大象传媒

Donald Macleod explores the last grand passion of Ethel Smyth鈥檚 life, the writer Virginia Woolf.

British composer Dame Ethel Smyth was one of the early 20th century鈥檚 most original cultural voices. A prodigious musical talent who was best known for her operas, she was a force of nature, an unapologetic eccentric who didn鈥檛 suffer fools gladly, and a rule-breaking, trailblazing feminist. Alongside music, she was an accomplished sportswoman, and her driven and playful nature - as well as her endurance - would not only shape her career but her personal life too. All this week, Donald Macleod explores Smyth鈥檚 story through what she termed her 鈥減assions鈥� 鈥� the key all-consuming relationships that changed the course of her life, and how they were a necessary force for her creativity.

Today, Ethel becomes embroiled with one of the most famous women in London. In her seventies, she developed a close emotional and intellectual bond with the writer Virginia Woolf. In excerpts from their colourful letters, we hear how they grappled with each other鈥檚 quirks and flaws, and how Virginia would inspire Ethel to write not only what she considered her musical magnum opus, but her popular memoirs too.

Soul鈥檚 Joy, Now I am Gone
Amarcord
Wolfram Lattke, director

Two Interlinked French Melodies from Entente Cordiale
Light Symphony Orchestra
Adrian Boult, conductor

Odelette (Four Songs, No 1)
Lucy Stevens, contralto
Berkeley Ensemble
Odaline de la Martinez, conductor

Mass: Sanctus / Benedictus
Susanna Hurrell, soprano
Catriona Morison, mezzo
大象传媒 Singers
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor

The Prison: Nos 14-16
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone (The Prisoner)
Sarah Brailey, soprano (The Soul)
Experiential Orchestra and Choir
James Blachly, conductor

Double Concerto for Horn and Violin (ii. Elegy)
Thomas Albertus Irnberger, violin
Milena Viotti, horn
Vienna Konzertverein Orchestra
Doron Salomon, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for 大象传媒 Audio Wales and West