Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Manuel de Falla

Manuel de Falla was not well suited to the role of national musical icon. He was at his happiest, living a simple, monkish existence in his spartan Granada villa; fussing over his music in pleasant isolation or enjoying the company of a few close friends. He was generous but withdrawn, quietly and devotedly religious, and had a horror of being dragged into the violent political conflicts that wracked Spain during the first half of the twentieth century. Falla’s enormous talent and unique musical voice meant he was thrust into the very centre of cultural life, despite himself. He was compelled to navigate his way alongside some of music’s most colourful and potent characters, and through momentous historical events.

Music Featured:

La Vida breve (Intermezzo from Act 1) Allegro de concierto Siete canciones populares Españolas No 7 Polo La Vida Breve (Act 2) Nancy Fabiola Herrera, mezzo-soprano (Salud) Cristina Faus, mezzo-soprano (La Abuela) Aquiles Machado, tenor (Paco) José Antonio López, baritone (Tío Sarvaor) Raquel Lojendio, soprano (Carmela) Josep Miquel Ramon, baritone (Manuel) Sequndo Falcón, flamenco (El Cantaor) Gustavo Peña, tenor (Una voz en la fraqua) El Amor Brujo: Ritual Fire Dance (arr. Falla for piano) El pan de Ronda que sabe a verdad Oración de las madres que tienen a sus hijos en brazos El corregidor y la molinera (extract) El Amor Brujo (complete) Noches en los jardines des España, III. En los jardines de la Sierra de Cordoba Siete canciones populares Españolas: No 1 El paño moruno Noches en los jardines des España, I. En el Generalife Fantasia Bética El sombrero de tres picos (Part II) Harpsichord Concerto Soneto a Córdoba El retablo de maese Pedro Psyche Homenaje “Le tombeau de Debussy” Balada de Mallorca Atlántida: La Salve en el Mar Homenajes El sombrero de tres picos (Part I)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced in Cardiff by Chris Taylor

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xr43

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z