Friends in Classical Music
Saturdays in May
The history of Western classical music is rich with friendships among composers. Three of these well-documented friendships feature prominently on Stingray Classica in May, on three Saturday evenings at 21:00. Firstly, on May 3, Stingray Classica explores the friendship between two German Romantic composers: Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann. In 1853, the 20-year-old Brahms visited Robert and Clara Schumann at their home, where he played some of his compositions. Deeply impressed by Brahms’s talent, Robert Schumann wrote an article in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, in which he spoke highly of the young artist. This encounter was not only a professional stimulus for Brahms but also marked the beginning of a close friendship. On May 3, Stingray Classica presents Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15, followed by Schumann’s Symphony No. 1. On May 10, Stingray Classica focuses on two virtuoso piano pals: Franz Liszt and Frédéric Chopin. They met in Paris during the early 1830s, where they were both residing. They often appeared together in concerts and at charity events. Despite their differences in personality and contrasting approaches to performance and composition, the two artists admired each other’s talent. On May 10, Stingray Classica broadcasts Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2, followed by Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. On May 17, Stingray Classica highlights the affection between two of the late Romantic era’s leading composers: Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. In their day, both men were better known as conductors than as composers. In terms of personality, Mahler and Strauss were polar opposites, or, as Mahler once said: “Strauss and I tunnel from opposite sides of the mountain. One day we shall meet.” However, the two shared a mutual admiration and supported each other’s work. On May 17, Stingray Classica presents Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, followed by a performance of Strauss’s Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 13.
Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15
Saturday, May 3 | 21:00
Europakonzert 2004 was held in Athens, Greece. This concert featured the Berliner Philharmoniker performing live at the ancient Herodes Atticus Theatre along with an interesting combination of conductor and soloist - Sir Simon Rattle wielding the baton as pianist Daniel Barenboim plays Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1. The Athens concert marked a double première: it was the first Europakonzert under the direction of the new chief conductor, as well as the first time Rattle and Barenboim appeared together. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an amphitheatre built in 161 AD in memory of Herodes Atticus’ wife, is situated on the slope of the Acropolis. With a seating capacity of at least 5,000 spectators, it was reputed to be the finest theatre in all of Greece.
Schumann - Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major
Saturday, May 3 | 21:50
German conductor Christian Zacharias leads the Orchestre national de Lille in a performance of Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38, also known as the ‘Spring Symphony’. This optimistic work is written in 1841 and is the most performed of Schumann’s four symphonies. This concert was recorded at Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle in Lille, France, on June 16, 2017.
Liszt - Piano Concerto No. 2, S.125
Saturday, May 10 | 21:00
Alexander Ullman (1991, United Kingdom) performs Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 (S125) during the final of the 11th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition, held in TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht 2017. The competition actively presents, develops and promotes piano talents from around the world. In doing so, it has become one of the prominent gateways to the international professional classical music scene for young musicians. The International Franz Liszt Piano Competition was founded in 1986 in the Netherlands and since has built a reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions.
Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 21
Saturday, May 10 | 21:20
Antoni Wit conducts the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra in performance of Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 21. Evgeny Kissin features as the soloist. This concert was part of the celebration of Chopin's 200th anniversary in 2010. Chopin composed the second concerto one year before the Concerto No. 1 and completed both works at the age of 20, before leaving his home country Poland and moving to Paris.
Mahler - Rückert-Lieder
Saturday, May 17 | 21:00
Welsh soprano Margaret Price performs Gustav Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder. She is accompanied by the Orchester der Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele under the baton of Wolfgang Gönnenwein. Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder are a collection of five songs based on poetry of Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866). Mahler completed both a piano and an orchestral version of the first four songs during the summer of 1901, but he never got around to orchestrating the fifth song, “Liebst du um Schönheit” (‘Lovest thou but beauty’). Mahler wrote this overt love song for his bride Alma Schindler. This performance was recorded at the 1988 Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele.
Strauss - Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 13
Saturday, May 17 | 21:20
Violinist Daniel Rowland, violist Rachel Roberts, cellist Julian Arp, and pianist Diana Ketler perform Richard Strauss’s Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 13, as part of the Stiftfestival 2016 in the Dutch village of Weerselo. In his early years, Strauss tried to compose different types of chamber music works, including a piano quartet. The young composer started writing the Piano Quartet in C minor in the spring of 1884 and completed it one year later. The work is in four movements and shows considerable influence from Johannes Brahms. It premiered on December 8, 1885 in Weimar and was performed by members of the Halír Quartet with Strauss himself playing the piano part. The following year the work won the first prize given by the Berliner Tonkünstlerverein for a piano quartet. This performance was recorded at the Stiftkerk in Weerselo, the Netherlands.
