Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 01 | Family Matters | 20220307 | 20230814 (R3) | Donald Macleod looks at Bosmans's relationship with her parents and finds out about a confrontation with the Gestapo. Henri뀀tte 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 didn't follow her mother's Jewish faith. Nevertheless, 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. Today, Donald sees Henri뀀tte's mother, Sara, arrested by the Nazi secret police and sent to the transit camp at Westerbork. Henri뀀tte sets out to rescue her. Prelude No 3, 4 & 6 (from Six Preludes) Danny Driver, piano Cello Sonata (excerpt) Franz Bartolomey, cello Clemens Zeilinger, piano String Quartet Utrecht String Quartet Po耀me for cello and orchestra Dmitri Ferschtman, cello Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra Ed Spanjaard, conductor Donald Macleod looks into Bosmans's relationship with her parents. |
| 2022 | 02 | Concert Pianist | 20220308 | 20230815 (R3) | Donald Macleod traces Bosmans's trajectory as a pianist, and her short-lived engaged to a fellow musician. Henri뀀tte 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 didn't follow her mother's Jewish faith. Nevertheless, 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. During the 1920s and 30s, Henri뀀tte Bosmans was making a name for herself as a concert pianist. She was regularly engaged to perform with orchestras and her chamber ensemble, toured the Netherlands. The intense pressure of her performing work led Bosmans to feel that she'd reached a crisis point as a composer and she sought the help of her neighbour, the composer Willem Pijper. From this point her compositions began to move away from the Late-Romantic sound of the 19th century, towards a more forward-looking style. In 1934 Bosmans became engaged to the violinist Francis Koene. However, tragedy struck, and Koene died that same year of a brain tumour. Years later, Bosmans confessed that she `died a little bit then` herself. Arietta (from Two Recital Pieces) Francien Schatborn, viola Jeannette Koekkoek, piano Trio for piano, violin and cello Leonore Piano Trio Im Mondenglanze ruht das Meer Julia Bronkhorst, soprano Maarten Hillenius, piano Le diable dans la nuit Concertino for piano and orchestra Ronald Brautigam, piano Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra Ed Spanjaard, conductor Donald Macleod explores Henri\u00ebtte Bosmans's rise to fame as a pianist. |
| 2022 | 03 | Occupied Amsterdam | 20220309 | 20230816 (R3) | Donald Macleod looks into Bosmans's war years Henri뀀tte 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 didn't follow her mother's Jewish faith. Nevertheless, 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. Towards the beginning of World War Two, Henri뀀tte Bosmans found herself in great demand as a performer. The turbulence in Europe meant that other pianists, such as Myra Hess, were cancelling their planned visits to Holland. Following the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, Bosmans considered leaving for the USA but decided she couldn't abandon her now elderly mother. By 1942, Bosmans's music had been banned by the Dutch National Broadcasting Organisation and there was also an injunction which forbade her from performing. With little income and now relying on friends for food, Bosmans took to performing in illegal concerts; on at least one occasion, she was nearly caught and arrested. A further blow came when her mother Sara was arrested and sent to a transit camp awaiting deportation. Prelude No 5 (from Six Preludes) Danny Driver, piano Cello Sonata (excerpt) Franz Bartolomey, cello Clemens Zeilinger, piano Cello Concerto No 2, UK premi耀re Gemma Rosefield, cello BBC National Orchestra of Wales Jonathan Bloxham, conductor Lead Kindly Light Julia Bronkhorst, soprano Maarten Hillenius, piano Gebed Donald Macleod explores the impact of World War II on Bosmans's circumstances. |
| 2022 | 04 | A British Connection | 20220310 | 20230817 (R3) | Bosmans begins to compose again and strikes up a relationship with Benjamin Britten. Henri뀀tte 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 didn't follow her mother's Jewish faith. Nevertheless, 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. Once the Second World War had ended, Henri뀀tte Bosmans and her mother, Sara, emerged exhausted and malnourished but alive. Bosmans soon started to compose again, and found particular inspiration in writing for the voice. In 1946 she witnessed young British composer, Benjamin Britten, perform with Peter Pears and was immediately struck by their artistry. Bosmans began corresponding with Britten and championing his music. She adopted a rather motherly role towards him, sending him presents of chocolate and eggs. Danse Orientale (from Two Recital Pieces), UK premi耀re Ionel Manciu, violin Dominic Degavino, piano Trois Impressions for cello and piano Doris Hochscheid, cello Frans van Ruth, piano Dit eiland Julia Bronkhorst, soprano Maarten Hillenius, piano Complainte du petit cheval blanc Aurore Concertstuck for violin and orchestra Vera Beths, violin Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Lucas Vis, conductor Donald Macleod looks at the relationship between Henri\u00ebtte Bosmans and Benjamin Britten. |
| 2022 | 05 LAST | Muse | 20220311 | 20230818 (R3) | Donald Macleod looks at Bosmans's final years, including her fiery relationship with singer No뀀mie Perugia. Henri뀀tte 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 didn't follow her mother's Jewish faith. Nevertheless, 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. Henri뀀tte Bosmans was greatly inspired observing the powerful connection between composer, Benjamin Britten and tenor, Peter Pears, and she sought out her own vocal muse. Her heart was captured by the singing of No뀀mie Perugia and the two began to perform together. The relationship was far from harmonious, though, and there were frequent arguments between the two. Perugia refused to sing in Dutch, and often refused to sing songs Bosmans composed in other languages, too. For Bosmans's part, she would deliberately set texts she knew would irritate Perugia. Their relationship only lasted a few years before Bosmans started to suffer from stomach pains. She died of stomach cancer in 1952. Concertstuck for flute and chamber orchestra Jacques Zoon, flute Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra Jac van Steen, conductor La chanson du chiffonnier Julia Bronkhorst, soprano Maarten Hillenius, piano Das macht den Menschen glücklich Een lied voor Spanje Violin Sonata, UK premi耀re Ionel Manciu, violin Dominic Degavino, piano Donald Macleod looks at Bosmans's fiery relationship with singer No\u00ebmie Perugia. |