Civil War

Donald Macleod explores Gottschalk’s life during the American Civil War, when he performed more widely across the US than any other artist.

This week, Donald Macleod takes us on a whirlwind journey through some of the most cataclysmic historical events of the 19th century. It’s the incredible story of America’s first international composing star - Louis Moreau Gottschalk - who was in Paris during the French Revolution, returned to America, where he played on the front lines of the Civil War, and may have been the originator of 'Monster Concerts' during his time in South America, where he dodged some of the bloodiest conflicts in Latin American history. On top of all this extraordinary historical backdrop, Donald finds a child prodigy who would go on to play for Chopin, be championed by Camille Pleyel and praised to the skies by Hector Berlioz, be honoured with a knighthood of the Order of Isabel Católica by the Queen of Spain, and would perform for Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant.

In Thursday’s programme, Donald explores Gottschalk’s life during the American Civil War, when he performed more widely across the US than any other artist. We find him living on trains, performing for President Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, and, on a trip to Puerto Rico, trying to emulate the kind of grand scale concerts he’d seen Berlioz put on in Paris.

Chant du guerre, Op.78
Philip Martin, piano

Souvenir de Puerto Rico, Op.31
Hot Springs Music Festival Symphony Orchestra
Richard Rosenberg, conductor

Escenas Campestres
Trinidad Paniagua, soprano
Jose Alberto Esteves, tenor
Pablo Garcia, baritone
Berlin Philharmonic
Igor Buketoff, conductor

The Banjo, Op.15
Greg McCallum, piano

Union, Op.48
Eugene List, piano
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Igor Buketoff, conductor

The Last Hope, Op.16
Leonard Pennario, piano

Grande Tarentelle, Op.67
Michael Gurt, piano
Hot Springs Festival Symphony Orchestra
Richard Rosenberg, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips