Johanna M\u00fcller-hermann (1868-1941)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2023

A Musical Family

20230306

Donald Macleod delves into Müller-Hermann's aristocratic background in Vienna.

Johanna Müller-Hermann was born into a musical and well-to-do family in 1868. She and her siblings would learn quadrilles and round dances with their father, whilst their mother played the piano and sang. Johanna's older brother Albert, at the age of twelve, set up the Hermann Music Society which put on events on Saturday evenings. The family home was turned into a salon for these concerts: programmes were printed, and friends invited to attend. This was the world in which Johanna first developed her passion for music.

String Quintet in A minor, Op 7 (excerpt)

Pawel Zalejski, violin

SongHa Choi, violin

Klaus Christa, viola

Danusha Waskiewicz, viola

Kajana Pa?ko, cello

Piano Sonata, Op 8 (Allegro en退rgico)

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Herbst, Op 20 No 3 (Vier Lieder)

Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano

Joseph Middleton, piano

Wie eine Vollmondnacht, Op 20 No 4 (Vier Lieder)

Zwei dreistimmige Frauench怀re, Op 10

Maisie O'Shea, soprano

BBC National Chorus of Wales

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Adrian Partington, conductor

Piano Sonata, Opus 8 (excerpt)

Cello Sonata, Op 17 (Moderato)

Othar Müller, cello

Leonore Aumaier, piano

Donald Macleod explores M\u00fcller-Hermann's early musical experiences.

2023

Studying With Zemlinsky

20230307

Donald Macleod delves into Johanna Müller-Hermann's friendship with Alma Mahler and Zemlinsky.

Johanna Müller-Hermann became engaged to Dr Otto Müller in 1893, marrying him the following year. As was expected at the time, she gave up her career as a primary school teacher. However, now that she was no longer working, Müller-Hermann was able to pursue her passion for music and started learning from a number of eminent musicians including Karel Navrကtil and Josef Labor. Around this same period, she also became friends with Alma Mahler and they often corresponded. It was through Alma Mahler that Müller-Hermann became acquainted with the famed composer Alexander von Zemlinsky. She began lessons with Zemlinsky, and dedicated her String Quartet to him.

String Quartet in E flat, Op 6 (Moderato)

Artis Quartet

Peter Schuhmayer, violin

Johannes Meissl, violin

Herbert Kefer, viola

Othmar Müller, cello

Intermezzo in D, Op 3 No 4 (Fünf Klavierstücke)

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Vier Lieder, Op 2

Soraya Mafi, soprano

Simon Lepper, piano

Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 5 (Moderato serioso) UK Broadcast Premiere

Jennifer Pike, violin

James Baillieu, piano

String Quartet in E flat, Op 6 (excerpt)

Die stille Stadt, Op 4 No 1

Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano

Joseph Middleton, piano

Donald Macleod explores the impact of marriage on Johanna M\u00fcller-Hermann.

2023

Vienna And The Great War

20230308

Donald Macleod explores Johanna Müller-Hermann's musical ascent during World War I.

In the build up to World War One, life in Vienna was growing increasingly difficult with rioting and political instability. Nevertheless, this was a period of significant growth for Müller-Hermann, thanks to her studies with the Czech composer Josef Foerster. He encouraged Müller-Hermann to start composing orchestral music, which she did to great acclaim. Soon, Müller-Hermann found her music being regularly performed in Vienna. In 1918 Foerster returned to Prague, leaving his teaching post at the New Vienna Conservatory. Müller-Hermann was appointed to replace him.

Heroic Overture, Op 21 (excerpt)

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Ilan Volkov, conductor

Alle die wachsenden Schatten, Op 9 No 3 (Drei Ch怀re)

BBC Singers

Benjamin Nicholas, conductor

Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 5 (excerpt) UK Broadcast Premiere

Jennifer Pike, violin

James Baillieu, piano

String Quintet in A minor, Op 7 (Adagio con expressione)

Pawel Zalejski, violin

SongHa Choi, violin

Klaus Christa, viola

Danusha Waskiewicz, viola

Kajana Pa?ko, cello

Donald Macleod follows M\u00fcller-Hermann during the period of the World War I.

2023

International Teacher

20230309

Donald Macleod delves into Müller-Hermann's life during the privations after World War I.

