Honoured by Mendelssohn
Donald Macleod focuses on Bennett's friendships with Schumann and Mendelssohn, and how Bennett was the first to hear the latter's just-completed Third Symphony.
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
大象传媒 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
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor
Producer Luke Whitlock.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
William Sterndale Bennett
Caprice in E major Op.22
Performer: Howard Shelley. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra.- HYPERION.
- CDA-67595.
- 7.
-
![]()
William Sterndale Bennett
The Wood Nymphs
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Braithwaite.- LYRITA : SRCD206.
- LYRITA.
- 2.
-
![]()
William Sterndale Bennett
Two Characteristic Studies Op 29
Performer: Hiro Takenouchi. -
![]()
William Sterndale Bennett
Come live with me wo47
Singer: David James. Singer: Paul Elliott. Singer: Leigh Nixon. Singer: Paul Hillier.- Duo DUOCD89009.
- Duo.
- 15.
-
![]()
William Sterndale Bennett
Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor Op 9
Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Malcolm Binns. Conductor: Nicholas Braithwaite.- Lyrita: SRCD204.
- Lyrita.
- 7.
Broadcasts
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
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
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 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 鈥� 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.