Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Senfter Millions

Kate Molleson and Natasha Loges explore Johanna Senfter’s early life as a member of a very prosperous family in provincial Germany.

Kate Molleson and Natasha Loges explore Johanna Senfter’s early life as a member of a very prosperous family in provincial Germany.

If you know the name Johanna Senfter, it is probably in connection with her teacher, the composer, Max Reger. Senfter won the Arthur Nikisch prize for composition in 1910, and went on to be one of the most prolific of all late-Romantic female composers, writing at least 150 works, yet she has all but disappeared from our history books. In between the two World Wars she was very active within the world of music too, founding the Oppenheim Music Society, organising her own concert series and founding the Oppenheim Bach Society. However, her personal life is shrouded in mystery with little information published about either her biography, or her music, and there are substantial gaps in her story when we know nothing about Senfter. Unsurprisingly then, there are also questions hanging over certain elements of her personal life, and her political allegiances. Over the course of this week, Kate Molleson is joined by Professor Natasha Loges to explore the life of Johanna Senfter. They also examine the tumultuous world of early 20th-century Germany in which Senfter was working, and speculate on the reasons for her anonymity today.

In Monday’s episode, Kate and Natasha explore Johanna Senfter’s early life as a member of a very prosperous family in provincial Germany. The family’s financial position earned them the nickname ‘Senfter Millions’.

Suite for 2 violins no 2 - Menuet
Friedemann Eichhorn, violin
Alexia Eichhorn, violin

Symphony no 4 - II. Sehr ruhig
Jenaer Philharmonie
Othmar Mäga, conductor

Drei Klavierstucke, op.77
Monica Gutman, piano

Violin Sonata in G minor, Op.32 – IV. Lebhaft
Friedemann Eichhorn, violin
Paul Rivinius, piano

Trio for clarinet, horn and piano - III. Ziemlich bewegt
Matthew Hunt, clarinet
Olivier Darbellay, horn
Oliver Triendl, piano

Produced by Sam Phillips for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Audio Wales & West

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Mar 2024 12:00

Music Played

  • Johanna Senfter

    Suite No 2 for two violins, Op 91 (Menuet)

    Performer: Friedemann Eichhorn. Performer: Alexia Eichhorn.
    • PALADINO MUSIC : PMR0101.
    • PALADINO MUSIC.
    • 8.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Symphony No 4, Op 50 (2nd mvt, Sehr rehig)

    Orchestra: Jenaer Philharmonie. Conductor: Othmar Mága.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Drei Klavierstucke, Op 77

    Performer: Monica Gutman.
    • WERGO : 1307443307620.
    • WERGO.
    • 4.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Violin Sonata No 3 in G minor, Op 32 (4th mvt, Lebhaft)

    Performer: Friedemann Eichhorn. Performer: Paul Rivinius.
    • PALADINO MUSIC : PMR0101.
    • PALADINO MUSIC.
    • 4.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Trio for clarinet, horn and piano, Op 103 (3rd mvt, Ziemlich bewegt)

    Performer: Matthew Hunt. Performer: Olivier Darbellay. Performer: Oliver Triendl.

Broadcast

  • Mon 4 Mar 2024 12:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

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 – 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.