Marriage to Nina

Exploring the impact of Grieg’s wife Nina, a talented singer, on his musical output.

Donald Macleod looks at the people and places that had a significant impact on Edvard Grieg’s life and work, meeting Norwegian fiddlers, folksong collectors and nationalist firebrands along the way. From Henrik Ibsen, who commissioned Grieg to write his most famous work, to the composer's wife Nina, for whom he wrote all his songs, this week Donald explores the key influences on the composer’s outlook and development.

Today, Donald puts the spotlight on Grieg's wife Nina Hagerup, who the composer described as ‘the only true interpreter of my songs’. Nina was the inspiration behind most of the 140 songs Grieg composed in the course of his life.

Folkelivsbilleder: II Bridal Procession, arr. for orchestra
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

Hjertets melodier: III Jeg Elsker Deg
6 Songs, op 25: II En Svane, IV Med en Vanlilje
Lise Davidsen, soprano
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano

Violin Sonata No 2, III. Allegro animato
Pierre Amoyal, violin
Frederick Chiu, piano

Piano Concerto No 1, I. Allegro molto moderato
Javier Perianes, piano
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo, conductor

6 Songs Op 39: IV Millom Rosor
Monica Groop, mezzo soprano
Ilmo Ranta, piano

6 Songs Op 39: V Veng en ung Hustrus Bare (arr. for choir)
The Norwegian Soloists choir, Grete Pedersen, conductor

6 Songs Op 48: IV, Zur Rozenheit and VI‚ Ein Traum
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo soprano
Bengt Forsberg, piano

Two Elegaic Melodies
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi, conductor

Produced by Megan Jones for BBC Audio Wales and West