Questions of Devotion
Donald Macleod explores the world of Ethel Smyth through five love affairs that shaped her life and music. Today, her devotion to suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for her sporting prowess. Today, charting Ethel Smyth’s suffragette era and her devotion to Emmeline Pankhurst.
British composer Dame Ethel Smyth was one of the early 20th century’s 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’t 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’s story through what she termed her “passions” – 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 “Votes for Women” 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’s Mate: Overture
Ensemble Lontano
Odaline de la Martinez, conductor
Possession (Three Songs, No 2)
Melinda Paulsen, mezzo
Angela Gassenhuber, piano
The Boatswain’s 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 ±«Óătv Audio Wales and West
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Ethel Smyth
Violin Sonata in A minor Op.7 (2nd mvt)
Performer: Tasmin Little. Performer: John Lenehan.- Tasmin Little plays Clara Schumann, Ethel Smyth & Amy Beach.
- CHANDOS.
- 9.
-
![]()
Ethel Smyth
March of the Women
Singer: Eiddwen Harrhy. Orchestra: Plymouth Music Series Orch. Minnesota. Choir: Plymouth Music Series Chorus Minnesota. Conductor: Philip Brunelle.- ERATO : 9029532199.
- ERATO.
- 9.
-
![]()
Ethel Smyth
The Boatswain's Mate (Overture)
Ensemble: Lontano. Conductor: Odaline de la Martinez.- Retrospect Opera : RO001.
- Retrospect Opera.
- 1.
-
![]()
Ethel Smyth
Three Songs (No 2, Possession)
Performer: Angela Gassenhuber. Singer: Melinda Paulsen.- Troubadisc: TROUCD 01405.
- Troubadisc.
- 6.
-
![]()
Ethel Smyth
The Boatswain's Mate (excerpt)
Singer: Nadine Benjamin. Singer: Edward Lee. Singer: Jeremy Huw Williams. Singer: Simon Wilding. Singer: Ted Schmitz. Ensemble: Lontano. Conductor: Odaline de la Martinez.- Retrospect Opera : RO001.
- Retrospect Opera.
- 15.
-
![]()
Ethel Smyth
String Quartet in E minor (3rd & 4th mvts)
Ensemble: Villiers Quartet.- NAXOS 8574376.
- NAXOS.
- 3.
Broadcast
- Thu 1 Aug 2024 16:00±«Óătv Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.