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Kate Molleson and Natasha Loges explore the series of setbacks which led to Johanna Senfter retreating from public life to the security of her family home.

Kate Molleson and Natasha Loges explore the series of setbacks which led to Johanna Senfter retreating from public life to the security of her family home.

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, organizing 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 Wednesday’s episode, Kate and Natasha explore the series of devastating setbacks which led to Johanna Senfter retreating from public life back to the security of her family home in Oppenheim.

Suite for 2 violins op 91/2 I. Allemande
Friedemann Eichhorn, violin
Alexia Eichhorn, violin

5 pieces for Viola and piano, op.76 – no. 5
Roland Glassl, viola
Oliver Triendl, piano

Piano Concerto in G minor, Op.90 – III. Ziemlich lebhaft
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ National Orchestra of Wales
Andrew Zolinsky, piano
Jonathan Bloxham, conductor

6 Little Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op13 - no. 3 Elegie
Setareh Najfar-Nahvi, violin
Theresia Schumacher, piano

Sonata for Cello and Piano in E flat major, Op.79 – II. Lebhaft
Michael Gareis, cello
Reimar Ulrich, piano

Clarinet Sonata – III. Gemachlich
Stephan Landgrebe, clarinet
Reimar Ulrich, piano

Produced by Sam Phillips for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Audio Wales & West

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Johanna Senfter

    Suite No 2 for two violins, Op 91 (1st mvt, Allemande)

    Performer: Friedemann Eichhorn. Performer: Alexia Eichhorn.
    • PALADINO MUSIC : PMR0101.
    • PALADINO MUSIC.
    • 6.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Five Pieces for viola and piano, Op 76 (No 5)

    Performer: Roland Glassl. Performer: Oliver Triendl.
    • HANSSLER : HC22076.
    • HANSSLER.
    • 7.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Piano Concerto in G minor, Op 90 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Andrew Zolinsky. Orchestra: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jonathan Bloxham.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Six Little Pieces for violin and piano, Op 13 (No 3)

    Performer: Setareh Najfar-Nahvi. Performer: Theresia Schumancher.
    • AUSTRIAN GRAMOPHONE : AG0004.
    • AUSTRIAN GRAMOPHONE.
    • 11.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Cello Sonata No 2 in E flat major, Op 79 (2nd mvt, Lebhaft)

    Performer: Michael Gareis. Performer: Reimar Ulrich.
    • COLOSSEUM : 34.9508.
    • COLOSSEUM.
    • 2.
  • Johanna Senfter

    Clarinet Sonata in A major, Op 57 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Stephan Landgrebe. Performer: Reimar Ulrich.
    • COLOSSEUM : 34.9508.
    • COLOSSEUM.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Wed 6 Mar 2024 12:00

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