Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Master Dies

Donald Macleod focuses on the impact of Mahler's death in 1911 on the younger generation of composers.

Donald Macleod continues his chronology of pre-war musical Vienna. 1911, and as Vienna's young modernists find their voice, a flame of Vienna's glorious past is extinguished.

As part of World War I on the ´óÏó´«Ã½, this week Radio 3 focuses on the European music scene in the years leading up to the First World War.
In the first decade and a half of the twentieth century, Vienna was the hub of the world's art, music and philosophy. Donald Macleod takes us through the key musical figures and works that made waves in pre-war Vienna, including Mahler, Korngold, Zemlinsky and the "Second Viennese School" of Schoenberg, Berg and Webern, and explores the personal, musical and philosophical conflicts that tore it apart.

As Vienna entered the second decade of the 20th century, its young Turks were, in very different ways, finding a unique musical voice. Yet the year would be remembered for two giants of Vienna past. On May 18th, Gustav Mahler died, having made a final return journey from the New World to his native Austria. Donald Macleod explores this seismic musical event and its impact on the younger generation, and introduces the musical hit of the year by a composer from an older generation: "Der Rosenkavalier" by the 47 year-old Richard Strauss.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 9 Jan 2014 18:30

Music Played

  • Arnold Schoenberg

    5 Orchestral pieces Op.16

    Orchestra: Chicago S O.. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • TELDEC : 40998256-2.
    • TELDEC.
    • 9.
  • Alexander von Zemlinsky

    Kleider machen Leute - comic opera

    Orchestra: COLOGNE Gurzenich Orchestra. Conductor: James Conlon.
    • EMI: CMS5662472.
    • EMI.
    • 12.
  • Anton Webern

    6 Bagatelles Op.9 for string quartet

    Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON: 4576372.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 8.
  • Arnold Schoenberg

    Herzgewachse Op.20 for high soprano, celesta, harp & harmonium

    Orchestra: Ensemble intercontemporain. Conductor: Pierre Boulez. Singer: Christine Schäfer.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 457-630-2.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 22.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Trio in D major Op.1 for piano and strings

    Orchestra: Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • SONY: 88697768962.
    • SONY.
    • 4.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no. 10, compl. Clinton Carpenter

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • SONY: 88697768962.
    • SONY.
    • 4.
  • Arnold Schoenberg

    6 Little pieces Op.19 for piano

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG : 471-361 2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 9.
  • Richard Strauss

    Der Rosenkavalier - opera in 3 acts Op.59 [1909-10]

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Bernard Haitink. Singer: Kiri Te Kanawa.
    • EMI: CDC 754262.
    • EMI.
    • 21.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 9 Jan 2014 12:00
  • Thu 9 Jan 2014 18:30

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.