Opera's Radical
Donald Macleod looks at Gluck鈥檚 revolutionary innovations in both ballet and opera - ideas which would influence composers for generations after.
Donald Macleod looks at Gluck鈥檚 revolutionary innovations in both ballet and opera - ideas which would influence composers for generations after.
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) arguably did more to transform opera than any composer of his generation: thinking deeply about how text and music should work together, and trying to strip away fripperies to ensure it was urgent, powerful and arresting. His radical approaches made him one of the most influential composers in history - and yet today, he鈥檚 known in the concert hall almost exclusively for one work: his masterpiece 鈥淥rpheus and Eurydice鈥�. This week, Donald Macleod puts that right: showcasing Gluck鈥檚 dazzling and enchanting music from across his life - whilst also showing off his most famous work across the week in its many fascinating versions.
By the mid 1760s, Gluck鈥檚 creative mind was ablaze with transformative new ideas about how music and drama should work together: ideas he poured into not just opera, but ballet - in collaboration with the celebrated choreographer Gasparo Angiolini. Donald Macleod takes up the tale, whilst also exploring a version of Orpheus and Eurydice prepared by one of 18th century French music鈥檚 biggest names (and admirers of Gluck), Hector Berlioz.
Don Juan (selection)
Le Concert Des Nations, conductor Jordi Savall
Divinit茅s du Styx (Alceste, Wq 37)
Dame Janet Baker, mezzo soprano (Aleceste)
English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
O Del Mio Dolce Ardor; Le Belle Immagini (Paride ed Elena, Wq 39)
Magdalena Kozena, mezzo soprano (Paris)
Prague Philharmonia, conductor Michel Swierczewski
Vous essayez en vain - Par la crainte; Adieu, conservez dans votre 芒me (Iphig茅nie en Aulide, Wq 40)
Dame Janet Baker, mezzo soprano (Iphig茅nie)
English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Orphee et Eurydice: Act 3 (opening) (1859 Berlioz edition)
Jennifer Larmore, mezzo-soprano (Orphee)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano (Eurydice)
Chorus of San Francisco Opera, Orchestra of San Francisco Opera, conductor Donald Runnicles
Produced by Steven Rajam for 麻豆约拍 Audio Wales & West
On radio
Broadcast
- Next Thursday 16:00麻豆约拍 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
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
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 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 鈥� 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.