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Donald Macleod explores the marriage of two virtuoso pianists, Marie Trautmann and Alfred Jaëll

For the first time in the history of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Marie Jaëll [1846-1925]. Jaëll was a piano prodigy, a composer across a wide spectrum of genres including opera and chamber music, and a revolutionary when it came to the art of teaching and playing the piano. She knew many distinguished musicians including Liszt, Saint-Saëns, César Franck, Brahms, Fauré and Rossini, but hers is a name which has been largely forgotten. Donald Macleod this week uncovers Jaëll's music, and tells her story.

In this programme, Donald Macleod explores the period in which Marie Trautmann met and married Alfred Jaëll. Both were virtuoso pianists, and Alfred had a highly distinguished career as a performer, having settled in the USA for three years, and performing in 400 concerts during that time. His own teachers were Czerny and Moscheles, and once they married in 1866, Alfred and Marie pursued their own careers as concert pianists. Alfred would promote the music of his wife Marie in his own concerts. Despite their compatibility, Marie confided to friends that she was concerned that marriage would impact upon her individuality. However, the marriage was not to last for long, for in 1882 Alfred, after a period of illness, died of tuberculosis.

Armour brûlant (La Légende des ours)
Chantal Santon-Jeffery, soprano
Brussels Philharmonic
Hervé Niquet, director

Album Leaf
Alexandre Sorel, piano

Dans les flammes (18 Pièces d'après la lecture de Dante)
Cora Irsen, piano

Cello Sonata
Lisa Erbès, cello
Lara Erbès, piano

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales