Donald Macleod explores those artists to whom Dora Pejacevic dedicated works.

In Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod introduces a first for the series in its history of over seventy years, the Croatian Countess Dora Pejacevic. The life of Pejacevic has been fictionalised into film, and also told in a romanticised biography. In this week of programmes, Donald is joined by Professor Koraljka Koss and Professor Iskra Iveljic, to explore the known facts about the life and music of this Countess and her family. Although Pejacevic was born into one of the most influential aristocratic families in Croatia, she became rather critical of her own class in later life. Through her position she did have the opportunity to study in Germany with noted music teachers of the day, and met and collaborated with some of the literary giants of the early twentieth century. Upon her death at the age of only 37, she left a catalogue of over one hundred compositions displaying a unique voice now largely forgotten.

Dora Pejacevic had the opportunity to work with some of the finest musicians of her day, as well as dedicating a number of her works to such luminaries. It was Bela Bartok who hailed the violinist Stefi Geyer as one of the greatest violinists of her generation, but Pejacevic also had a number of her own works premiered by Geyer. Other notable artists and organisations performed music by Pejacevic, including the Dresden Philharmonic premiering the complete Symphony, conducted by Edwin Lindner. Pejacevic also dedicated her Phantasie Concertante to the famous pianist Alice Ripper, although this work received its premiere seven years after the composers death. Her music although largely forgotten today, enjoyed an international platform, with works such as the Slavic Violin Sonata being performed in London during the 1920s.

Canzonetta, Op 8
Andrej Below, violin
Oliver Triendl, piano

Symphony in F sharp minor, Op 41 (Andante maestoso – Allegro con moto)
The German State Philharmonic Orchestra of the Rhineland-Palatinate
Ari Rasilainen, conductor

Violin Sonata, Op 43 (Adagio)
Andrej Bielow, violin
Oliver Triendl, piano

Phantasie Concertante, Op 48
Volker Banfield, piano
The German State Philharmonic Orchestra of the Rhineland-Palatinate
Ari Rasilainen, conductor

Verwandlung, Op 37
Ingeborg Danz, alto
Brandenburg State Orchestra of Frankfurt
Howard Griffiths, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales Show less