Henriette Bosmans (1895-1952)

Donald Macleod explores Henriëtte Bosmans' rise to fame as both a pianist and a composer.

Henriëtte Bosmans seemed destined for a life in music from the moment of her birth, in 1895. Her father was the principal solo cellist in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra and her mother a piano teacher at the Amsterdam Conservatory. Bosmans developed a flourishing career and won international success with her Concert Piece for Violin and Orchestra. As a concert pianist she performed alongside conductors such as Ernest Ansermet and George Szell.

Bosmans’s mother was a Jew and, although Bosmans didn’t consider herself Jewish, her ancestry played a significant role in the events of her life. She lived through the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, when tens of thousands of Amsterdam Jews were deported to concentration camps, including her fellow citizen, Anne Frank. This week, Donald Macleod is joined by Bosmans expert Dr Helen Metzelaar and also Dr Laurien Vastenhout from Amsterdam’s Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide.

Music Featured:

Prelude No 3, 4 & 6 (from Six Preludes)Cello Sonata (excerpt)String QuartetPoème for cello and orchestraArietta (from Two Recital Pieces)Trio for piano, violin and celloIm Mondenglanze ruht das MeerLe diable dans la nuitConcertino for piano and orchestraPrelude No 5 (from Six Preludes)Cello Sonata (excerpt)Cello Concerto No 2, UK premièreLead Kindly LightGebedDanse Orientale (from Two Recital Pieces), UK premièreTrois Impressions for cello and pianoDit eilandComplainte du petit cheval blancAuroreConcertstuck for violin and orchestraConcertstuck for flute and chamber orchestraLa chanson du chiffonnierDas macht den Menschen glücklichEen lied voor SpanjeViolin Sonata, UK première

Presented by Donald MacleodProduced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC WalesFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Henriette Bosmans (1895-1952) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0014y4mAnd you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

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