asti, piano

Die Hochzeitsbraten

Marlis Petersen, soprano, Werner Güra, tenor, Konrad Jarnot, bass, Christoph Berner, fortepiano

Der Kreuzzug, D932

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone

Gerald Moore, piano

Fantasy in F minor for piano duet, D940

Leon Fleisher, Katherine Jacobson, piano four hands

Frühlingssehnsucht; St䀀ndchen; Aufenthalt (Schwanengesang)

Eugene Asti, piano.

Exploring Schubert's brooding personality and the ongoing debate regarding his sexuality.

2016

Dona Nobis Pacem

20161109

Donald Macleod continues his journey through Franz Schubert's final year of life - and the towering late masterpieces he composed.

As spring turns to summer in 1828, Schubert's attention is taken first with the touring violin virtuoso Paganini, and then his own deep Christian faith, as he composes the last - and possibly finest - setting of the Mass.

Psalm 92, D953

Elmar Schoter, baritone

Capella Bavariae

Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor

Rondeau in A, D951

Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, piano duet

Sanctus; Benedictus; Agnus Dei (Mass in E flat, D950)

Susan Gritton, soprano, Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo-soprano, Mark Padmore, tenor, James Gilchrist, tenor, Matthew Rose, bass

Collegium Musicum 90

Richard Hickox, conductor

In der ferne; Abschied (Schwanengesang)

Christoph Pr退gardien, tenor

Andreas Staier, piano.

Donald Macleod explores Schubert's final mass setting and his interest in Paganini.

2016

Franz Is Unwell

20161110

Donald Macleod explores music Schubert wrote in his very final weeks - a period that included some of his greatest works, including three piano sonatas and the String Quintet in C.

Donald Macleod explores the murky question of what actually killed Schubert. He also introduces music composed in the very final weeks of Schubert's short life - including two of his remarkable late trio of piano sonatas played by the acclaimed Schubert interpreter Mitsuko Uchida.

Glaube, Hoffnung und Liebe!, D955

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone

Gerald Moore, piano

Piano Sonata in C minor, D958: IV. Allegro

Mitsuko Uchida, piano

String Quintet in C, D956: III. Scherzo and Trio; IV. Allegro

Gautier Capu瀀on, cello

Quatuor Ebene

Piano Sonata in A, D959: II. Andantino

Der Atlas; Ihr Bild; Das Fischerm䀀dchen (Schwanengesang)

Robert Holl, bass-baritone

Roger Vignoles, piano.

Donald Macleod on what killed Schubert. Plus music the composer wrote in his final weeks.

2016

05 LAST

Passing Into Legend

20161111

Donald Macleod explores Schubert's very final works, and the colossal hole he left in music after his premature death.

Donald Macleod ends this week exploring the final year of Schubert's life by exploring the immediate impact of his death upon 19th century musical circles. As well as completing the sequence of songs from Schubert's final collection, Schwanengesang, he presents a unique, remarkable 'rendering' of the composer's incomplete Tenth Symphony by the modern Italian master Luciano Berio.

Die Stadt (Schwanengesang)

Mark Padmore, tenor

Paul Lewis, piano

Piano Sonata in B flat, D960: II. Andante sostenuto

Mitsuko Uchida, piano

Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D965

Ailish Tynan, soprano

Michael Collins, clarinet

Malcolm Martineau, piano

Berio/Schubert:

Rendering: II. Andante

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Edward Gardner, conductor

Am Meer; Der Doppelg䀀nger (Schwanengesang)

Paul Lewis, piano.

