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Donald Macleod tells of a life cruelly cut short - as Maier’s brilliant performing and compositional career is slowly overcome by illness.

Amanda Maier (1853-1894) was one of the 19th century’s most brilliant musicians, yet whose story was almost lost to history. Born in the small Swedish town of Landskrona, her virtuoso talent at the violin saw her rise to become one of Europe’s most in-demand performers: giving private and public concerts of major works by Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Bruch, as well as her own dazzling compositions. Maier was a friend of Grieg, Brahms, Clara Schumann and Ethel Smyth and her music was reviewed in newspapers across Europe. Tragically, ill health would see her pass away at the age of just 41 and her musical legacy slowly forgotten. All this week, Donald Macleod is joined by musicologist and violinist Dr Jennifer Martyn to celebrate Amanda Maier's life and work - with performances of all her extant compositions alongside works by key figures in her life, including Edward Grieg, Carl Reinecke and Maier's husband, Julius Röntgen, with whom she enjoyed a close and loving relationship in music and in life.

Just as Amanda Maier was looking forward to a long and happy life with her beloved husband Julius and two young children, she became seriously ill. When she died in 1894, a devastated Grieg wrote in response 'she was one of my favourites'. Donald Macleod and Dr Jennifer Martyn tell the story of Maier’s last years and final compositions, and introduce one of Maier’s most memorable late works: her Piano Quartet.

Allegretto (Zwiegespräche)
Bengt Forsberg, piano

Piano Quartet in E minor (1st and 2nd mvts)
Anne-Sofi Klingberg, Bernt Lysell, violins
Gregory Maytan, viola
Sara Wijk, cello

Brahms: Violin Sonata No 3 (1st mvt)
Isabelle Faust, violin
Alexander Melnikov, piano

Zwiegespräche (excerpts)
Bengt Forsberg, piano

Piano Quartet in E minor (3rd and 4th mvts)
Anne-Sofi Klingberg, Bernt Lysell, violins
Gregory Maytan, viola
Sara Wijk, cello

Produced by Steven Rajam for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Audio Wales & West