Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 01 | Setting A New Agenda | 20180507 | 20190610 (R3) | Donald Macleod explores the productive years surrounding Lili Boulanger's pioneering victory in the Prix de Rome. As the first female winner, Lili Boulanger's success in France's most prestigious composing competition, in 1913, is a significant landmark in the history of overcoming gender discrimination. Artistically it identified her as one of the most outstanding composers of her generation, with the prospect of a great future ahead. Tragically she was not to have long to fulfil that expectancy. Having struggled with ill-health from the age of 2, she died in 1918 at the age of just 24, three weeks after Debussy, a composer from whom she derived much inspiration. Yet, despite the brevity of her life, Boulanger's natural facility for composition and unwavering dedication to her craft provides us with a surprising number of predominantly vocal works. Participating in the Prix de Rome was something of a family affair. Some years earlier Lili's father, Ernest had won the prize and in 1908 her elder sister Nadia had come a very creditable second. Following in their footsteps, Lili committed herself to the task fully and was rewarded, when, having mastered all the strict competition requirements, her cantata Faust et H退l耀ne, which she dedicated to her sister Nadia, completely won over the jury. Psaume 24 Chorale Elisabeth Brasseur Lamoureux Orchestra Igor Markevitch, conductor Les Sir耀nes Amanda Pitt, soprano The New London Chamber Choir Andrew Ball, piano James Wood, conductor Renouveau Jeanette Ager, mezzo soprano Martyn Hill, tenor Lynne Dawson, soprano Bonaventura Bottone, tenor Jason Howard, bass BBC Philharmonic Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor Nocturne Janine Jenson, violin Itamar Golan, piano Producer: Johannah Smith for BBC Wales. Donald Macleod explores Lili Boulanger's prize-winning cantata Faust et Helene. |
| 2018 | 02 | The Boulangers At Rue Ballu | 20180508 | 20190611 (R3) | Donald Macleod explores Lili Boulanger's extraordinary childhood, music-making with the most influential musicians. As the first female winner, Lili Boulanger's success in France's most prestigious composing competition, in 1913, is a significant landmark in the history of overcoming gender discrimination. Artistically it identified her as one of the most outstanding composers of her generation, with the prospect of a great future ahead. Tragically she was not to have long to fulfil that expectancy. Having struggled with ill-health from the age of 2, she died in 1918 at the age of just 24, three weeks after Debussy, a composer from whom she derived much inspiration. Yet, despite the brevity of her life, Boulanger's natural facility for composition and unwavering dedication to her craft provides us with a surprising number of predominantly vocal works. Lili Boulanger was destined for a career in music from birth. Her father and her elder sister Nadia were accomplished professional musicians, her mother had studied voice. Living in the centre of Paris, the family household was frequented by some of the most prominent names in France's musical establishment, with regular soirees providing the perfect opportunity for young Lili to try out her compositions. Attente Reflets Sonia de Beaufort, mezzo soprano Alain Jacquon, piano Theme and Variations for piano Emile Naoumoff, piano Sous-Bois Pendant La tempꀀte La Source Philharmonia Chor, Stuttgart Helmut Wolf, conductor D'un soir triste D'un matin de printemps BBC Philharmonic Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor Le retour Patrice Michaels, soprano Rebecca Rollins, piano. Donald Macleod explores Lili Boulanger's music-making with her family. |
| 2018 | 03 | The Power Of Sisterhood | 20180509 | 20190612 (R3) | Donald Macleod considers the artistic significance of the relationship between Lili Boulanger and her elder sister Nadia, and features Boulanger's only song cycle, Clairieres dans le Ciel. As the first female winner, Lili Boulanger's success in France's most prestigious composing competition, in 1913, is a significant landmark in the history of overcoming gender discrimination. Artistically it identified her as one of the most outstanding composers of her generation, with the prospect of a great future ahead. Tragically she was not to have long to fulfil that expectancy. Having struggled with ill-health from the age of 2, she died in 1918 at the age of just 24, three weeks after Debussy, a composer from whom she derived much inspiration. Yet, despite the brevity of her life, Boulanger's natural facility for composition and unwavering dedication