Donald Macleod explores Schubert's very last works and his musical legacy.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2016	01	The Beginning Of The End	20161107	Donald Macleod explores the remarkable and prolific final year of Schubert's life, during which he battled failing health to compose a succession of masterpieces. There are few composers whose genius is so fertile that you can make a whole week of programmes from a single year of their life. Yet even by Franz Schubert's remarkably prolific standards, his last 12 months were utterly extraordinary. As his body entered terminal decline through a mixture of alcoholism and syphilis, masterpiece upon masterpiece poured from his pen: the String Quintet in C, the delirious last three piano sonatas, his Mass in E flat, the last collection of lieder, posthumously titled 'Swansong' - and many more besides. This week Donald Macleod takes us through the last year of Schubert's tragically foreshortened life and death at the age of only 31. Donald Macleod begins the week with Schubert's last - typically boozy - New Year's Eve party, of 1827/8, before introducing his last collection of songs, cobbled together and titled 'Swansong' by his publisher after the composer's death. We'll hear excerpt from the set, sung by some of the greatest contemporary interpreters of Schubert's work, all week. Die Taubenpost (Schwanengesang) Matthias Goerne, baritone Christoph Eschenbach, piano Piano Trio in E flat, D929 - II. Andante Trio Wanderer Fantasy in C major, D934 Vineta Sareika, violin Amandine Savary, piano Impromptu in F minor, D935 no.4 Mitsuko Uchida, piano Liebesbotschaft (Schwanengesang) Christoph Eschenbach, piano. Donald Macleod discusses Schubert's last New Year's Eve party and final song collection.
2016	02	Foreboding And Fantasy	20161108	Donald Macleod continues his exploration of the extraordinary last year of Schubert's life. Featuring excerpts all week from his final song collection Schwanengesang (Swansong). There are few composers whose genius is so fertile that you can make a whole week of programmes from a single year of their life. Yet even by Franz Schubert's remarkably prolific standards, his last 12 months were utterly extraordinary. As his body entered terminal decline through a mixture of alcoholism and syphilis, masterpiece upon masterpiece poured from his pen: the String Quintet in C, the delirious last three piano sonatas, his Mass in E Flat, the last collection of lieder, posthumously titled 'Swansong' - and many more besides. This week Donald Macleod takes us through the last year of Schubert's tragically foreshortened life and death at the age of only 31. In early 1828, as Schubert's close friends become variously engaged and married, he sinks deeper into loneliness and depression. Donald Macleod explores Schubert's brooding personality, and the ongoing debate regarding his sexuality. Kriegers Ahnung (Schwanengesang) James Rutherford, baritone Eugene Asti, piano Die Hochzeitsbraten Marlis Petersen, soprano, Werner Güra, tenor, Konrad Jarnot, bass, Christoph Berner, fortepiano Der Kreuzzug, D932 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone Gerald Moore, piano Fantasy in F minor for piano duet, D940 Leon Fleisher, Katherine Jacobson, piano four hands Frühlingssehnsucht; St䀀ndchen; Aufenthalt (Schwanengesang) Eugene Asti, piano. Exploring Schubert's brooding personality and the ongoing debate regarding his sexuality.
2016	03	Dona Nobis Pacem	20161109	Donald Macleod continues his journey through Franz Schubert's final year of life - and the towering late masterpieces he composed. There are few composers whose genius is so fertile that you can make a whole week of programmes from a single year of their life. Yet even by Franz Schubert's remarkably prolific standards, his last 12 months were utterly extraordinary. As his body entered terminal decline through a mixture of alcoholism and syphilis, masterpiece upon masterpiece poured from his pen: the String Quintet in C, the delirious last three piano sonatas, his Mass in E flat, the last collection of lieder, posthumously titled 'Swansong' - and many more besides. This week Donald Macleod takes us through the last year of Schubert's tragically foreshortened life and death at the age of only 31. As spring turns to summer in 1828, Schubert's attention is taken first with the touring violin virtuoso Paganini, and then his own deep Christian faith, as he composes the last - and possibly finest - setting of the Mass. Psalm 92, D953 Elmar Schoter, baritone Capella Bavariae Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor Rondeau in A, D951 Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, piano duet Sanctus; Benedictus; Agnus Dei (Mass in E flat, D950) Susan Gritton, soprano, Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo-soprano, Mark Padmore, tenor, James Gilchrist, tenor, Matthew Rose, bass Collegium Musicum 90 Richard Hickox, conductor In der ferne; Abschied (Schwanengesang) Christoph Pr退gardien, tenor Andreas Staier, piano. Donald Macleod explores Schubert's final mass setting and his interest in Paganini.
2016	04	Franz Is Unwell	20161110	Donald Macleod explores music Schubert wrote in his very final weeks - a period that included some of his greatest works, including three piano sonatas and the String Quintet in C. There are few composers whose genius is so fertile that you can make a whole week of programmes from a single year of their life. Yet even by Franz Schubert's remarkably prolific standards, his last 12 months were utterly extraordinary. As his body entered terminal decline through a mixture of alcoholism and syphilis, masterpiece upon masterpiece poured from his pen: the String Quintet in C, the delirious last three piano sonatas, his Mass in E flat, the last collection of lieder, posthumously titled 'Swansong' - and many more besides. This week Donald Macleod takes us through the last year of Schubert's tragically foreshortened life and death at the age of only 31. Donald Macleod explores the murky question of what actually killed Schubert. He also introduces music composed in the very final weeks of Schubert's short life - including two of his remarkable late trio of piano sonatas played by the acclaimed Schubert interpreter Mitsuko Uchida. Glaube, Hoffnung und Liebe!, D955 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone Gerald Moore, piano Piano Sonata in C minor, D958: IV. Allegro Mitsuko Uchida, piano String Quintet in C, D956: III. Scherzo and Trio; IV. Allegro Gautier Capu瀀on, cello Quatuor Ebene Piano Sonata in A, D959: II. Andantino Der Atlas; Ihr Bild; Das Fischerm䀀dchen (Schwanengesang) Robert Holl, bass-baritone Roger Vignoles, piano. Donald Macleod on what killed Schubert. Plus music the composer wrote in his final weeks.
2016	05 LAST	Passing Into Legend	20161111	Donald Macleod explores Schubert's very final works, and the colossal hole he left in music after his premature death. There are few composers whose genius is so fertile that you can make a whole week of programmes from a single year of their life. Yet even by Franz Schubert's remarkably prolific standards, his last 12 months were utterly extraordinary. As his body entered terminal decline through a mixture of alcoholism and syphilis, masterpiece upon masterpiece poured from his pen: the String Quintet in C, the delirious last three piano sonatas, his Mass in E flat, the last collection of lieder, posthumously titled 'Swansong' - and many more besides. This week Donald Macleod takes us through the last year of Schubert's tragically foreshortened life and death at the age of only 31. Donald Macleod ends this week exploring the final year of Schubert's life by exploring the immediate impact of his death upon 19th century musical circles. As well as completing the sequence of songs from Schubert's final collection, Schwanengesang, he presents a unique, remarkable 'rendering' of the composer's incomplete Tenth Symphony by the modern Italian master Luciano Berio. Die Stadt (Schwanengesang) Mark Padmore, tenor Paul Lewis, piano Piano Sonata in B flat, D960: II. Andante sostenuto Mitsuko Uchida, piano Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D965 Ailish Tynan, soprano Michael Collins, clarinet Malcolm Martineau, piano Berio/Schubert: Rendering: II. Andante Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra Edward Gardner, conductor Am Meer; Der Doppelg䀀nger (Schwanengesang) Paul Lewis, piano. Donald Macleod explores Schubert's very last works and his musical legacy.