Weber in London
Donald Macleod focuses on Weber's battle with tuberculosis and the birth of the composer's son Max.
He became an international celebrity through his success in the world of German opera, and his explorations into novel instrumental timbres greatly enriched orchestral music, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Carl Maria von Weber.
Weber was increasingly worried about his health, as he battled with tuberculosis. He was heartened by the birth of his son, Max, who survived infancy and would go on to become his father's first biographer. Not long after this new arrival to the Weber family, Carl Maria von Weber started work on a new opera, Euryanthe. Despite his illness, Weber was working at lightning speed, not only on Euryanthe, but also a fourth piano sonata, and revising his Bassoon Concerto.
Weber knew his time was now limited, but he was determined not leave his family in financial difficulty. He took a commission to compose a new opera for Covent Garden, Oberon, and journeyed to London for its premiere. He wrote many letters home to his wife Caroline about how much he enjoyed life in London, but his health now started to fail, and he died not long after Oberon's success in the capital.
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
Carl Maria von Weber
Euryanthe - Opera In 3 Acts J.291 - Overture
Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Eugene Ormandy.- SONY : SBK-63053.
- SONY.
- 6.
-
Carl Maria von Weber
Concerto In F Major Op.75 For Bassoon And Orchestra
Performer: Jaakko Luoma. Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean鈥怞acques Kantorow.- BIS: SACD1620.
- BIS.
- 7.
-
Carl Maria von Weber
John Anderson, My Jo' For Tenor, Flute, Violin, Cello And Piano
Performer: Utako Ikeda. Performer: Christopher Field. Singer: Christine Cairns.- CHANDOS : CHAN-8636.
- CHANDOS.
- 19.
-
Carl Maria von Weber
Contented Wi' Little, And Canty Wi' Mair - Song J.300a For Voice, Flute, Violin
Performer: Utako Ikeda. Performer: Christopher Field. Singer: Alan Watt.- CHANDOS : CHAN-8636.
- CHANDOS.
- 21.
-
Carl Maria von Weber
Oberon - Opera In 3 Acts J.306 Finale from Act I
Orchestra: German Opera Berlin Orchestra. Singer: Vesselina Kasarova. Singer: Inga Nielsen. Conductor: Marek Janowski. Orchestra: German S O Berlin. Singer: Peter Seiffert.- RCA : 0902668505-2.
- RCA.
- 10.
-
Carl Maria von Weber
Oberon - Opera In 3 Acts J.306 Finale from Act III
Orchestra: German Opera Berlin Orchestra. Singer: Vesselina Kasarova. Singer: Inga Nielsen. Conductor: Marek Janowski. Orchestra: German S O Berlin. Singer: Peter Seiffert.- RCA : 0902668505-2.
- RCA.
- 31.
Broadcasts
- Fri 20 Mar 2015 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Fri 20 Mar 2015 18:30成人快手 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Composers A to Z
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.