Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Dark Victories

Donald Macleod discusses Louise Farrenc's activities later on in life. She completed a ground-breaking anthology of keyboard music, dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Louise Farrenc may not be a household name in the twenty-first century, but in her own lifetime she enjoyed a career of international standing. Her music was played across Europe; she was twice recognised by the French Institute for her outstanding contribution to chamber music; she was an accomplished pianist who received favourable reviews for her public performances, for thirty years she was a valued teacher at the Paris Conservatoire and in the latter part of her life, she devoted the majority of her time to scholarly research.

She was born in 1804, a year before Fanny Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn's older sister. However the fifty plus published works that make up her legacy, immediately set her apart. While the majority of her contemporaries had a tendency to focus on smaller forms, songs, choral works and salon pieces for the piano, Farrenc's creative interests involved writing music for much larger combinations of instruments, including quintets, a sextet, a nonet , orchestral overtures and three symphonies.

In the final part of his survey of Louise Farrenc, Donald Macleod looks at her activities in the later part of her life. She completes a groundbreaking anthology of keyboard music, dating from the 16th to the 19th century. Plus, there's a rare chance to hear the song that might have been Farrenc's calling card, as she worked to persuade the theatre directors of Paris that she could write dramatic music too.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 6 Nov 2015 18:30

Music Played

  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    30 Studies In Every Key Op 26 - No.3 Allegro non troppo in A minor

    Performer: Konstanze Eickhorst.
    • CPO:999 879-2.
    • CPO.
    • 6.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Le Suicide - Scene Et Air

    Performer: Anna Tilbrook. Singer: Ruby Hughes.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    O Pere Qu'Adore Mon Pere (Hymne De Lamartine)

    Choir: ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers. Conductor: David Hill.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Sextet In C Minor Op 40

    Ensemble: Ambache Chamber Ensemble.
    • Carlton Classics: 30366 00302.
    • Carlton Classics.
    • 1.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Symphony No. 3 In G Minor Op.36

    Orchestra: North German R S O. Conductor: Johannes Goritzki.
    • CPO : 999-603-2.
    • CPO.
    • 5.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 6 Nov 2015 12:00
  • Fri 6 Nov 2015 18:30

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

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.