William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2016

The English Hummel

20160411

William Sterndale Bennett makes a name for himself as a concert pianist, and is dubbed the English Hummel, presented by Donald Macleod.

Reckoned by some as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic School, Sir William Sterndale Bennett first made a significant name for himself in Germany as a composer and concert pianist. He became close friends with Mendelssohn and Schumann, and once his career started to develop back in England, he rose to become one of the country's most eminent musicians teaching at Cambridge, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Director of the Philharmonic Society. Dr Peter Horton discusses the importance of Sterndale Bennett's piano music, whilst the composer's great-great-grandson Barry Sterndale Bennett introduces the listener to scores, letters and diaries held at the Bodleian Library.

With the death of William Sterndale Bennett's parents when he was very young, he went to live with his grandparents in Cambridge where his music lessons progressed. At the age of eight he became a chorister at King's College, and within a few years was sent off to the Royal Academy of Music where his talents impressed his audition panel. Not many of his early works survive, but part of his first symphony he later reworked into a motet, In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust. Bennett was also making a name for himself as a pianist performing concertos by Dussek and Hummel. He composed his first Piano Concerto in D minor at the age of seventeen in 1832. Mendelssohn was so greatly impressed when hearing Bennett perform this work in London, that he invited the younger composer to Germany not as his pupil, but as his friend.

Butterfly, Op 33 No 5 (30 Preludes and Lessons)

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Piano Sextet in F Sharp Minor, Op 8 (2nd mvt)

Ilona Prunyi, piano

Andrကs Kiss, violin

Ferenc Balogh, violin

Lကszl　 Bကrsony, viola

Kကroly Botvay, cello

P退ter Kubina, double bass

In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, WoO 84

BBC Singers

Rupert Jeffcoat, organ

Stephen Cleobury, conductor

Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor, Op 1

Malcolm Binns, piano

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor

Etude No 6, Op 11

Producer Luke Whitlock.

How Bennett made a name for himself as a concert pianist and was dubbed the English Hummel

2016

An Angel Musician

20160412

Sterndale Bennett visits Germany and is dubbed an Angel Musician by Robert Schumann, presented by Donald Macleod.

Life for Sterndale Bennett in London during the early 1830s was hard. He was busy composing and trying to earn money where he could, such as becoming organist at St Anne's in Wandsworth. It was during this period that he made his first visit to Germany where he kept a diary of his daily activities, including meetings with Mendelssohn and evenings drinking with Schumann. During this visit Bennett took a trip up the Rhine, and it was here that he got the inspiration for his concert overture The Naiades. Bennett during this visit dedicated his first Piano Sonata to Mendelssohn as a wedding present. It was also during this period that Schumann heard the young Englishman perform, and dubbed him an Angel Musician.

Etude No 2, Op 11

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Piano Concerto No 2 in E flat major, Op 4 (1st mvt)

Malcolm Binns, piano

Philharmonic Orchestra

Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor

The Naiades Overture, Op 15

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Dirk Joeres, conductor

Piano Sonata No 1 in F minor, Op 13 (2nd mvt)

Ilona Prunyi, piano

Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? WoO 57

BBC Singers

Rupert Jeffcoat, organ

Stephen Cleobury, conductor

Producer Luke Whitlock.

Donald Macleod discusses Bennett's visit to Germany and the time he performed for Schumann

2016

Honoured, By Mendelssohn

20160413

Sterndale Bennett becomes the first person to hear Mendelssohn's just completed Scottish Symphony, presented by Donald Macleod.

Sterndale Bennett made a number of visits to Germany during his early career, where his friendship with both Mendelssohn and Schumann flourished. Schumann upon hearing Bennett's Caprice in E major, described it as a lovely flower bouquet, fresh and fragrant, beautifully coloured. He was even more generous upon hearing Bennett's overture The Wood Nymphs, rating it above similar works by Mendelssohn, Spohr, and Weber. Mendelssohn too also greatly honoured Bennett, treating him to a private play through of his Scottish Symphony completed that very day. It was during this period that the young Englishman made his debut with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, performing his own third Piano Concerto, whilst back on these shores he became engaged, and married Miss Mary Wood.

