Phantom of sound
National and personal tragedy inspire Rodrigo's most famous work.
The Spanish composer JoaquÃn 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
On radio
More episodes
Broadcast
- Thu 25 Sep 2025 16:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3
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