Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20070319 | To mark the centenary of her birth, Donald Macleod begins a survey of the work of Dame Elizabeth Maconchy, described as 'one of the most substantial composers these islands have yet produced'. She was a hugely influential and radical voice in British music of the 20th century. Her music is elegant, precise, 'an intense but disciplined expression of emotion', as she herself once remarked. String Quartet No 5 Bingham String Quartet My Dark Heart Jane Manning (soprano) Lontano Odaline de la Martinez (conductor) Concertino No 1 for Clarinet Thea King (clarinet) English Chamber Orchestra Barry Wordsworth (conductor). |
| 01 | 20070319 | To mark the centenary of her birth, Donald Macleod begins a survey of the work of Dame Elizabeth Maconchy, described as 'one of the most substantial composers these islands have yet produced'. She was a hugely influential and radical voice in British music of the 20th century. Her music is elegant, precise, 'an intense but disciplined expression of emotion', as she herself once remarked. String Quartet No 5 Bingham String Quartet My Dark Heart Jane Manning (soprano) Lontano Odaline de la Martinez (conductor) Concertino No 1 for Clarinet Thea King (clarinet) English Chamber Orchestra Barry Wordsworth (conductor). |
| 02 | 20070320 | Donald Macleod is joined by composer Nicola Lefanu to discuss the legacy of her mother, Dame Elizabeth 'Betty' Maconchy. One of the most brilliant British composers of the 20th century, her extensive catalogue includes a cycle of 13 string quartets, the second of which is the centrepiece of the programme. Serenata concertante for violin and orchestra Manoug Parikian (violin) London Symphony Orchestra Vernon Handley (conductor) String Quartet No 2 Hanson String Quartet Nocturnal BBC Singers Nicholas Kok (conductor). |
| 03 | 20070321 | Donald Macleod continues the series marking the centenary of Maconchy's birth in conversation with composer Nicola Lefanu, daughter of Elizabeth Maconchy. She was only 23 when her suite, The Land, received an acclaimed premiere at the 1930 season of Proms concerts. That was one crucial early step in an illustrious career that would see Maconchy become one of Britain's most admired composers. The Land BBC National Orchestra of Wales Jason Lai (conductor) Clarinet Quintet Thea King (clarinet) Britten String Quartet Symphony for Double String Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra Vernon Handley (conductor). |
| 04 | 20070322 | Donald Macleod, in conversation with Maconchy's daughter composer Nicola Lefanu, looks at the 1970s, by which time Elizabeth Maconchy had become established as a very influential presence in British music, not only enriching a wide range of musical forms with her compositions, but also making major contributions to such organisations as the Society for the Promotion of New Music. Ariadne Heather Harper (soprano) English Chamber Orchestra Raymond Leppard (conductor) Oboe Quartet London Oboe Quartet Colloquy for flute and piano Ingrid Culliford (flute) Dominic Saunders (piano) Siren's Song Ionian Singers Timothy Salter (conductor). |
| 05 LAST | 20070323 | Donald Macleod concludes his series of programmes featuring the music of Dame Elizabeth Maconchy in the week that marks the centenary of her birth. Joined in conversation by composer Nicola Lefanu, Maconchy's daughter, Macleod explores the work of this brilliant composer who described her music as 'an intellectual art, a balanced statement of ideas, an impassioned argument', sentiments perhaps nowhere more forcibly articulated than in her cycle of 13 string quartets, the tenth of which features in this programme. Have You Seen But a Bright Lily Grow Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano) Proud Thames London Philharmonic Orchestra Vernon Handley (conductor) Sun Moon and Stars Tracey Chadwell (soprano) Pamela Lidiard (piano) String Quartet No 10 Mistry String Quartet Epyllion Raphael Wallfisch (cello) South West German Chamber Orchestra William Boughton (conductor). |