大象传媒

Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for her sporting prowess. Today, charting Ethel Smyth鈥檚 suffragette era and her devotion to Emmeline Pankhurst.

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 meets the woman who changed her life - and her criminal record - forever. After initial ambivalence towards the suffragette cause, she fell for the bright eyes and melodious voice of Emmeline Pankhurst, and vowed to put her career aside for two years to commit to the 鈥淰otes for Women鈥� campaign. Her devotion to Emmeline would eventually land Ethel behind bars and test the limits of her nerves, but also inspire several heartfelt compositions.

Violin Sonata (ii. Scherzo)
Tasmin Little, violin
John Lenehan, piano

March of the Women (last two verses)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series
Eiddwen Harrhy, soprano [AITH-wen]
Philip Brunelle, conductor

The Boatswain鈥檚 Mate: Overture
Ensemble Lontano
Odaline de la Martinez, conductor

Possession (Three Songs, No 2)
Melinda Paulsen, mezzo
Angela Gassenhuber, piano

The Boatswain鈥檚 Mate, Part I: What if I were young again; Oh Mary I try to forget you
Nadine Benjamin, soprano (Mrs Waters)
Edward Lee, tenor (Harry Benn)
Jeremy Huw Williams, baritone (Ned Travers)
Simon Wilding, bass (Policeman)
Ted Schmitz, tenor (The Man)
Ensemble Lontano
Odaline de la Martinez, conductor

String Quartet in E minor (iii. Andante; iv. Allegro energico)
Villiers Quartet

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