Marie Jaëll

Donald Macleod delves into the life and career of the piano prodigy Marie Jaëll.

For the first time in the history of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Marie Jaëll [1846-1925]. Jaëll was a piano prodigy, a composer across a wide spectrum of genres including opera and chamber music, and a revolutionary when it came to the art of teaching and playing the piano. She knew many distinguished musicians including Liszt, Saint-Saëns, César Franck, Brahms, Fauré and Rossini, but hers is a name which has been largely forgotten. Donald Macleod uncovers Jaëll's music, and tells her story.

Music Featured:

Aube (Promenade matinale, esquisses pour piano) Dans le doute; Essaim de mouches; Entrainement (Promenade matinale, esquisses pour piano) Folies d’ours (La Légende des ours) Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor Reflets Chantants (Prisme. Problèmes en musique) Armour brûlant (La Légende des ours) Album Leaf Dans les flammes (18 Pièces d'après la lecture de Dante) Cello Sonata Dein (Five Lieder) Douze Valses et Finale Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor Sphinx Reflets dansants (Prisme. Problèmes en musique) Cello Concerto in A Minor Ce qu’on entend dans le Purgatoire (18 Pièces d'après la lecture de Dante) Rêverie; Clair de lune (Les Orientales) 6 Melancholy Waltzes: No 5 in A minor; No 3 in G sharp minor Ce qu’on entend dans le Paradis (18 Pieces for piano after reading Dante) Pieces for Children Désirs ardents; Amour involontaire; Union malheureuse; Épilogue (La Légende des ours)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales

For full tracklistings, 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 Marie Jaëll https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000m477

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/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z