Hel\u00e8ne De Montgeroult (1764-1836)

There aren't many composers who can claim that music saved their life - at least, in the literal sense. But for H退l耀ne de Montgeroult, it was her astounding powers of improvisation that got her out of the stickiest situation imaginable, hauled in front of the guillotine during the French Revolution. This week, we'll follow her rollercoaster tale and hear how she had her own revolutionary impact on the piano literature. Described as a precursor of Romanticism, anticipating the language of Schubert and Mendelssohn, audiences said her playing `made the keys speak`. She broke ground as the first female professor at the Paris Conservatoire and left behind 600 pages of music, including a complete course for piano which elevated the technical study into a miniature lyrical art form. As Donald pieces together her tantalising story, he's joined by pianist Clare Hammond, who has spent recent years getting to know Montgeroult and recording an album of her 退tudes.

Today, we hear about H退l耀ne's early years, growing up in aristocratic circles. For young women, the harpsichord was wielded as a tool for courtship but for Helene her musical prospects immediately ran deeper. Little did she know then that her noble background would eventually become one of her biggest artistic obstacles, and would even someday put her life in danger.

Etude No 66 in C minor

Bruno Robilliard, piano

Etude No 101 in C sharp major

Laurent Martin, piano

Sonata in E flat, Op 1 No 2

Nicolas Horvath, piano

Sonata in D major, Op 5 No 1 (1st mvt - Allegro spirituoso)

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Sonata in A minor, Op 2 No 3 (2nd mvt - Adagio)

Sophie Rosa, violin

Ian Buckle, piano

Etude No 38 in A minor

Clare Hammond, piano

Donald Macleod follows Montgeroult as she uses music to navigate her aristocratic society.

There aren't many composers who can claim that music saved their life - at least, in the literal sense. But for H退l耀ne de Montgeroult, it was her astounding powers of improvisation that got her out of the stickiest situation imaginable, hauled in front of the guillotine during the French Revolution. This week, we'll follow her rollercoaster tale and hear how she had her own revolutionary impact on the piano literature. Described as a precursor of Romanticism, anticipating the language of Schubert and Mendelssohn, audiences said her playing `made the keys speak`. She broke ground as the first female professor at the Paris Conservatoire and left behind 600 pages of music, including a complete course for piano which elevated the technical study into a miniature lyrical artform. As Donald pieces together her tantalising story, he's joined by pianist Clare Hammond, who has spent recent years getting to know Montgeroult and recording an album of her 退tudes.

Today, we hear how the newly-married H退l耀ne joined the `grand monde` of Paris and made her mark on its most exclusive salons. But as the Great Terror hit the city, the ground began to tremble under her feet. She took flight with her husband, on a dramatic diplomatic mission, but their enemies were lying in wait.

Etudes Nos 65 in E flat minor, 17 in E flat major, 55 in F minor and 19 in F major

Edna Stern, fortepiano

Sonata in A minor, Op 2 No 3 (1st mvt- Agitato and 3rd mvt - Andantino)

Sophie Rosa, violin

Ian Buckle, piano

Sonata in F sharp minor, Op 5 No 3

Nicolas Horvath, piano

Etude No 107 in D minor

Sonata in F minor, Op 5 No 2

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Donald Macleod hears how France's Reign of Terror turned Montgeroult's life upside down.

There aren't many composers who can claim that music saved their life - at least, in the literal sense. But for H退l耀ne de Montgeroult, it was her astounding powers of improvisation that got her out of the stickiest situation imaginable, hauled in front of the guillotine during the French Revolution. This week, we'll follow her rollercoaster tale and hear how she had her own revolutionary impact on the piano literature. Described as a precursor of Romanticism, anticipating the language of Schubert and Mendelssohn, audiences said her playing `made the keys speak`. She broke ground as the first female professor at the Paris Conservatoire and left behind 600 pages of music, including a complete course for piano which elevated the technical study into a miniature lyrical art form. As Donald pieces together her tantalising story, he's joined by pianist Clare Hammond, who has spent recent years getting to know Montgeroult and recording an album of her 退tudes.

