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Phantom of sound

National and personal tragedy inspire Rodrigo's most famous work.

The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo is responsible for one of the most instantly recognisable works for classical guitar - if not one of the most famous pieces of classical music full stop. But when he was just three years old and a bout of diptheria left him almost completely blind, a future in composition seemed out of the question. How did he become one of Spain's most revered musical minds?

In this programme, Donald Macleod finds Rodrigo on the brink of personal tragedy, just as Spain plunges into civil war. From the eye of the storm, he writes his most famous work: the Concierto de Aranjuez.

Cuatros Piezas
Artur Pizarro, piano

Cancion Del Cucu
Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano
Anthony Spiri, piano

Coplas del pastor enamorado
Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano
Anthony Spiri, piano

En los trigales
Giulio Tampalini, guitar

Tiento antiguo
Giulio Tampalini, guitar

Junto al Generalife
Giulio Tampalini, guitar

Concierto de Aranjuez
Thibaut Garcia, guitar
Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Ben Glassberg

Produced by Alice McKee for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio

59 minutes

Last on

Thu 25 Sep 2025 16:00

Music Played

  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Cuatros Piezas for piano

    Performer: Artur Pizarro.
    • NAXOS : 8.-557272.
    • Naxos.
    • 2.
  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Cancion del Cucu

    Performer: Anthony Spiri. Singer: Bernarda Fink.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC 902133.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 25.
  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    En los Trigales

    Performer: Giulio Tampalini.
    • CONCERTO : CNT 2028.
    • CONCERTO.
    • 11.
  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Tiento antiguo

    Performer: Giulio Tampalini.
    • CONCERTO : CNT 2028.
    • CONCERTO.
    • 12.
  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Junto al Generalife

    Performer: Giulio Tampalini.
    • CONCERTO : CNT 2028.
    • CONCERTO.
    • 13.
  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Concierto de Aranjuez (1st mvt)

    Performer: Thibaut Garcia. Orchestra: Toulouse Capitole Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Glassberg.
    • ERATO : 09029523571.
    • ERATO.
    • 1.
  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Concierto de Aranjuez (2nd & 3rd mvts)

    Performer: Thibaut Garcia. Orchestra: Toulouse Capitole Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Glassberg.
    • ERATO : 09029523571.
    • ERATO.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Thu 25 Sep 2025 16:00

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