Jules Massenet (1842-1912)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2014

A Master Of Melody

20140127

Donald Macleod introduces one of France's most spectaular operatic superstars.

He was one of the most successful composers of his age. Jules Massenet gave his adoring audiences just what they wanted: beautiful melody, rich sentimentality, romance, fantasy and an unmistakably French sense of elegance. It was a formula that served him well into the twentieth century, over a prolific output of twenty-five opera productions. His accomplishments were the product of a rigid personal regime, often starting work at four o'clock in the morning, and continuing for sixteen hours a day. When he wasn't composing, Massenet could often be found supervising his current stage production, or coaching the latest in a long line of brilliant leading ladies. Whether the whiff of scandal that followed him throughout his career had any basis in fact is still a subject for debate. What is unarguable is that he provided some of the best female voices of the age with music that tested their talents to the very limit.

In this programme, Donald Macleod explores Massenet's celebrated gift for melody, as well as some of the recurring dramatic themes that crop up throughout his work. He also presents a musical rarity among all the operatic arias, Massenet's only concerto.

Donald Macleod focuses on Massenet's celebrated gift for melody.

2014

Rivals And Benefactors

20140128

Massenet finds colleagues and competitors among the musical personalities of nineteenth-century Paris.

In this programme, Donald Macleod reveals some of the colleagues who assisted Massenet on his way to stardom, and the competitors who surrounded him in the cut-throat world of the Parisian opera scene. He introduces music from the composer's very first stage work, La Grand' Tante, and Massenet's take on an operatic favourite, the story of Manon Lescaut.

Donald Macleod reveals some of the colleagues who assisted Massenet on his way to stardom.

2014

Literary Leanings

20140129

The origins of some of Massenet's most celebrated stories.

He was one of the most successful composers of his age. Jules Massenet gave his adoring audiences just what they wanted: beautiful melody, rich sentimentality, romance, fantasy and an unmistakably French sense of elegance. It was a formulae that served him well into the twentieth century, over a prolific output of twenty-five opera productions. His accomplishments were the product of a rigid personal regime, often starting work at four o'clock in the morning, and continuing for sixteen hours a day. When he wasn't composing, Massenet could often be found supervising his current stage production, or coaching the latest in a long line of brilliant leading ladies. Whether the whiff of scandal that followed him throughout his career had any basis in fact is still a subject for debate. What is unarguable is that he provided some of the best female voices of the age with music that tested their talents to the very limit.

In this programme, Donald Macleod explores some of the varied narrative sources that caught Massenet's dramatic eye, including the oft re-told legend of El Cid and Goethe's autobiographical novel 'The Sorrows of Young Werther', whose tragic ending so captivated the composer.

Donald Macleod explores the narrative sources that caught Massenet's dramatic eye.

2014

The Ladies' Man

20140130

Introducing some of the brilliant female singers who inspired Massenet's greatest roles.

In this programme, Donald Macleod introduces some of Massenet's most significant leading ladies; the female singers who inspired him and, through their performances, made his music famous. Including American soprano, Sybil Sanderson, who created the roles of Esclarmonde, and Thas.

2014

05 LAST

The Monte Carlo Period

20140131

Operatic riches from Massenet's later career.

In this programme, Donald Macleod looks at the final years of Massenet's career, which included a surprise flop as his music came to be seen as increasingly old-fashioned, and a new relationship with the theatre in Monte Carlo.

