Pavel Haas
Donald Macleod explores a group of composers who were silenced by the atrocities of the Second World War and shaped the unique musical story of Terez铆n. Today 鈥� Pavel Haas.
Composer of the Week marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz with a series commemorating some of the musical voices that were silenced by the atrocities of the Second World War. Across the week, Donald Macleod focuses on the penultimate destination of these musicians, the concentration camp at Terez铆n, and the incredible story of creative resistance in the face of unthinkable adversity and persecution which unfolded there.
Today, we meet Czech composer Pavel Haas, who studied with Janacek and came from a family of shoemakers and film stars. Despite winning awards and writing innovative music for new mediums, he was fiercely self-critical. Family sacrifices meant he struggled to cope at Terez铆n, but thanks to the support of his fellow musicians, he did eventually channel his homesickness into his writing.
Pripoved (Narrative)
Anne Sofie von Otter, soprano
Bengt Forsberg, piano
Quartet Op 2 鈥淔rom the Monkey Mountains鈥�
ii. Coach, Coachman and Horse: Andante
Nash Ensemble
Overture for Radio, Op 11
Jens Winkelmann,vocals
Jihoon Kim, vocals
Gerd Wiemer, vocals
Christian Grygas, vocals
Dresden State Opera Orchestra
Ernst Theis, conductor
艩arlat谩n Suite, Op 14 (excerpt)
Brunn Philharmonic Orchestra
Israel Yinon, conductor
Study for Strings
New Czech Chamber Orchestra
Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek, conductor
Four Songs on Chinese Poetry
Christian Gerhaher, baritone
Gerold Huber, piano
Produced by Amelia Parker for 大象传媒 Audio Wales and West
On radio
Broadcast
- Thu 30 Jan 2025 16:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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.