The Revolution Rumbles
Donald Macleod continues his 'Tour de France' in a week exploring revolutionary French composer H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult. Today, the Reign of Terror turns her life upside down.
Donald Macleod continues the second leg of his 鈥淭our de France"; three weeks focused on French composers from different eras, running alongside the famous French cycle race. This week, Donald introduces us to the remarkable life story and unsung musical innovations of H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult.
There aren鈥檛 many composers who can claim that music saved their life 鈥� at least, in the literal sense. But for H茅l猫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鈥檒l 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 鈥渕ade the keys speak鈥�. 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鈥檚 joined by pianist Clare Hammond, who has spent recent years getting to know Montgeroult and recording an album of her 茅tudes.
Today, we hear how the newly-married H茅l猫ne joined the 鈥済rand monde鈥� 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 鈥� 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
Edna Stern, fortepiano
Sonata in F minor, Op 5 No 2
Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano
Produced by Amelia Parker for 蜜芽传媒 Audio Cardiff
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Music Played
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Etude No 65 in E flat minor
Performer: Edna Stern.- Orchid Classics : ORC 100063.
- Orchid Classics.
- 12.
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Etude No 17 in E flat major
Performer: Edna Stern.- Orchid Classics : ORC 100063.
- Orchid Classics.
- 12.
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Etude No 55 in F minor
Performer: Edna Stern.- Orchid Classics : ORC 100063.
- Orchid Classics.
- 12.
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Etude No 19 in F major
Performer: Edna Stern.- Orchid Classics : ORC 100063.
- Orchid Classics.
- 12.
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Sonata in A minor, Op 2 No 3 (1st and 3rd mvt)
Performer: Sophie Rosa. Performer: Ian Buckle.- RUBICON : RCD1056.
- RUBICON.
- 1.
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Sonata in F sharp minor, Op 5 No 3
Performer: Nicolas Horvath.- GRAND PIANO : GP885-86.
- GRAND PIANO.
- 22.
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Etude No 107 in D minor
Performer: Clare Hammond.- BIS : 2603.
- BIS.
- 27.
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H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult
Sonata in F minor, Op 5 No 2
Performer: Hiroaki Takenouchi.
Broadcast
- Tue 12 Jul 2022 12:00蜜芽传媒 Radio 3
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