Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Donald Macleod explores Saint-Saëns’s birth in Paris and his childhood as a stunningly gifted musical prodigy.

Donald Macleod explores Saint-Saëns’s birth in Paris and his childhood as a stunningly gifted musical prodigy.

Camille Saint-Saëns once said, “I produce music as an apple tree produces apples.” In his day, that fruit was gobbled up all across Europe where the composer was acclaimed as the greatest of all French musicians. Liszt called him the greatest organist in the world. Yet in France, and in his home city of Paris, he was not always so highly regarded, despite his strong bond with his homeland. Throughout this week, as we mark the centenary of his death, Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of Saint-Saëns, charting the changing relationship with France of one of the greatest musicians that the country has ever produced.

In Monday’s episode, Donald explores Saint-Saëns’s early life in a city which was rapidly becoming the cultural capital of the world, despite the political volatility that gave rise to two revolutions.

Samson and Delilah, Op 47 - Bacchanale
New York Philhamonic
Leonard Bernstein (conductor)

Le Soir
Françoise Masset (soprano)
Nicolas Stavy (piano)

Piano Quintet in A minor, Op 14 – III. Presto
Cristina Ortiz (piano)
Fine Arts Quartet

Le muse et la poete, Op 132
Joshua Bell (violin)
Steven Isserlis (cello)
NDR Symphony Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach (conductor)

Piano Trio No 2 in E minor, Op 92 – I. Allegro non troppo
Renaud Capuçon (violin)
Edgar Moreau (cello)
Bertrand Chamayou (piano)

Symphony in F major “Urbs Roma” – II. Molto Vivace
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Dec 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Samson and Delilah, Op 47 (Bacchanale)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • SONY : SMK-47600.
    • SONY.
    • 18.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Le Soir

    Performer: Nicolas Stavy. Singer: Françoise Masset.
    • SOLSTICE.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Piano Quintet in A minor, Op 14 (3rd mvt, Presto)

    Performer: Cristina Ortiz. Ensemble: Fine Arts Quartet.
    • NAXOS 8.572904.
    • NAXOS.
    • 8.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Le muse et la poete, Op 132

    Performer: Joshua Bell. Performer: Steven Isserlis. Orchestra: North German Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach.
    • RCA : 82876-65845-2.
    • RCA.
    • 6.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Piano Trio No 2 in E minor, Op 92 (1st mvt, Allegro non troppo)

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Performer: Edgar Moreau. Performer: Bertrand Chamayou.
    • ERATO : 9029516710.
    • ERATO.
    • 8.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Symphony in F Major "Urbs Roma" (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow.
    • BIS : CD-790.
    • BIS.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Mon 13 Dec 2021 12:00

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.