After World War One, life in Vienna was exceptionally hard with food shortages, and shortages of other things too such as clothes. Johanna Müller-Hermann was beginning her teaching career at the New Vienna Conservatory and she built up an impressive list of national and international students over the next few years. Müller-Hermann also saw performances of many of her works, including her Cello Sonata in 1923, although reaction to her music often elicited dismissive and chauvinistic reviews. A decade later, with the approach of World War Two and changing times in Austria, Müller-Hermann resigned from her post at the Conservatory

Piano Quintet in G minor, Op 31 (excerpt)

Louise Farrenc Ensemble

Zwei Lieder, Op 11

Robyn Allegra Parton, soprano

Simon Lepper, piano

Cello Sonata, Op 17 (excerpt)

Othmar Müller, cello

Leonore Aumaier, piano

Epilog zur einer Tragodie 'Brand - symphonic fantasy, Op 25

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Ilan Volkov, conductor

Intermezzo in D minor, Op 3 No 3 (Fünf Klavierstücke)

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Impromptu in D minor, Op 3 No 5 (Fünf Klavierstücke)

Donald Macleod explores M\u00fcller-Hermann's growing reputation as a composer and teacher.

2023

05 LAST

Life During World War Ii

20230310

Donald Macleod explores Johanna Müller-Hermann's final years under the Nazis, and her musical legacy.

During the build-up to World War Two, the social and political scene in Austria was rapidly changing. It was a period of great unrest leading up to the annexation of Austria by Hitler, and the Nazis' subsequent persecution of the Jewish population there. Johanna Müller-Hermann would have witnessed these changes in Vienna and had to face the dilemma of whether to sign up as a member of the Reich Chamber of Culture in order to have her music still performed in the city, or to see it totally banned. She died in 1941, just as the tide of the war was about to turn against Hitler, and Donald explores her musical legacy with Dr Carola Darwin.

In Memoriam, Op 28 No 5 (Herbstlieder)

Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano

Joseph Middleton, piano

Novelette in A flat, Op 3 No 2 (Fünf Klavierstücke)

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 5 (Allegretto amabile) UK Broadcast Premiere

Jennifer Pike, violin

James Baillieu, piano

Piano Quintet in G minor, Op 31 (Adagio sostenuto)

Louise Farrenc Ensemble

Mayumi Kanagawa, violin

Jevgꀀnijs ?epoveckis, violin

Klaus Christa, viola

Mathias Johansen, cello

Katya Apekisheva, piano

Drei Gesange, Op 33

Ilona Domnich, soprano

BBC Concert Orchestra

Jane Glover, conductor

String Quartet in E flat, Op 6 (Allegro con spirito)

