Camille Saint-saens (1835-1921)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2013

Hens, Hugo And Havanaises

20131125

Beastly goings on as Noel Coward introduces the Carnival of the Animals. Plus, Saint-Sa뀀ns's much-loved Havanaise for violin and orchestra.

Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous 'Carnival of the Animals' and his 'Organ' Symphony were first performed. He was 51 - and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected - seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns left behind from the last decades of his life.

The week begins with a contrasting trio of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns composed in 1887, following the huge success of the previous year. 'La fianc退e du timbalier' is a dramatic scene for soprano and piano, once popular at the BBC Proms but now out of favour - Felicity Lott brings it back to our attention. Then we hear the Latin-tinged Havanaise for violin and orchestra, perhaps the most popular of the composer's later works.

Donald Macleod introduces a contrasting trio of pieces Saint-Saens composed in 1887.

2013

Memories Of Africa

20131126

The composer's exotic musical impressions of North Africa. Plus, a virtuoso showpiece for the harp.

Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous 'Carnival of the Animals' and his 'Organ' Symphony were first performed. He was 51 ? and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected ? seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns left behind from the last decades of his life.

Saint-Sa뀀ns was an avid traveller, and particularly loved spending time under the warm sunshine, blue skies and exotic locales of North Africa. Today, Donald Macleod introduces two rare musical impressions of the composer's travels, plus a dazzling virtuoso showpiece for solo harp.

Donald Macleod focuses on two exotic impressions of North Africa, plus a work for harp.

2013

A Village Affair And An Egyptian Fantasy

20131127

As the Dreyfus Affair rocks France, Saint-Sa뀀ns takes his leave to Egypt ? to create his last, and perhaps most virtuosic, piano concerto.

The last years of the 19th century saw intrigue and conspiracy rock French society, as the infamous Dreyfus Affair exposed prejudice and anti-Semitism at the heart of the nation's political life. But for the sixty-something Saint-Sa뀀ns, these were years of new horizons. Donald Macleod explores the composer's final piano concerto ? a fantastical impression of his visit to Egypt, and his little-played ballet 'Javotte', for which Saint-Sa뀀ns drew on his love of traditional, rustic French life.

Donald Macleod focuses on Saint-Saens's final and perhaps most virtuosic piano concerto.

2013

A New Century

20131128

As the new century dawns, Saint-Sa뀀ns composes one of the first-ever original film scores.

The 'Exposition Universelle', or World's Fair, in Paris in 1900 marked an exciting, thrusting new century ? one of electricity, innovation in art and music, and new ideas. But the 65-year-old Saint-Sa뀀ns was no relic. In 1908 he made history with one of the first ever original film scores ? written for the silent movie, 'The Assassination of the Duke of Guise'. We'll hear that pioneering work, as well as a very rare cantata composed to mark the new century, before one of the composer's most beloved concertante works: his Second Cello Concerto, performed by Steven Isserlis.

Donald Macleod on how Saint-Saens made history with one of the first original film scores.

2013

05 LAST

Goodbyes To A Bygone World

20131129

Saint-Sa뀀ns's war service 'at the keyboard' ? and a trio of valedictory works for trombone, harp and bassoon.

As France experienced the trauma of the First World War, the elderly Saint-Sa뀀ns made sure to do his bit ? by composing a series of works to rouse the spirits of the French people. Spirited away from war-torn Paris, and in the company of the Belgian royal family! he set to work on a new work for harp and orchestra: a novel combination even for a composer in his ninth decade. His wanderlust never satiated, Saint-Sa뀀ns spent his final years on visits to the USA, where he was appalled by animals in captivity at the zoo in New York, and to Switzerland, where even at the age of 85 he insisted on swimming in the lakes.

Donald Macleod focuses on music composed to raise morale during the First World War.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2013	01	Hens, Hugo And Havanaises	20131125	Beastly goings on as Noel Coward introduces the Carnival of the Animals. Plus, Saint-Sa뀀ns's much-loved Havanaise for violin and orchestra. Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous 'Carnival of the Animals' and his 'Organ' Symphony were first performed. He was 51 - and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected - seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns left behind from the last decades of his life. The week begins with a contrasting trio of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns composed in 1887, following the huge success of the previous year. 'La fianc退e du timbalier' is a dramatic scene for soprano and piano, once popular at the BBC Proms but now out of favour - Felicity Lott brings it back to our attention. Then we hear the Latin-tinged Havanaise for violin and orchestra, perhaps the most popular of the composer's later works. Donald Macleod introduces a contrasting trio of pieces Saint-Saens composed in 1887.
2013	02	Memories Of Africa	20131126	The composer's exotic musical impressions of North Africa. Plus, a virtuoso showpiece for the harp. Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous 'Carnival of the Animals' and his 'Organ' Symphony were first performed. He was 51 ? and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected ? seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns left behind from the last decades of his life. Saint-Sa뀀ns was an avid traveller, and particularly loved spending time under the warm sunshine, blue skies and exotic locales of North Africa. Today, Donald Macleod introduces two rare musical impressions of the composer's travels, plus a dazzling virtuoso showpiece for solo harp. Donald Macleod focuses on two exotic impressions of North Africa, plus a work for harp.
2013	03	A Village Affair And An Egyptian Fantasy	20131127	As the Dreyfus Affair rocks France, Saint-Sa뀀ns takes his leave to Egypt ? to create his last, and perhaps most virtuosic, piano concerto. Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous 'Carnival of the Animals' and his 'Organ' Symphony were first performed. He was 51 ? and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected ? seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns left behind from the last decades of his life. The last years of the 19th century saw intrigue and conspiracy rock French society, as the infamous Dreyfus Affair exposed prejudice and anti-Semitism at the heart of the nation's political life. But for the sixty-something Saint-Sa뀀ns, these were years of new horizons. Donald Macleod explores the composer's final piano concerto ? a fantastical impression of his visit to Egypt, and his little-played ballet 'Javotte', for which Saint-Sa뀀ns drew on his love of traditional, rustic French life. Donald Macleod focuses on Saint-Saens's final and perhaps most virtuosic piano concerto.
2013	04	A New Century	20131128	As the new century dawns, Saint-Sa뀀ns composes one of the first-ever original film scores. Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous 'Carnival of the Animals' and his 'Organ' Symphony were first performed. He was 51 ? and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected ? seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns left behind from the last decades of his life. The 'Exposition Universelle', or World's Fair, in Paris in 1900 marked an exciting, thrusting new century ? one of electricity, innovation in art and music, and new ideas. But the 65-year-old Saint-Sa뀀ns was no relic. In 1908 he made history with one of the first ever original film scores ? written for the silent movie, 'The Assassination of the Duke of Guise'. We'll hear that pioneering work, as well as a very rare cantata composed to mark the new century, before one of the composer's most beloved concertante works: his Second Cello Concerto, performed by Steven Isserlis. Donald Macleod on how Saint-Saens made history with one of the first original film scores.
2013	05 LAST	Goodbyes To A Bygone World	20131129	Saint-Sa뀀ns's war service 'at the keyboard' ? and a trio of valedictory works for trombone, harp and bassoon. Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous 'Carnival of the Animals' and his 'Organ' Symphony were first performed. He was 51 ? and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected ? seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Sa뀀ns left behind from the last decades of his life. As France experienced the trauma of the First World War, the elderly Saint-Sa뀀ns made sure to do his bit ? by composing a series of works to rouse the spirits of the French people. Spirited away from war-torn Paris, and in the company of the Belgian royal family! he set to work on a new work for harp and orchestra: a novel combination even for a composer in his ninth decade. His wanderlust never satiated, Saint-Sa뀀ns spent his final years on visits to the USA, where he was appalled by animals in captivity at the zoo in New York, and to Switzerland, where even at the age of 85 he insisted on swimming in the lakes. Donald Macleod focuses on music composed to raise morale during the First World War.