Derailed by Intrigues
Donald Macleod explores the period in Le Beau’s life when she meets Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms.
Donald Macleod explores the period in Le Beau’s life when she meets Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms.
Luise Adolpha Le Beau was a German composer, concert pianist, teacher and music critic. Although her music was performed as far afield as Calcutta and Sydney, and despite the musical luminaries who influenced her career including the conductor Hans von Bülow, her story is one of continual struggle for recognition and respect. Le Beau’s parents were huge supporters of their daughter right from the start, but their frequent moving of home in Germany, including Baden-Baden, Munich and Berlin, tells another story. Le Beau frequently met opposition to her works and to performance opportunities, and would eventually move on with her parents to seek better prospects. Despite these set-backs, Le Beau forged her own path as a composer not only with works for her own instrument, the piano, but also with chamber music, opera, a symphony and many songs. She was determined to succeed, but after her death, without anyone to promote her works on her behalf, Le Beau soon fell into obscurity and was largely forgotten.
It had reached a point where Luise Adolpha Le Beau had decided, along with her parents, to leave Munich and head to Wiesbaden. In her autobiography Le Beau comments upon the artistic circles in Munich, which largely remained closed to her. It was during this period that Le Beau met Franz Liszt, and she was not overly impressed. On the other hand, Le Beau also had meetings with Johannes Brahms and Eduard Hanslick. These encounters were far more positive. Dr Katy Hamilton joins Donald Macleod to discuss the reviews Le Beau was receiving for her music at this time, and also the composer's endeavours to establish a school for teaching the daughters of educated classes.
Eight Preludes, Op 12 No 2 (Munter)
Ana-Marija Markovina, piano
Romance, Op 35
Thomas Albertus Imberger, violin
Barbara Moser, piano
Vier Stücke, for cello and piano, Op 24
Thomas Blees, cello
Maria Bergmann, piano
Fünf Lieder, Op 11 (excerpt)
Helen Charlston, mezzo-soprano
Michael Pandya, piano
Improvisata for left hand, Op 30
Ana-Marija Markovina, piano
Gavotte, Op 32
Ana-Marija Markovina, piano
Piano Concerto in D minor, Op 37 (excerpt)
Katia Tchemberdji, piano
Berlin Chamber Symphony Orchestra
Jürgen Bruns, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Prelude, Op 12, No 2 "Munter"
Performer: Ana-Marija Markovina.- GENUIN : GEN-10177.
- GENUIN.
- 10.
-
![]()
Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Romance, Op 35
Performer: Thomas Albertus Irnberger. Performer: Barbara Moser.- Gramola : 99153.
- Gramola.
- 5.
-
![]()
Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Four Pieces for cello and piano, Op 24
Performer: Thomas Blees. Performer: Maria Bergmann.- SWR : SWR10295.
- SWR.
- 1.
-
![]()
Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Five Lieder, Op 11 (Nos 2, 4 & 5)
Performer: Michael Pandya. Singer: Helen Charlston. -
![]()
Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Improvisata, Op 30
Performer: Ana-Marija Markovina.- GENUIN : GEN-10177.
- GENUIN.
- 17.
-
![]()
Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Gavotte, Op 32
Performer: Ana-Marija Markovina.- GENUIN : GEN-10177.
- GENUIN.
- 18.
-
![]()
Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Piano Concerto in D minor, Op 37 (2nd & 3rd mvts)
Performer: Yekaterina Chemberdzhi. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Berlin. Conductor: Jürgen Bruns.- DREYER GAIDO : DGCD 21015.
- DREYER GAIDO.
- 7.
Broadcast
- Wed 4 Dec 2024 16:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
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
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.