Donald Macleod on the final years of Massenet's career, which included a surprise flop.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2014	01	A Master Of Melody	20140127	Donald Macleod introduces one of France's most spectaular operatic superstars. He was one of the most successful composers of his age. Jules Massenet gave his adoring audiences just what they wanted: beautiful melody, rich sentimentality, romance, fantasy and an unmistakably French sense of elegance. It was a formula that served him well into the twentieth century, over a prolific output of twenty-five opera productions. His accomplishments were the product of a rigid personal regime, often starting work at four o'clock in the morning, and continuing for sixteen hours a day. When he wasn't composing, Massenet could often be found supervising his current stage production, or coaching the latest in a long line of brilliant leading ladies. Whether the whiff of scandal that followed him throughout his career had any basis in fact is still a subject for debate. What is unarguable is that he provided some of the best female voices of the age with music that tested their talents to the very limit. In this programme, Donald Macleod explores Massenet's celebrated gift for melody, as well as some of the recurring dramatic themes that crop up throughout his work. He also presents a musical rarity among all the operatic arias, Massenet's only concerto. Donald Macleod focuses on Massenet's celebrated gift for melody.
2014	02	Rivals And Benefactors	20140128	Massenet finds colleagues and competitors among the musical personalities of nineteenth-century Paris. He was one of the most successful composers of his age. Jules Massenet gave his adoring audiences just what they wanted: beautiful melody, rich sentimentality, romance, fantasy and an unmistakably French sense of elegance. It was a formula that served him well into the twentieth century, over a prolific output of twenty-five opera productions. His accomplishments were the product of a rigid personal regime, often starting work at four o'clock in the morning, and continuing for sixteen hours a day. When he wasn't composing, Massenet could often be found supervising his current stage production, or coaching the latest in a long line of brilliant leading ladies. Whether the whiff of scandal that followed him throughout his career had any basis in fact is still a subject for debate. What is unarguable is that he provided some of the best female voices of the age with music that tested their talents to the very limit. In this programme, Donald Macleod reveals some of the colleagues who assisted Massenet on his way to stardom, and the competitors who surrounded him in the cut-throat world of the Parisian opera scene. He introduces music from the composer's very first stage work, La Grand' Tante, and Massenet's take on an operatic favourite, the story of Manon Lescaut. Donald Macleod reveals some of the colleagues who assisted Massenet on his way to stardom.
2014	03	Literary Leanings	20140129	The origins of some of Massenet's most celebrated stories. He was one of the most successful composers of his age. Jules Massenet gave his adoring audiences just what they wanted: beautiful melody, rich sentimentality, romance, fantasy and an unmistakably French sense of elegance. It was a formulae that served him well into the twentieth century, over a prolific output of twenty-five opera productions. His accomplishments were the product of a rigid personal regime, often starting work at four o'clock in the morning, and continuing for sixteen hours a day. When he wasn't composing, Massenet could often be found supervising his current stage production, or coaching the latest in a long line of brilliant leading ladies. Whether the whiff of scandal that followed him throughout his career had any basis in fact is still a subject for debate. What is unarguable is that he provided some of the best female voices of the age with music that tested their talents to the very limit. In this programme, Donald Macleod explores some of the varied narrative sources that caught Massenet's dramatic eye, including the oft re-told legend of El Cid and Goethe's autobiographical novel 'The Sorrows of Young Werther', whose tragic ending so captivated the composer. Donald Macleod explores the narrative sources that caught Massenet's dramatic eye.
2014	04	The Ladies' Man	20140130	Introducing some of the brilliant female singers who inspired Massenet's greatest roles. He was one of the most successful composers of his age. Jules Massenet gave his adoring audiences just what they wanted: beautiful melody, rich sentimentality, romance, fantasy and an unmistakably French sense of elegance. It was a formula that served him well into the twentieth century, over a prolific output of twenty-five opera productions. His accomplishments were the product of a rigid personal regime, often starting work at four o'clock in the morning, and continuing for sixteen hours a day. When he wasn't composing, Massenet could often be found supervising his current stage production, or coaching the latest in a long line of brilliant leading ladies. Whether the whiff of scandal that followed him throughout his career had any basis in fact is still a subject for debate. What is unarguable is that he provided some of the best female voices of the age with music that tested their talents to the very limit. In this programme, Donald Macleod introduces some of Massenet's most significant leading ladies; the female singers who inspired him and, through their performances, made his music famous. Including American soprano, Sybil Sanderson, who created the roles of Esclarmonde, and Thas.
2014	05 LAST	The Monte Carlo Period	20140131	Operatic riches from Massenet's later career. He was one of the most successful composers of his age. Jules Massenet gave his adoring audiences just what they wanted: beautiful melody, rich sentimentality, romance, fantasy and an unmistakably French sense of elegance. It was a formula that served him well into the twentieth century, over a prolific output of twenty-five opera productions. His accomplishments were the product of a rigid personal regime, often starting work at four o'clock in the morning, and continuing for sixteen hours a day. When he wasn't composing, Massenet could often be found supervising his current stage production, or coaching the latest in a long line of brilliant leading ladies. Whether the whiff of scandal that followed him throughout his career had any basis in fact is still a subject for debate. What is unarguable is that he provided some of the best female voices of the age with music that tested their talents to the very limit. In this programme, Donald Macleod looks at the final years of Massenet's career, which included a surprise flop as his music came to be seen as increasingly old-fashioned, and a new relationship with the theatre in Monte Carlo. Donald Macleod on the final years of Massenet's career, which included a surprise flop.