Le Fantaisiste

Synopsis

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Erik Satie.

In 1905, Satie renounced his bohemian lifestyle and decided, rather improbably, to go back to school at the 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.

Donald focuses on Satie's 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.

Tenture de cabinet prefectoral (excerpt) (Musique d'ameublement No 2)
Ensemble Erwartung
Bernard Desgraupes (conductor)
FNAC 592292 Tr 12

Kurt Schwertsik: Clownerie acrobatique (Adieu Satie)
Per Arne Glorvingen (bandoneon)
Alban Berg Quartet
EMI 5577782 Tr 12

Passacaille
Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
DECCA 4736202, CD 3 Tr 1
Orchestre du Capitole De Toulouse
Michel Plasson (conductor)
EMI CDC74947212 Trs 1-4

Berceuse (Enfantillages pittoresques)
Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
DECCA 4736202, CD 3 Tr 33

Les valses distinguees d'un precieux degoute (1912)
Anne Queffelec (piano)
VIRGIN CLASSICS VC7592962, Trs 7-9

Embryons Desseches (1913)
Joanna Macgregor (piano)
COLLINS CLASSICS 105332COL Tr 3

Seven Dances: Quadrille; Valse; Gigue; Mazurka; Danse-ballet; Polka; Quadrille (Le piege de Meduse) - 1913
Orchestre Des Concerts Lamoureux
Yutaka Sado (conductor)
ERATO 8573858272 Tr 12

Trois Melodies (orch. Robert Caby): Le chapelier; Dapheneo; La statue de bronze (1916)
Carole Farley (soprano)
Orchestre de La RTBF
Jose Serebrier (conductor)
ASV CDDCA643 Trs 8, 6, 10

Parade (1917)
New London Orchestra
Ronald Corp (conductor)
HELIOS CDH55176 Tr 2.

Tracklist

Timings are shown from the start of the programme in hours and minutes.

1. --:--

   Erik Satie — Tenture de cabinet prefectoral (excerpt) (Musique d'ameublement No 2)

   Performer: Ensemble Erwartung
   Performer: Bernard Desgraupes (conductor)

   FNAC 592292, Tr 12
2. --:--

   Erik Satie — Kurt Schwertsik: Clownerie acrobatique (Adieu Satie)

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

   EMI 5577782, Tr 12
3. --:--

   Erik Satie — Passacaille

   Performer: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

   DECCA 4736202, CD 3 Tr 1
4. --:--

   Erik Satie — Orchestre du Capitole De Toulouse

   Performer: Michel Plasson (conductor)

   EMI CDC74947212, Trs 1-4
5. --:--

   Erik Satie — Berceuse (Enfantillages pittoresques)

   Performer: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

   DECCA 4736202, CD 3, CD 3 Tr 33
6. --:--

   Erik Satie — Les valses distinguees d'un precieux degoute (1912)

   Performer: Anne Queffelec (piano)

   VIRGIN CLASSICS VC7592962, Trs 7-9
7. --:--

   Erik Satie — Embryons Desseches (1913)

   Performer: Joanna Macgregor (piano)

   COLLINS CLASSICS 105332COL, Tr 3
8. --:--

   Erik Satie — Seven Dances: Quadrille; Valse; Gigue; Mazurka; Danse-ballet; Polka; Quadrille (Le piege de Meduse) - 1913

   Performer: Orchestre Des Concerts Lamoureux
   Performer: Yutaka Sado (conductor)

   ERATO 8573858272, TR 12
9. --:--

   Erik Satie — Trois Melodies (orch. Robert Caby): Le chapelier; Dapheneo; La statue de bronze (1916)

   Performer: Carole Farley (soprano)
   Performer: Orchestre de La RTBF
   Performer: Jose Serebrier (conductor)

   ASV CDDCA643, Trs 8, 6, 10
10. --:--

    Erik Satie — Parade (1917)

    Performer: New London Orchestra
    Performer: Ronald Corp (conductor)

    HELIOS CDH55176, Tr 2

Broadcasts

1. Wed 11 Nov 2009
   12:00
   BBC Radio 3
2. Wed 11 Nov 2009
   22:00
   BBC Radio 3