Swedish sensation

Donald Macleod explores the remarkable, tragic story of a gifted violinist and composer, in conversation with Dr Jennifer Martyn. Today, they explore Maier's early life in Sweden.

Amanda Maier (1853-1894) was one of the 19th century’s most brilliant musicians, yet her story was almost lost to history. Born in the small Swedish town of Landskrona, her virtuoso talent at the violin saw her rise to become one of Europe’s most in-demand performers: giving private and public concerts of major works by Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Bruch, as well as her own dazzling compositions. Maier was a friend of Grieg, Brahms, Clara Schumann and Ethel Smyth and her music was reviewed in newspapers across Europe. Tragically, ill health would see her pass away at the age of just 41 and her musical legacy slowly forgotten. All this week, Donald Macleod is joined by musicologist and violinist Dr Jennifer Martyn to celebrate Amanda Maier's life and work - with performances of all her extant compositions alongside works by key figures in her life, including Edward Grieg, Carl Reinecke and Maier's husband, Julius Röntgen, with whom she enjoyed a close and loving relationship in music and in life.

Amanda Maier was born in a provincial Swedish town, miles away from the musical centres of Stockholm and Copenhagen, into a family known for its delicious sweet cakes and bread. Yet very soon the young Maier would find herself at the very top of her class and on her way to one of the centres of European musical culture. The programme includes excerpts from Maier’s Piano Trio, lost for the best part of 150 years and only recently rediscovered.

Violin Concerto (opening)
Gregory Maytan, violin
Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, conductor Andreas Stoehr

Violin Sonata in B minor (3rd mvt)
Frank Almond, violin
William Wolfram, piano

Preludes in E major, G sharp minor, and E flat major
Bengt Forsberg, piano

Violin Sonata in B minor (2nd mvt)
Frank Almond, violin
William Wolfram, piano
Ungt Mog (“Young Courage”)
Sabina Bisholt, soprano
Bengt-Åke Lundin, piano

Den sjuka flickans sång (“Song of a sick girl”)
Sabina Bisholt, soprano
Bengt-Åke Lundin, piano

Carl Reinecke
Symphony No 2 “Hakon Jarl” (1st mvt)
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Howard Shelley

Piano Trio in E flat major (3rd and 4th mvts)
Cecilia Zilliacus, violin
Kati Raitinen, cello
Bengt Forsberg, piano

Produced by Steven Rajam for BBC Audio Wales & West