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In Friday’s programme, Donald explores how Chopin’s relationship with George Sand came to a fractious end.

Early in 1837, Franz Liszt introduced Chopin to a woman who would have a profound influence on his life. Her name was George Sand and Chopin’s relationship with the novelist would go on to stretch for almost a decade and prove to be the longest romantic bond of the composer’s life, and a defining creative relationship for both of them. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod explores the intertwined lives of these two key figures in French romantic-era life.

Donald Macleod explores how Chopin’s romantic relationship with George Sand, and one of the most productive creative relationships in the romantic world, broke down and came to a fractious end, with Sand making the details of their problems public in a thinly veiled novel.

Mazurka No 51 in F minor, Op.68 no 4
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Nocturnes, Op.55 in F minor & E-flat
Arthur Rubinstein, piano

Cello Sonata in G minor, Op.65 - II. Scherzo
Johannes Moser, cello
Ewa Kupiec, piano

Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op.60
Evgeny Kissin, piano

Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor, Op.11 - II. Romance
Grigory Sokolov, piano
Münchner Philharmoniker
Witold Rowicki, conductor

Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op.64 no 2
Maurizio Pollini, piano

Producer: Sam Phillips