Monsieur Le Pauvre

Synopsis

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Erik Satie, focusing on the composer's 'mystic' period.

In the 1890s, Satie reinvented himself as a holy man - a self-imposed outcast from the 'wicked' musical establishment. After a brief spell as the composer for a Christian cult, he set up his own church, studied mystical volumes in Paris's National Library and penned vitriolic articles in his own magazine (average circulation: 1).

Donald introduces the music of this period, including the infamous Vexations - a short piece that the pianist is apparently instructed to repeat 840 times - and the rare, almost Zen-like ballet Uspud.

Vexations (1893) (excerpt)
Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
DECCA 4736202, CD 2 Tr 23

Bonjour, Biqui, Bonjour!
To be recorded
Robert Young (voice/piano)

Uspud (Act 3) - 1892
Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
DECCA 4736202, CD 5 Tr 6

Kyrie eleison; Dixit domine; Priere pour le salut de son ame (Messe des Pauvres - 1895)
Gaston Litaize (organ)
Choeur Rene Duclos
Pierre Dervaux (conductor)
EMI CZS7628772, CD 1 Trs 7-8

Danses de travers (Pieces froides)
Steve Hackett (guitar)
INSIDE OUT IOMACD4024 Tr 9

Je te veux (arr. Tonika Ishinose)
Yoshikazu Mera (countertenor)
Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
BIS 949 Tr 9

Genevieve de Brabant (orch. Desormiere) (excerpts) (1899)
Genevieve ...... Mady Mesple (soprano)
Golo ...... Jean-Christophe Benoit (tenor)
Choeurs du Theatre Nationale de l'Opera de Paris
Paris Orchestra
Pierre Dervaux (conductor)
EMI CZS7628772 CD 2 Tr 3

Trois morceaux en forme de poire (1903)
Klara Kormendi
Gabor Eckhardt (pianos)
NAXOS 8550699 Tr 9

Lost In Satie
Mount Florida
MATADOR OLE3992 Tr 1.

Broadcasts

1. Tue 10 Nov 2009
   12:00
   BBC Radio 3
2. Tue 10 Nov 2009
   22:00
   BBC Radio 3