Â鶹ԼÅÄ

Tom struggles as work, fame and expectations begin to overwhelm him. With Donald Macleod.

English composer, Thomas Linley The Younger, was destined to become one of the brightest musical stars of eighteenth century. No less a person than Mozart, who was also a personal friend, hailed him as a ‘true genius’. Even so, Linley’s life was troubled. He and his siblings were ruthlessly driven by their ambitious father. He saw his beloved sister become fodder for the celebrity-hungry gossip mongers of the British press and must have wondered if he might be next. He was forced to navigate a dangerous atmosphere of prurience and moral suspicion about the private lives of ‘theatre people’ like himself. A cloud of mystery hovers over Tom’s shocking and early death at the age of just 22. Donald Macleod is joined by Linley’s biographer, Tony Scotland, to shine a light on this charming and often enigmatic composer, alongside music by Tom and his circle.

Today, Donald sees the Linley family move to London to take residence at the Theatre Royal. Tom is overworked but a greater worry are the friends, colleagues and supporters who he sees attacked, as homophobia and moral panic infects certain quarters of the press. Will they next turn their poison pens on Tom?

Linley the Younger: Overture to The Duenna
The Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra, directed by Paul Nicholson

Linley the Younger: A Lyric Ode on the Fairies, Aerial Beings and Witches of Shakespeare (extracts from parts 1 & 2)
Richard Wistreich (fearful observer), bass
The Parley of Instruments Choir and Baroque Orchestra, directed by Paul Nicholson

Linley the Younger: Let God arise
Julia Gooding, soprano
Sophie Daneman, soprano
Robin Blaze, counter-tenor
Andrew King, tenor,
Andrew Dale Forbes, bass
The Holst Singers,
The Parley of Instruments, directed by Peter Holman

Linley the Elder: Think not my love, when secret grief
Emma Kirkby, soprano
Frances Kelly, harp

Produced by Chris Taylor for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Audio Wales & West