Today, H退l耀ne is back home in Paris - but widowed, and locked up in a jail cell. Facing the guillotine, we hear how she used her musical talents to save her own life, and how she was set free with a new vocation. Donald and Clare discuss the impact of this extraordinary episode, as well as her pioneering approach as a piano teacher.

Etude No 114 in F minor

Bruno Robilliard, piano

Sonata in G minor, Op 2 No 1

Nicolas Horvath, piano

Th耀me vari退 dans le genre moderne

Edna Stern, fortepiano

Sonata in D major, Op 5 No 1 (2nd-4th mvts)

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Etudes Nos 82 in C minor, 104 in G sharp minor, and 74 in C minor

Clare Hammond, piano

Donald Macleod recounts how Hel\u00e8ne de Montgeroult's piano playing saved her life.

There aren't many composers who can claim that music saved their life - at least, in the literal sense. But for H退l耀ne de Montgeroult, it was her astounding powers of improvisation that got her out of the stickiest situation imaginable, hauled in front of the guillotine during the French Revolution. This week, we'll follow her rollercoaster tale and hear how she had her own revolutionary impact on the piano literature. Described as a precursor of Romanticism, anticipating the language of Schubert and Mendelssohn, audiences said her playing `made the keys speak`. She broke ground as the first female professor at the Paris Conservatoire and left behind 600 pages of music, including a complete course for piano which elevated the technical study into a miniature lyrical art form. As Donald pieces together her tantalising story, he's joined by pianist Clare Hammond, who has spent recent years getting to know Montgeroult and recording an album of her 退tudes.

Today, Donald explores the twist and turns of H退l耀ne's private life, from her illegitimate son, who was possibly conceived in prison, to her three marriages and her not-so-secret affair with the Baron of Tremont. Plus, Donald and Clare talk about how intimacy was central to her music-making, which mainly took place in private spheres.

Etude No 26 in G major

Ian Buckle, piano

Etude No 73 in D major

Luca Chiantore, piano

Fugue No 1 in F minor

Edna Stern, piano

Fugue No 3 in G minor

Bruno Robilliard, piano

Etudes No 110 in A major and 112b in A flat major

Nicolas Stavy, piano

Sonata in A minor, Op 2 No 3

Nicolas Horvath, piano

Etude No 106 in B major

Clare Hammond, piano

Donald Macleod explores the twists and turns of Montgeroult's private life.

There aren't many composers who can claim that music saved their life - at least, in the literal sense. But for H退l耀ne de Montgeroult, it was her astounding powers of improvisation that got her out of the stickiest situation imaginable, hauled in front of the guillotine during the French Revolution. This week, we'll follow her rollercoaster tale and hear how she had her own revolutionary impact on the piano literature. Described as a precursor of Romanticism, anticipating the language of Schubert and Mendelssohn, audiences said her playing `made the keys speak`. She broke ground as the first female professor at the Paris Conservatoire and left behind 600 pages of music, including a complete course for piano which elevated the technical study into a miniature lyrical art form. As Donald pieces together her tantalising story, he's joined by pianist Clare Hammond, who has spent recent years getting to know Montgeroult and recording an album of her 退tudes.

Today, Donald and Clare chat about H退l耀ne's musical imprint and how she's now being brought back from obscurity, having all but disappeared from the story of French music. We hear about the scandal of her exit from the Paris Conservatoire, and how her pedagogical piano method may have had something to do with it. They dig deeper into her magnum opus, and discuss what her astonishing music has to offer to players and listeners today.

Etude No 62 in E flat major

Clare Hammond, piano

Fantaisie in G minor

Bruno Robilliard, piano

Sonata in C major, Op 2 No 2

Nicolas Horvath, piano

Etude No 112a in E flat major, and 112c in F minor

Nicolas Stavy, piano

Etude No 111 in G minor

Donald Macleod and Clare Hammond discuss Montgeroult's powerful musical legacy.