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Donald Macleod explores what happened when, during World War One, Rachmaninov and Medtner took to the concert platform.

Despite the outbreak of the First World War, the two pianist-composers both find themselves busy on the concert platform. But Medtner's reputation takes a dent when his prickly temperament sees him clash with one of the great conductors of the day. Donald Macleod finds out what all the fuss was about.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Nikolai Karlovich Medtner

    Improvisation op 31/1

    Marc-André Hamelin (piano)

    • HYPERION CDA67050.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Polka de V.R

    Nina Koshetz (soprano), Celius Dougherty (piano)

    • RCA 82876678922.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Christ is Risen Op.26

    Sergei Rachmaninov (piano)

    • SYMPOSIUM 1137SYM.
  • Nikolai Karlovich Medtner

    Sonata op 25/2

    Nina Koshetz (soprano), Celius Dougherty (piano)

    • CHANDOS CHAN 9723.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 24 Oct 2012 12:00
  • Wed 17 Jul 2013 12:00

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