Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)

Donald Macleod explores Chopin’s time in Britain


Chopin made just two trips to Britain, both in later life. These
visits are often portrayed as a disaster - a calamitous mistake
of no worth to Chopin which hastened the composer’s death. This
week, Donald Macleod explores these two trips in depth, during
which the virtuoso pianist gave six of the thirty public concerts
he gave during the whole of his life, and also made many private
appearances meeting the great and the good of British society.


Music Featured:


Mazurka No 47 in A minor, Op 68 No 2 Etude in C sharp minor, Op
10, No.4 “Torrent” Etudes, Op 25 (Nos 3, 10 & 12) Variations
on “La Ci Darem la mano”, Op 2 (version for piano and orchestra)
Impromptu No 1 in A flat, Op 29 Scherzo No 2 in B-flat minor, Op
31 Mazurka in F minor, Op posth. 68, No 4 (Andantino) Barcarolle,
Op 60 Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Mazurka No 16 in A
flat major, Op 24, No 3 Mazurka No 18 in C minor, Op 30, No 1
Mazurka No 19 in B minor, Op 30, No 2 Mazurka No 31 in A flat
major, Op 50, No 2 3 Waltzes, Op 64 Prelude in C sharp minor, Op
45 Fantasy on Polish Airs, Op 13 Ballade No 2 in F, Op 38 Piano
Concerto No 1 (I. Allegro Maestoso) Two Nocturnes, Op 55 Mazurka
No 44, Op 67, No 1 Wiosna, Op 74, No 2 Krakowiak, Op 14 Nocturne
Op 37, No 2 Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano (II. Scherzo)
Berceuse in D flat major, Op 59 Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor,
Op 21 (III. Allegro Vivace) Ballade No 4 in F minor, Op 52 Sonata
No 2 in B flat minor, Op 35 Etudes, op.25 No 1 & No 2 17
Polish Songs, Op 74, No 13 “Nie ma czego trzeba” (I Want What I
Have Not)


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Fryderyk Chopin
(1810-1849) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v86m


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles