Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 01 | The English Strauss | 20241007 |  This week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia' at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell's music almost disappeared from view - until recently. In the first of this week's programmes, Donald Macleod looks with Leah Broad at how Howell rose to fame with ‘Lamia', an orchestral work that was premiered at the Proms in 1919 to a rapturous reception, and the experiences that shaped the piece. Spindrift Simon Callaghan, piano Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Humoresque for Orchestra BBC Concert Orchestra Rebecca Miller, conductor Sonata for violin and piano (Mvt 1) Lorraine McAslan, violin Sophia Rahman, piano Two Frogs Emily Gray, mezzo-soprano Timothy Salter, piano Five Studies for piano (Mvts 1, 2 and 3) Boat Song for piano BBC Philharmonic Rumon Gamba, conductor Donald Macleod and Leah Broad survey the life and work of British composer Dorothy Howell. An informative guide to composers' lives and their music. Howell shot to fame in 1919 with ‘Lamia', an orchestral work premiered at the Proms to a rapturous reception. She was hailed by the press aged 21 as ‘The English Richard Strauss'. |
| 2024 | 02 | Next Moves | 20241008 | This week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia' at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell's music almost disappeared from view - until recently. At a turning point in her career, Howell wrote the score for a ballet which had all the right ingredients for a huge success, and should have capitalised on the success of Lamia at the Proms. The young composer's self-confidence was badly affected by hostile reviews, but through the ballet she made contact with Ethel Smyth, who became a mentor. Five Studies (Mvt 5) Sophia Rahman, piano Rosalind Lorraine McAslan, violin The Little Round House, The Bears BBC Singers Francesca Massey, piano Will Dawes, conductor Koong Shee BBC Concert Orchestra Rebecca Miller, conductor Phantasy for violin and piano Howell struggles to follow up on the huge success of her first orchestral work. An informative guide to composers' lives and their music. Donald Macleod and Leah Broad look at the challenges Dorothy Howell faced in following up on the huge success of her first orchestral work. |
| 2024 | 03 | Radio Star | 20241009 | This week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia' at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell's music almost disappeared from view - until recently. The mid-1920s found Dorothy Howell appointed a Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music, performing for radio broadcasts, and giving recitals in some of London's most prestigious venues. Donald Macleod talks to Leah Broad about a period that saw Howell's music programmed alongside Ethel Smyth's and Rebecca Clarke's: these three were seen as the most significant British female composers of the time. Five Studies for Piano (Mvt 4) Sophia Rahman, piano The Tortoiseshell Cat, Pot Pourri, My White Lady Emily Gray, mezzo soprano Timothy Salter, piano The Moorings Lorraine McAslan, violin If you will come to Corte BBC Singers Will Dawes, conductor Rebecca Clarke: The Shy One Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor Graham Johnson, piano Ethel Smyth: The Cliffs of Cornwall Swedish Wind Ensemble Cathrine Winnes, conductor Piano Concerto in D minor Danny Driver, piano BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Rebecca Miller, conductor In the mid-1920s Dorothy Howell appeared regularly on the new medium of radio. An informative guide to composers' lives and their music. The 1920s finds Dorothy Howell appearing on the first radio programmes, teaching composition at the Royal Academy of Music and enjoying life in London. |
| 2024 | 04 | Traveller | 20241010 | This week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia' at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell's music almost disappeared from view - until recently. Today Donald Macleod and Leah Broad look at why the 1930s brought challenging times for Howell. With dwindling radio broadcasts and fewer performances of her work, she moved out of London to be with her mother. Travelling abroad always provided inspiration for new works, and the time she spent in Egypt helped her to realise what was most important to her: God, music and her family. Mazurka Simon Callaghan, piano Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Two Pieces for Muted Strings BBC Symphony Orchestra Michael Collins, conductor Puppydog's Tales Prelude 1 in F minor, Prelude 2 in C, Prelude 3 in A flat Recuerdos Preciosos No 1 and 2 The Rock Overture BBC Concert Orchestra Rebecca Miller, conductor Donald Macleod looks at why the 1930s brought challenging times for Dorothy Howell. An informative guide to composers' lives and their music. Donald Macleod and Leah Broad discuss a turning point in Dorothy Howell's life and work in the 1930s, including the growing challenges she faced. |
| 2024 | 05 LAST | Final Years | 20241011 | This week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia' at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell's music almost disappeared from view - until recently. After the Second World War, when she worked as a Land Girl, Howell continued to tour as a performer, giving piano recitals around the country. Donald Macleod and Leah Broad discuss Howell's final years, when she would tend Elgar's grave, but had given up on writing music of her own. Humoresque for piano Sophia Rahman (piano) Sonata for violin and piano (Mvts 2 and 3) Lorraine McAslan, violin Sophia Rahman, piano To Sine in Winter Emily Gray, soprano Timothy Salter, piano Sonata for piano Divertissements 1, 2, 3 BBC Concert Orchestra Rebecca Miller, conductor Donald Macleod and Leah Broad survey the life and work of British composer Dorothy Howell. Dorothy Howell spent the Second World War giving morale-raising recitals and bringing in the harvest as a Land Girl. Donald Macleod and Leah Broad look at Howell's final years. An informative guide to composers' lives and their music. |