Vienna and the Great War
Donald Macleod explores Johanna M眉ller-Hermann鈥檚 musical ascent during World War I.
Donald Macleod explores Johanna M眉ller-Hermann鈥檚 musical ascent during World War I.
Johanna M眉ller-Hermann once held a significant place as a composer and teacher in Vienna, yet has been largely forgotten over the decades since her death in 1941. Radio 3 has been working to unearth her music and story through its Forgotten Women Composers project, in collaboration with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Dr Carola Darwin. This week, Dr Darwin and Professor Robert Evans join Donald Macleod to explore this fascinating composer and her times. Their series includes many specially recorded works by M眉ller-Hermann that have sat neglected in dusty archives for decades.
M眉ller-Hermann was greatly celebrated in her own lifetime and moved in eminent musical circles. She studied with Zemlinsky, befriended Alma Mahler, and also corresponded with Arnold Schoenberg. She went on to teach at Austria鈥檚 New Vienna Conservatory where students travelled from as far away as America and the UK to study with her. She became a pivotal figure in Vienna鈥檚 cultural scene and her music was regularly performed and published during her lifetime.
In the build up to World War One, life in Vienna was growing increasingly difficult with rioting and political instability. Nevertheless, this was a period of significant growth for M眉ller-Hermann, thanks to her studies with the Czech composer Josef Foerster. He encouraged M眉ller-Hermann to start composing orchestral music, which she did to great acclaim. Soon, M眉ller-Hermann found her music being regularly performed in Vienna. In 1918 Foerster returned to Prague, leaving his teaching post at the New Vienna Conservatory. M眉ller-Hermann was appointed to replace him.
Heroic Overture, Op 21 (excerpt)
大象传媒 Philharmonic Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, conductor
Alle die wachsenden Schatten, Op 9 No 3 (Drei Ch枚re)
大象传媒 Singers
Benjamin Nicholas, conductor
Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 5 (excerpt) UK Broadcast Premiere
Jennifer Pike, violin
James Baillieu, piano
Heroic Overture, Op 21
大象传媒 Philharmonic Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, conductor
String Quintet in A minor, Op 7 (Adagio con expressione)
Pawel Zalejski, violin
SongHa Choi, violin
Klaus Christa, viola
Danusha Waskiewicz, viola
Kajana Pa膷ko, cello
Produced by Luke Whitlock
Last on
Music Played
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Johanna M眉ller-Hermann
Alle die wachsenden schatten, Op 9, No 3
Choir: 大象传媒 Singers. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas. -
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Johanna M眉ller-Hermann
Heroic Overture Op.21
Orchestra: 大象传媒 Philharmonic. Conductor: Ilan Volkov. -
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Johanna M眉ller-Hermann
String Quintet in A minor, Op 7 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Pawel Zalejski. Performer: Songha Choi. Performer: Klaus Christa. Performer: Danusha Waskiewicz. Performer: Kajana Pa膷ko.
Broadcast
- Wed 8 Mar 2023 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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