Caprice in E major, Op 22

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Howard Shelley, pianist and conductor

The Wood Nymphs Overture, Op 20

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor

Two Characteristic Studies, Op 29

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Come, live with me, WoO 47

David James, countertenor

Paul Elliott, tenor

Leigh Nixon, tenor

Paul Hillier, bass

Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor, Op 9 (3rd mvt)

Malcolm Binns, piano

Producer Luke Whitlock.

Donald Macleod focuses on Bennett's friendships with Schumann and Mendelssohn.

2016

Bennett And Moscheles

20160414

Sterndale Bennett becomes firmly established as a teacher, performer and composer in London, presented by Donald Macleod.

With the departure of Moscheles from the London music scene, and students now looking for a new piano teacher, Sterndale Bennett was able to develop his own career further. He was given the honour of conducting at Moscheles's farewell concert, and dedicated his own Piano Concerto No 4 in F minor to Moscheles. In the late 1840s Bennett received the sad news that his friend Mendelssohn had died. He wrote to a fellow musician, that he'd lost the dearest and kindest friend he'd ever had. Around this same time came a disagreement with the conductor Michael Costa, which was to have ramifications for the rest of Bennett's life. On top of those sad events, combined with the many hours teaching Bennett undertook daily, he did manage to continue composing.

Piano Sextet in F Sharp Minor, Op 8 (3rd mvt)

Ilona Prunyi, piano

Andrကs Kiss, violin

Ferenc Balogh, violin

Lကszl　 Bကrsony, viola

Kကroly Botvay, cello

P退ter Kubina, double bass

Piano Concerto No 4 in F minor, Op 19

BBC Scottish Symphony

Howard Shelley, pianist and conductor

Remember now thy creator, WoO 54

Emma Tring, soprano

Rebecca Lodge, soprano

BBC Singers

Rupert Jeffcoat, organ

Stephen Cleobury, conductor

February, WoO 56

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Producer Luke Whitlock.

How Bennett became firmly established as a teacher, performer and composer in London.

2016

05 LAST

Buried Near Purcell

20160415

Sterndale Bennett with appointments in Cambridge and London becomes a national treasure, presented by Donald Macleod.

William Sterndale Bennett had made it to the pinnacle of musical society in England. Appointed professor of music in Cambridge, he soon also found himself principal of the Royal Academy of Music. He still continued to compose in the last twenty years of his life, including a commission for his overture The May Queen, to celebrate the opening of Leeds Town Hall by Queen Victoria. Also, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Philharmonic Society Bennett wrote a programmatic work, his fantasy overture Paradise and the Peri. When Sir William Sterndale Bennett died in 1875, his status in the land was such that he was buried in Westminster Abbey, not far from Purcell.

The May Queen, Op 39 (Overture)

BBC Symphony Orchestra

James Feddeck, conductor

Paradise and the Peri Fantasy Overture, Op 42

God is a Spirit, Op 44 (The Woman of Samaria)

BBC Singers

Stephen Cleobury, conductor

Lord, to thee our song we raise, WoO 70

The Maid of Orleans, Sonata in A flat major, Op 46 (1st and 2nd mvt)

Ian Hobson, piano

Symphony in G minor, Op 43 (4th mvt)

Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra

Douglas Bostock, conductor

Producer Luke Whitlock.

Donald Macleod focuses on Bennett's successful final years.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2016	01	The English Hummel	20160411	William Sterndale Bennett makes a name for himself as a concert pianist, and is dubbed the English Hummel, presented by Donald Macleod. Reckoned by some as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic School, Sir William Sterndale Bennett first made a significant name for himself in Germany as a composer and concert pianist. He became close friends with Mendelssohn and Schumann, and once his career started to develop back in England, he rose to become one of the country's most eminent musicians teaching at Cambridge, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Director of the Philharmonic Society. Dr Peter Horton discusses the importance of Sterndale Bennett's piano music, whilst the composer's great-great-grandson Barry Sterndale Bennett introduces the listener to scores, letters and diaries held at the Bodleian Library. With the death of William Sterndale Bennett's parents when he was very young, he went to live with his grandparents in Cambridge where his music lessons progressed. At the age of eight he became a chorister at King's College, and within a few years was sent off to the Royal Academy of Music where his talents impressed his audition panel. Not many of his early works survive, but part of his first symphony he later reworked into a motet, In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust. Bennett was also making a name for himself as a pianist performing concertos by Dussek and Hummel. He composed his first Piano Concerto in D minor at the age of seventeen in 1832. Mendelssohn was so greatly impressed when hearing Bennett perform this work in London, that he invited the younger composer to Germany not as his pupil, but as his friend. Butterfly, Op 33 No 5 (30 Preludes and Lessons) Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Piano Sextet in F Sharp Minor, Op 8 (2nd mvt) Ilona Prunyi, piano Andrကs Kiss, violin Ferenc Balogh, violin Lကszl　 Bကrsony, viola Kကroly Botvay, cello P退ter Kubina, double bass In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, WoO 84 BBC Singers Rupert Jeffcoat, organ Stephen Cleobury, conductor Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor, Op 1 Malcolm Binns, piano London Philharmonic Orchestra Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor Etude No 6, Op 11 Producer Luke Whitlock. How Bennett made a name for himself as a concert pianist and was dubbed the English Hummel
2016	02	An Angel Musician	20160412	Sterndale Bennett visits Germany and is dubbed an Angel Musician by Robert Schumann, presented by Donald Macleod. Reckoned by some as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic School, Sir William Sterndale Bennett first made a significant name for himself in Germany as a composer and concert pianist. He became close friends with Mendelssohn and Schumann, and once his career started to develop back in England, he rose to become one of the country's most eminent musicians teaching at Cambridge, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Director of the Philharmonic Society. Dr Peter Horton discusses the importance of Sterndale Bennett's piano music, whilst the composer's great-great-grandson Barry Sterndale Bennett introduces the listener to scores, letters and diaries held at the Bodleian Library. Life for Sterndale Bennett in London during the early 1830s was hard. He was busy composing and trying to earn money where he could, such as becoming organist at St Anne's in Wandsworth. It was during this period that he made his first visit to Germany where he kept a diary of his daily activities, including meetings with Mendelssohn and evenings drinking with Schumann. During this visit Bennett took a trip up the Rhine, and it was here that he got the inspiration for his concert overture The Naiades. Bennett during this visit dedicated his first Piano Sonata to Mendelssohn as a wedding present. It was also during this period that Schumann heard the young Englishman perform, and dubbed him an Angel Musician. Etude No 2, Op 11 Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Piano Concerto No 2 in E flat major, Op 4 (1st mvt) Malcolm Binns, piano Philharmonic Orchestra Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor The Naiades Overture, Op 15 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Dirk Joeres, conductor Piano Sonata No 1 in F minor, Op 13 (2nd mvt) Ilona Prunyi, piano Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? WoO 57 BBC Singers Rupert Jeffcoat, organ Stephen Cleobury, conductor Producer Luke Whitlock. Donald Macleod discusses Bennett's visit to Germany and the time he performed for Schumann
2016	03	Honoured, By Mendelssohn	20160413	Sterndale Bennett becomes the first person to hear Mendelssohn's just completed Scottish Symphony, presented by Donald Macleod. Reckoned by some as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic School, Sir William Sterndale Bennett first made a significant name for himself in Germany as a composer and concert pianist. He became close friends with Mendelssohn and Schumann, and once his career started to develop back in England, he rose to become one of the country's most eminent musicians teaching at Cambridge, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Director of the Philharmonic Society. Dr Peter Horton discusses the importance of Sterndale Bennett's piano music, whilst the composer's great-great-grandson Barry Sterndale Bennett introduces the listener to scores, letters and diaries held at the Bodleian Library. Sterndale Bennett made a number of visits to