to her craft provides us with a surprising number of predominantly vocal works. Nadia was an important figure in Lili Boulanger's life. It had been inculcated by their parents at an early age that Nadia must bear responsibility for her younger sister. It was a role she fulfilled not only throughout Lili's life, but also after her early death in 1918, as she continued to promote Lili's music until her own death in 1979. Hymne au soleil Jeanette Ager, mezzo soprano New London Chamber Choir James Woods, conductor Andrew Ball, piano Ian Townsend, piano third hand D'un vieux jardin D'un jardin clair Alain Jacquon, piano Clairi耀res dans le ǀiel Nicky Spence, tenor Malcolm Martineau, piano Psalm 129 Chorale Elisabeth Brasseur Orchestre Lamoureux Igor Markevitch, conductor Producer: Johannah Smith for BBC Wales. Donald Macleod considers the close ties between Lili Boulanger and her elder sister Nadia. |
| 2018 | 04 | The Great War | 20180510 | 20190613 (R3) | Donald Macleod follows Lili Boulanger's activities during the First World War, when her music-making possibilities were restricted. As the first female winner, Lili Boulanger's success in France's most prestigious composing competition, in 1913, is a significant landmark in the history of overcoming gender discrimination. Artistically it identified her as one of the most outstanding composers of her generation, with the prospect of a great future ahead. Tragically she was not to have long to fulfil that expectancy. Having struggled with ill-health from the age of 2, she died in 1918 at the age of just 24, three weeks after Debussy, a composer from whom she derived much inspiration. Yet, despite the brevity of her life, Boulanger's natural facility for composition and unwavering dedication to her craft provides us with a surprising number of predominantly vocal works. The advent of the Great War resulted in the closure of the Medici Villa in Rome, where, as a Prix de Rome winner, Lili Boulanger had been staying. Too frail to undertake any physical occupation, but determined to make a contribution, Boulanger explored other ways in which she could support the war effort. She soon identified a way and set to work. Pie Jesu for voice, string quartet, harp and organ Alain Fauqueur, boy soprano Members of the Lamoureux Orchestra J.J. Grunewald, organ Igor Markevitch, conductor Pour les fun退railles d'un soldat Vincent le Texier, baritone Choeur Symphonique de Namur Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg Mark Stringer, conductor Dans l'immense tristesse Mitsuko Shirai, mezzo soprano Hartmut H怀ll, piano Psaume 130: Du fond de l'abime Sally Bruce-Payne, mezzo soprano Julian Podger, tenor The Monteverdi Choir London Symphony Orchestra John Eliot Gardiner, conductor Producer: Johannah Smith for BBC Wales. Donald Macleod follows Lili Boulanger's activities during the First World War. |
| 2018 | 05 LAST | Ambitions And Horizons | 20180511 | 20190614 (R3) | Donald Macleod explores Lili Boulanger's larger-scale, final projects and the impact her harmonic language has had on some contemporary musicians. As the first female winner, Lili Boulanger's success in France's most prestigious composing competition, in 1913, is a significant landmark in the history of overcoming gender discrimination. Artistically it identified her as one of the most outstanding composers of her generation, with the prospect of a great future ahead. Tragically she was not to have long to fulfil that expectancy. Having struggled with ill-health from the age of 2, she died in 1918 at the age of just 24, three weeks after Debussy, a composer from whom she derived much inspiration. Yet, despite the brevity of her life, Boulanger's natural facility for composition and unwavering dedication to her craft provides us with a surprising number of predominantly vocal works. In conclusion to this week's series on Lili Boulanger, Donald Macleod follows the ailing young composer's frustrated attempts to finish writing an opera, the impact her impending death had on her musical outlook and the connection her music makes today. Cort耀ge Jascha Heifetz, violin Brooks Smith, piano Soir sur la plaine Amanda Pitt, soprano Martyn Hill, tenor Peter Johnson, baritone The New London Chamber Choir James Wood, conductor D'un soir triste D'un matin de printemps Trio des Alpes Mirjam Tschopp, violin Claude Hauri, cello Corrado Greco, piano Pie Jesu, arr. Belmondo Lionel Belmondo and his Ensemble Vieille Priere Bouddhique Julian Podger, tenor The Monteverdi Choir London Symphony Orchestra John Eliot Gardiner, conductor Producer: Johannah Smith for BBC Wales. Donald Macleod explores Lili Boulanger's larger-scale, final projects. |