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Le Fantaisiste

Donald Macleod explores Satie's famously eccentric character, as expressed in works such as Desiccated Embryo and the six 'monkey dances' from Medusa's Snare.

In 1905, Satie renounced his bohemian lifestyle and decided, rather improbably...to go back to school, at the tender age of 39. After two years of hard graft, he graduated with flying colours - and with typical perversity, set about composing some of the most surreal piano works ever written...

In today's episode, Donald Macleod explores his famously eccentric character, as expressed in works like Desiccated Embryos and the six 'monkey dances' from his Dadaist opera Medusa's Snare. He ends with Satie's most famous stage work - the irreverent ballet Parade.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Erik Satie

    Musique D'Ameublement no.2: Tenture de cabinet prefectoral [excerpt]

    Performer: Ensemble Erwartung / Bernard Desgraupes

    • FNAC 592292.
    • 12.
  • Kurt Schwertsik

    Adieu Satie

    Performer: Per Arne Glorvingen (bandoneon), Alban Berg Quartet

    • EMI 5577782.
    • 12.
  • Erik Satie

    Passacaille

    Performer: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

    • DECCA 4736202 - Disc 3.
    • 1.
  • Erik Satie

    En habit de cheval

    Performer: Orchestre du Capitole De Toulouse / Michel Plasson

    • EMI CDC74947212.
  • Erik Satie

    Les Valses Distinguées D'Un Precieux Dégoûté (1912)

    Performer: Anne Queffélec (piano)

    • VIRGIN CLASSICS VC7592962.
    • 7.
  • Erik Satie

    Embryons Desséchés (1913)

    Performer: Joanna Macgregor (piano)

    • COLLINS CLASSICS 105332COL.
    • 3.
  • Erik Satie

    Seven Dances from Le Piège De Meduse (1913)

    Performer: Orchestre Des Concerts Lamoureux / Yutaka Sado

    • ERATO 8573858272.
    • 12.
  • Erik Satie

    Trois Melodies (orch. Robert Caby) (1916)

    Performer: Le Chapelier Performer: Daphénéo Performer: La Statue De Bronze Performer: Carole Farley (soprano) Performer: Orchestre De La RTBF / José Serebrier

    • ASV CDDCA643.
  • Erik Satie

    Parade (1917)

    Performer: New London Orchestra / Ronald Corp

    • HELIOS CDH55176.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 11 Nov 2009 12:00
  • Wed 11 Nov 2009 22:00
  • Wed 8 Jun 2011 12:00
  • Wed 8 Jun 2011 18:30

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