The Revolution Rumbles

Available for 28 days

This week, Donald introduces us to the remarkable life story and unsung musical innovations of Hélène de Montgeroult. There aren’t many composers who can claim that music saved their life – at least, in the literal sense. But for Hélène de Montgeroult, it was her astounding powers of improvisation that got her out of the stickiest situation imaginable, hauled in front of the guillotine during the French Revolution. This week, we’ll follow her rollercoaster tale and hear how she had her own revolutionary impact on the piano literature. Described as a precursor of Romanticism, anticipating the language of Schubert and Mendelssohn, audiences said her playing “made the keys speak”. She broke ground as the first female professor at the Paris Conservatoire and left behind 600 pages of music, including a complete course for piano which elevated the technical study into a miniature lyrical artform. As Donald pieces together her tantalising story, he’s joined by pianist Clare Hammond, who has spent recent years getting to know Montgeroult and recording an album of her études. Today, we hear how the newly married Hélène joined the “grand monde” of Paris and made her mark on its most exclusive salons. But as the Great Terror hit the city, the ground began to tremble under her feet. She took flight with her husband on a dramatic diplomatic mission, but their enemies were lying in wait. Etudes Nos 65 in E flat minor, 17 in E flat major, 55 in F minor and 19 in F major Edna Stern, fortepiano Sonata in A minor, Op 2 No 3 (1st mvt- Agitato and 3rd mvt – Andantino) Sophie Rosa, violin Ian Buckle, piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op 5 No 3 Nicolas Horvath, piano Etude No 107 in D minor Edna Stern, fortepiano Sonata in F minor, Op 5 No 2 Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Cardiff