Artis Quartet

Peter Schuhmayer, violin

Johannes Meissl, violin

Herbert Kefer, viola

Othmar Müller, cello

Donald Macleod delves into M\u00fcller-Hermann's final years during the Second World War.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2023	01	A Musical Family	20230306	Donald Macleod delves into Müller-Hermann's aristocratic background in Vienna. Johanna Müller-Hermann was born into a musical and well-to-do family in 1868. She and her siblings would learn quadrilles and round dances with their father, whilst their mother played the piano and sang. Johanna's older brother Albert, at the age of twelve, set up the Hermann Music Society which put on events on Saturday evenings. The family home was turned into a salon for these concerts: programmes were printed, and friends invited to attend. This was the world in which Johanna first developed her passion for music. String Quintet in A minor, Op 7 (excerpt) Pawel Zalejski, violin SongHa Choi, violin Klaus Christa, viola Danusha Waskiewicz, viola Kajana Pa?ko, cello Piano Sonata, Op 8 (Allegro en退rgico) Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Herbst, Op 20 No 3 (Vier Lieder) Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano Joseph Middleton, piano Wie eine Vollmondnacht, Op 20 No 4 (Vier Lieder) Zwei dreistimmige Frauench怀re, Op 10 Maisie O'Shea, soprano BBC National Chorus of Wales BBC National Orchestra of Wales Adrian Partington, conductor Piano Sonata, Opus 8 (excerpt) Cello Sonata, Op 17 (Moderato) Othar Müller, cello Leonore Aumaier, piano Donald Macleod explores M\u00fcller-Hermann's early musical experiences.
2023	02	Studying With Zemlinsky	20230307	Donald Macleod delves into Johanna Müller-Hermann's friendship with Alma Mahler and Zemlinsky. Johanna Müller-Hermann became engaged to Dr Otto Müller in 1893, marrying him the following year. As was expected at the time, she gave up her career as a primary school teacher. However, now that she was no longer working, Müller-Hermann was able to pursue her passion for music and started learning from a number of eminent musicians including Karel Navrကtil and Josef Labor. Around this same period, she also became friends with Alma Mahler and they often corresponded. It was through Alma Mahler that Müller-Hermann became acquainted with the famed composer Alexander von Zemlinsky. She began lessons with Zemlinsky, and dedicated her String Quartet to him. String Quartet in E flat, Op 6 (Moderato) Artis Quartet Peter Schuhmayer, violin Johannes Meissl, violin Herbert Kefer, viola Othmar Müller, cello Intermezzo in D, Op 3 No 4 (Fünf Klavierstücke) Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Vier Lieder, Op 2 Soraya Mafi, soprano Simon Lepper, piano Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 5 (Moderato serioso) UK Broadcast Premiere Jennifer Pike, violin James Baillieu, piano String Quartet in E flat, Op 6 (excerpt) Die stille Stadt, Op 4 No 1 Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano Joseph Middleton, piano Donald Macleod explores the impact of marriage on Johanna M\u00fcller-Hermann.
2023	03	Vienna And The Great War	20230308	Donald Macleod explores Johanna Müller-Hermann's musical ascent during World War I. In the build up to World War One, life in Vienna was growing increasingly difficult with rioting and political instability. Nevertheless, this was a period of significant growth for Müller-Hermann, thanks to her studies with the Czech composer Josef Foerster. He encouraged Müller-Hermann to start composing orchestral music, which she did to great acclaim. Soon, Müller-Hermann found her music being regularly performed in Vienna. In 1918 Foerster returned to Prague, leaving his teaching post at the New Vienna Conservatory. Müller-Hermann was appointed to replace him. Heroic Overture, Op 21 (excerpt) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Ilan Volkov, conductor Alle die wachsenden Schatten, Op 9 No 3 (Drei Ch怀re) BBC Singers Benjamin Nicholas, conductor Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 5 (excerpt) UK Broadcast Premiere Jennifer Pike, violin James Baillieu, piano String Quintet in A minor, Op 7 (Adagio con expressione) Pawel Zalejski, violin SongHa Choi, violin Klaus Christa, viola Danusha Waskiewicz, viola Kajana Pa?ko, cello Donald Macleod follows M\u00fcller-Hermann during the period of the World War I.
2023	04	International Teacher	20230309	Donald Macleod delves into Müller-Hermann's life during the privations after World War I. After World War One, life in Vienna was exceptionally hard with food shortages, and shortages of other things too such as clothes. Johanna Müller-Hermann was beginning her teaching career at the New Vienna Conservatory and she built up an impressive list of national and international students over the next few years. Müller-Hermann also saw performances of many of her works, including her Cello Sonata in 1923, although reaction to her music often elicited dismissive and chauvinistic reviews. A decade later, with the approach of World War Two and changing times in Austria, Müller-Hermann resigned from her post at the Conservatory Piano Quintet in G minor, Op 31 (excerpt) Louise Farrenc Ensemble Zwei Lieder, Op 11 Robyn Allegra Parton, soprano Simon Lepper, piano Cello Sonata, Op 17 (excerpt) Othmar Müller, cello Leonore Aumaier, piano Epilog zur einer Tragodie 'Brand - symphonic fantasy, Op 25 BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Ilan Volkov, conductor Intermezzo in D minor, Op 3 No 3 (Fünf Klavierstücke) Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Impromptu in D minor, Op 3 No 5 (Fünf Klavierstücke) Donald Macleod explores M\u00fcller-Hermann's growing reputation as a composer and teacher.
2023	05 LAST	Life During World War Ii	20230310	Donald Macleod explores Johanna Müller-Hermann's final years under the Nazis, and her musical legacy. During the build-up to World War Two, the social and political scene in Austria was rapidly changing. It was a period of great unrest leading up to the annexation of Austria by Hitler, and the Nazis' subsequent persecution of the Jewish population there. Johanna Müller-Hermann would have witnessed these changes in Vienna and had to face the dilemma of whether to sign up as a member of the Reich Chamber of Culture in order to have her music still performed in the city, or to see it totally banned. She died in 1941, just as the tide of the war was about to turn against Hitler, and Donald explores her musical legacy with Dr Carola Darwin. In Memoriam, Op 28 No 5 (Herbstlieder) Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano Joseph Middleton, piano Novelette in A flat, Op 3 No 2 (Fünf Klavierstücke) Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 5 (Allegretto amabile) UK Broadcast Premiere Jennifer Pike, violin James Baillieu, piano Piano Quintet in G minor, Op 31 (Adagio sostenuto) Louise Farrenc Ensemble Mayumi Kanagawa, violin Jevgꀀnijs ?epoveckis, violin Klaus Christa, viola Mathias Johansen, cello Katya Apekisheva, piano Drei Gesange, Op 33 Ilona Domnich, soprano BBC Concert Orchestra Jane Glover, conductor String Quartet in E flat, Op 6 (Allegro con spirito) Artis Quartet Peter Schuhmayer, violin Johannes Meissl, violin Herbert Kefer, viola Othmar Müller, cello Donald Macleod delves into M\u00fcller-Hermann's final years during the Second World War.