Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Beginning of the End | 20161107 | Donald Macleod discusses Schubert's last New Year's Eve party and final song collection. Donald Macleod offers a weekly guide to composers and their music. |
| 02 | Foreboding and Fantasy | 20161108 | Exploring Schubert's brooding personality and the ongoing debate regarding his sexuality. Donald Macleod offers a weekly guide to composers and their music. |
| 03 | Dona Nobis Pacem | 20161109 | Donald Macleod explores Schubert's final mass setting and his interest in Paganini. Donald Macleod offers a weekly guide to composers and their music. |
| 04 | Franz is Unwell | 20161110 | Donald Macleod on what killed Schubert. Plus music the composer wrote in his final weeks. Donald Macleod offers a weekly guide to composers and their music. |
| 05 | Passing into Legend | 20161111 | Donald Macleod explores Schubert's very last works and his musical legacy. Donald Macleod offers a weekly guide to composers and their music. |
| 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) Donald Macleod discusses Schubert's last New Year's Eve party and final song collection.
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. |
| 02 | Foreboding And Fantasy | 20161108 | Exploring Schubert's brooding personality and the ongoing debate regarding his sexuality. 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; Ständchen; Aufenthalt (Schwanengesang) 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.
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| 03 | Dona Nobis Pacem | 20161109 | Donald Macleod explores Schubert's final mass setting and his interest in Paganini. 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 Prégardien, tenor Andreas Staier, piano. 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.
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| 04 | Franz Is Unwell | 20161110 | Donald Macleod on what killed Schubert. Plus music the composer wrote in his final weeks. 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 Capuçon, cello Quatuor Ebene Piano Sonata in A, D959: II. Andantino Der Atlas; Ihr Bild; Das Fischermädchen (Schwanengesang) Robert Holl, bass-baritone Roger Vignoles, piano. 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.
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| 05 | Passing Into Legend | 20161111 | Donald Macleod explores Schubert's very last works and his musical legacy. 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 Doppelgänger (Schwanengesang) 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.
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