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Donald Macleod explores the first time Chopin visited Britain in 1837, when he secretly accompanied his friend, pianist and piano maker Camille Pleyel, on his trip to London

Donald Macleod explores the first visit Chopin made to Britain in 1837.

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鈥檚 death. Over the course of 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. In Monday鈥檚 episode, Donald explores the first time Chopin visited Britain in 1837 when the composer was in the midst of a heartbreaking romantic breakup. Chopin wanted to remain incognito, and so he travelled under a pseudonym, so that he could secretly accompany his friend - the pianist, piano maker, publisher and concert hall owner Camille Pleyel - on a trip to London.

Mazurka no. 47 in A minor, Op. 68 no.2 - Lento
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (piano)

Etudes in C sharp minor, Op.10 no.4 鈥淭orrent鈥; in F major, Op. 25 no. 3 鈥淗orsemen鈥; in B minor, Op. 25 no. 10 鈥淥ctave鈥; and in C minor, Op. 25 no. 12 (Ocean)
Murray Perahia (piano)

Variations on 鈥淟a Ci Darem la mano鈥, Op. 2 (version for piano and orchestra)
Jan Lisiecki (piano)
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
Krzysztof Urba艅ski (conductor)

Impromptu no.1 in A flat, Op.29
Mikhail Pletnev (piano)

Scherzo no. 2 in B-flat minor, op.31
Janina Fialkowska (piano)

Producer: Sam Phillips

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 19 Apr 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Mazurka No 47 in A minor, Op 68, No 2

    Performer: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 2060052.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 10.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Etude in C sharp minor, Op 10, No 4

    Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • SONY : SK-61885.
    • SONY.
    • 4.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    12 Studies, Op 25, Nos 3, 10 & 12

    Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • SONY : SK-61885.
    • SONY.
    • 15.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Variations on "La Ci Darem la mano", Op 2

    Performer: Jan Lisiecki. Orchestra: North German Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Krzysztof Urba艅ski.
    • DG:4796824.
    • DG.
    • 5.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Impromptu in A flat major, Op 29

    Performer: Mikhail Pletnev.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP : 453-456-2.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOP.
    • 6.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Scherzo No 2 in B flat minor, Op 31

    Performer: Janina Fialkowska.
    • ATMA : ACD22666.
    • ATMA.
    • 14.

Broadcast

  • Mon 19 Apr 2021 12:00

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