Europe
Donald Macleod follows Amy Beach as she travels beyond the borders of her homeland, America, for the first time.
Donald Macleod follows Amy Beach as she travels beyond the borders of her homeland, America, for the first time.
Amy Beach was born in the 19th century and, like all women composers of her generation, she found her path to greatness strewn with obstacles. This week, Donald Macleod charts her struggle to take control of her own destiny and become one of America’s most cherished cultural figures; a composer who helped lead her nation into the mainstream of classical music. Famed conductor, Leopold Stokowski noted that her symphony was “full of real music, without any pretence or effects but just real, sincere, simple and deep music.”
Today’s programme sees Amy Beach liberated by her husband's death and embarking on her first tour of Europe. Beach sought to rejuvenate her career as both a composer and concert pianist with this tour, performing her own highly acclaimed piano concerto.
Autumn Song, Op 56 No 1
Kyle Bielfield, tenor
Lachlan Glen, piano
Prelude Op 81
Kirsten Johnson, piano
Der Totenkranz, Op 73 No 2
Katherine Kelton, mezzo-soprano
Catherine Bringerud, piano
The Candy Lion, Op 75 No 1
Katherine Kelton, mezzo-soprano
Catherine Bringerud, piano
Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op 45
Danny Driver, piano
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Rebecca Miller, conductor
On a Hill
Guadalupe Kreysa, soprano
Paul Hardy, piano
Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales
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Music Played
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Amy Beach
Autumn Song, Op 56 No 1
Performer: Lachlan Glen. Singer: Kyle Bielfield. -
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Amy Beach
Prelude, Op 81
Performer: Kirsten Johnson. -
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Amy Beach
Der Totenkranz, Op 73 No 2
Performer: Catherine Bringerud. Singer: Katherine Kelton. -
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Amy Beach
The Candy Lion, Op 75 No 1
Performer: Catherine Bringerud. Singer: Katherine Kelton. -
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Amy Beach
Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op 45
Performer: Danny Driver. Performer: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller. -
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Amy Beach
On a Hill
Performer: Paul Hardy. Singer: Guadalupe Kreysa.
Broadcasts
- Thu 2 May 2019 12:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 14 Jan 2021 12:00BBC Radio 3
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