Episode XXIV of Thijs Bonger’s Hummel series is broadcast on Tuesday 6 December at 19:00 CET.
Episode XXIV begins in the same way as the previous episode with music from Hummel’s close friend Maria Szymanowska. We hear two sad songs, in a exceptionally pure rendition by mezzo soprano Elisabeth Zapolska and our nationalist specialist in historical piano performances, Bart van Oort. Szymanowska often played piano concerts for Hummel. Her most famous piece is the Nocturne in B flat op. 89 that is played in the programme by Stephen Hough. This music is romantic, progressive en technically demanding. Finally, we can listen to a sonata written by Hummel for piano 4 mains op. 92. An interesting piece that probably was an inspiration for Schubert.
