Triumph and Tragedy
Donald Macleod follows Saint鈥慡a毛ns through a period shaped by exile, opportunity and an unexpected marriage, as his creative focus shifts towards the stage.
Donald Macleod finds Saint鈥慡a毛ns at a moment when public success and private upheaval collide. Today, he explores the composer鈥檚 enforced stay in London during the Commune, the friendships and opportunities that follow his return to Paris, and the swift courtship and marriage that bring new pressures into his life. As Saint鈥慡a毛ns begins to look towards the theatre, Donald charts how these shifts lead to works that reveal a growing confidence and a deepening sense of artistic possibility, even as loss and change continue to shape his personal world.
A Voice by the Cedar Tree
Tyler Duncan, baritone
Erika Switzer, piano
Saint鈥慡a毛ns: Romance in C major, Op. 48
Dong鈥慡uk Kang, violin
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Antoni Wit, conductor
Saint鈥慡a毛ns: Romance, Op. 36
Francis Orval, horn
Orchestra of Radio Luxembourg
Louis de Froment, conductor
Saint鈥慡a毛ns: Le D茅luge 鈥� Prelude
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Pierre Dervaux, conductor
Ulf Hoelscher, violin
Samson et Dalila 鈥� 鈥淢on c艙ur s鈥檕uvre 脿 ta voix鈥�
Agnes Baltsa, mezzo鈥憇oprano (Dalila)
Jos茅 Carreras, tenor (Samson)
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Sir Colin Davis, conductor
Requiem, Op. 54 鈥� I. Requiem & Kyrie; II. Dies Irae
Tinuke Olafimihan, soprano
Catherine Wyn鈥慠ogers, mezzo鈥憇oprano
Anthony Roden, tenor
Simon Kirkbride, bass
East London Chorus, Harlow Chorus, Hertfordshire Chorus
London Philharmonic Orchestra
James O鈥橠onnell, organ
Geoffrey Simon, conductor
Produced by Ellie Ajao for 麻豆社 Audio Wales and West.
On radio
Broadcast
- Thu 30 Apr 2026 16:00麻豆社 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� 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鈥檚 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 鈥� 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.