Germany during his early career, where his friendship with both Mendelssohn and Schumann flourished. Schumann upon hearing Bennett's Caprice in E major, described it as a lovely flower bouquet, fresh and fragrant, beautifully coloured. He was even more generous upon hearing Bennett's overture The Wood Nymphs, rating it above similar works by Mendelssohn, Spohr, and Weber. Mendelssohn too also greatly honoured Bennett, treating him to a private play through of his Scottish Symphony completed that very day. It was during this period that the young Englishman made his debut with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, performing his own third Piano Concerto, whilst back on these shores he became engaged, and married Miss Mary Wood. Caprice in E major, Op 22 BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Howard Shelley, pianist and conductor The Wood Nymphs Overture, Op 20 London Philharmonic Orchestra Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor Two Characteristic Studies, Op 29 Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Come, live with me, WoO 47 David James, countertenor Paul Elliott, tenor Leigh Nixon, tenor Paul Hillier, bass Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor, Op 9 (3rd mvt) Malcolm Binns, piano Producer Luke Whitlock. Donald Macleod focuses on Bennett's friendships with Schumann and Mendelssohn.
2016	04	Bennett And Moscheles	20160414	Sterndale Bennett becomes firmly established as a teacher, performer and composer in London, presented by Donald Macleod. Reckoned by some as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic School, Sir William Sterndale Bennett first made a significant name for himself in Germany as a composer and concert pianist. He became close friends with Mendelssohn and Schumann, and once his career started to develop back in England, he rose to become one of the country's most eminent musicians teaching at Cambridge, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Director of the Philharmonic Society. Dr Peter Horton discusses the importance of Sterndale Bennett's piano music, whilst the composer's great-great-grandson Barry Sterndale Bennett introduces the listener to scores, letters and diaries held at the Bodleian Library. With the departure of Moscheles from the London music scene, and students now looking for a new piano teacher, Sterndale Bennett was able to develop his own career further. He was given the honour of conducting at Moscheles's farewell concert, and dedicated his own Piano Concerto No 4 in F minor to Moscheles. In the late 1840s Bennett received the sad news that his friend Mendelssohn had died. He wrote to a fellow musician, that he'd lost the dearest and kindest friend he'd ever had. Around this same time came a disagreement with the conductor Michael Costa, which was to have ramifications for the rest of Bennett's life. On top of those sad events, combined with the many hours teaching Bennett undertook daily, he did manage to continue composing. Piano Sextet in F Sharp Minor, Op 8 (3rd mvt) Ilona Prunyi, piano Andrကs Kiss, violin Ferenc Balogh, violin Lကszl　 Bကrsony, viola Kကroly Botvay, cello P退ter Kubina, double bass Piano Concerto No 4 in F minor, Op 19 BBC Scottish Symphony Howard Shelley, pianist and conductor Remember now thy creator, WoO 54 Emma Tring, soprano Rebecca Lodge, soprano BBC Singers Rupert Jeffcoat, organ Stephen Cleobury, conductor February, WoO 56 Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Producer Luke Whitlock. How Bennett became firmly established as a teacher, performer and composer in London.
2016	05 LAST	Buried Near Purcell	20160415	Sterndale Bennett with appointments in Cambridge and London becomes a national treasure, presented by Donald Macleod. Reckoned by some as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic School, Sir William Sterndale Bennett first made a significant name for himself in Germany as a composer and concert pianist. He became close friends with Mendelssohn and Schumann, and once his career started to develop back in England, he rose to become one of the country's most eminent musicians teaching at Cambridge, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Director of the Philharmonic Society. Dr Peter Horton discusses the importance of Sterndale Bennett's piano music, whilst the composer's great-great-grandson Barry Sterndale Bennett introduces the listener to scores, letters and diaries held at the Bodleian Library. William Sterndale Bennett had made it to the pinnacle of musical society in England. Appointed professor of music in Cambridge, he soon also found himself principal of the Royal Academy of Music. He still continued to compose in the last twenty years of his life, including a commission for his overture The May Queen, to celebrate the opening of Leeds Town Hall by Queen Victoria. Also, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Philharmonic Society Bennett wrote a programmatic work, his fantasy overture Paradise and the Peri. When Sir William Sterndale Bennett died in 1875, his status in the land was such that he was buried in Westminster Abbey, not far from Purcell. The May Queen, Op 39 (Overture) BBC Symphony Orchestra James Feddeck, conductor Paradise and the Peri Fantasy Overture, Op 42 God is a Spirit, Op 44 (The Woman of Samaria) BBC Singers Stephen Cleobury, conductor Lord, to thee our song we raise, WoO 70 The Maid of Orleans, Sonata in A flat major, Op 46 (1st and 2nd mvt) Ian Hobson, piano Symphony in G minor, Op 43 (4th mvt) Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Douglas Bostock, conductor Producer Luke Whitlock. Donald Macleod focuses on Bennett's successful final years.