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1794, Paris. As the French Revolution reaches its most violent phase, the pianist H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult must use her musical talents to prove her loyalty 鈥 and save her life.

1794, Paris. At the height of the Reign of Terror, the pianist and composer H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult stands accused before the revolutionary authorities. According to a story that has become part of musical legend, she escapes the guillotine by improvising on La Marseillaise, transforming a patriotic song into a demonstration of artistic brilliance.

As France is reshaped by revolution, musicians find themselves navigating a rapidly changing world. Aristocratic salons give way to public festivals, revolutionary songs fill the streets, and figures such as H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult and Joseph de Bologne must adapt to new political realities. Amid upheaval, violence and uncertainty, music becomes a powerful tool for expressing collective identity, civic ideals and national belonging.

Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major new 麻豆社 Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For the next eight programmes, historian Simon Schama is in the chair, as together they explore the rich musical world of the Classical era.

Producer: Zerlina Vulliamy
Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford
Story Consultant: Kate Leys
Series Editor for 麻豆社 Audio: Emma Harding

Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan.

MUSIC DETAILS

Liszt (Rouget de Lisle), La Marseillaise
Leslie Howard (piano)

Montgeroult, Etude no. 110
Clare Hammond (piano)

Rousseau, Le devin du village (J'ai perdu tout mon bonheur)
Eva Kirchner (voice), Alpe Andria Ensemble

Ladr茅, Ah! 脟a ira
Edith Piaf (voice)

Berlioz (Rouget de Lisle), La Marseillaise
Roberto Alagna (tenor), Royal Opera House Orchestra, Choeur De L'Armee Francaise, Ma卯trise De Paris, Choeur De chambre Les El茅ments. Bertrand de Billy (conductor)

Bologne, Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 5'2 3rd mvmt: Rondeau
Rachel Barton Pine (violin), Encore Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Hege (conductor)

Montgeroult, Etude no. 107
Clare Hammond (piano)

Poulenc, Dialogues des Carmelites (Salve Regina)
Sally Matthews (soprano), Orf Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Bertrand de Billy (conductor)

Beethoven, Fidelio (O Welche Lust)
Monteverdi Choir, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

Gainsbourg, Aux Armes et C忙tera

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask 麻豆社 Sounds to play Key Changes."

59 minutes

Music Played

  • H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult

    Etude No. 110

    Performer: Clare Hammond.
    • BIS : BIS-2603.
    • BIS.
    • 28.
  • Jean鈥怞acques Rousseau

    Le Devin Du Village: "J'ai perdu tout mon bonheur"

    Singer: Eva Kirchner. Ensemble: Alpe Adria Ensemble. Director: Ren茅 Clemencic.
    • NUOVA ERA : 231-120.
    • NUOVA ERA.
    • 2.
  • 叠茅肠辞耻谤迟

    Ah! 脟a ira!

    Singer: 脡dith Piaf.
    • COLUMBIA : 7905612.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • 18.
  • Hector Berlioz

    La Marseillaise

    Singer: Roberto Alagna. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Bertrand de Billy.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : E4776277.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 20.
  • Joseph Bologne

    Violin Concerto in A major, Op.5 No.2 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Rachel Barton Pine. Performer: Encore Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Hege.
    • Cedille Recordings : CDR 90000 035.
    • Cedille Recordings.
    • 6.
  • H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult

    Etude No. 107

    Performer: Clare Hammond.
    • BIS : 2603.
    • BIS.
    • 27.
  • Francis Poulenc

    Dialogues des Carmelites, Act 3, Scene 4: Salve Regina

    Singer: Sally Matthews. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Choir: Arnold Schoenberg Chor. Conductor: Bertrand de Billy.
    • Dialogues des Carmelites.
    • OEHMS.
    • 52.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Fidelio, Op.72, Act 1 No.10: Prisoners Chorus

    Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Archiv : 453461-2.
    • Archiv.
    • 13.
  • Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle

    Aux armes et caetera

    Music Arranger: Serge Gainsbourg. Singer: Serge Gainsbourg.
    • PHILIPS.

Broadcast

  • Sat 8 Aug 2026 13:00