Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Strife and Struggle

Falla’s peaceful life is plunged into uncertainty as Spanish society is upended by civil war. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Falla’s peaceful life is plunged into uncertainty as Spanish society is upended by civil war. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Manuel de Falla was not well suited to the role of national musical icon. He was at his happiest, living a simple, monkish existence in his spartan Granada villa; fussing over his music in pleasant isolation or enjoying the company of a few close friends. He was generous but withdrawn, quietly and devotedly religious, and had a horror of being dragged into the violent political conflicts that wracked Spain during the first half of the 20th century. Falla’s enormous talent and unique musical voice meant he was thrust into the very centre of cultural life, despite himself. He was compelled to navigate his way alongside some of music’s most colourful and potent characters, and through momentous historical events.

Today, revolution and violence erupts across Spain, resulting in a terrible personal loss for Falla. His inspiration begins to falter as he struggles to complete his final great work.

Â鶹ԼÅÄnaje “Le tombeau de Debussyâ€
Andrés Segovia

Balada de Mallorca
Coro Cervantes, conducted by Carlos Aransay

Atlántida: La Salve en el Mar
Pequenos Cantores de Valencia
Orfeon Universitario Simon Bolivar
Coral Universitat de les Illes Balears
Coro Polifonico de la Universidad de La Laguna
Orfeon Navarro Reverter
National Youth Orchestra of Spain; conducted by Edmon Colomer

Â鶹ԼÅÄnajes
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; conducted by Jesús López Cobos

El sombrero de tres picos (Part I)
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; conducted by Ernest Ansermet

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 16 Jun 2023 12:00

Music Played

  • Manuel de Falla

    Â鶹ԼÅÄnaje 'Le tombeau de Claude Debussy'

    Performer: Andrés Segovia.
    • DG : 471-697-2.
    • DG.
    • 8.
  • Manuel de Falla

    Balada de Mallorca

    Choir: Coro Cervantes. Conductor: Carlos Fernández Aransay.
    • SIGNUM : SIGCD-196.
    • SIGNUM.
    • 25.
  • Manuel de Falla

    Atlántida: La Salve en el Mar

    Orchestra: National Youth Orchestra Of Spain. Singer: Simon Estes. Singer: María Bayo. Singer: Teresa Berganza. Conductor: Edmon Colomer.
    • VALOIS : v-4685.
    • VALOIS.
    • 10.
  • Manuel de Falla

    Â鶹ԼÅÄnajes

    Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jesús López Cobos.
    • TELARC : 80149-.
    • TELARC.
    • 3.
  • Manuel de Falla

    El sombrero de tres picos (Part 1)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Ernest Ansermet.
    • DECCA : 417-771-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 16 Jul 2021 12:00
  • Fri 16 Jun 2023 12:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

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.