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Donald Macleod and Leah Broad look at the challenges Dorothy Howell faced in following up on the huge success of her first orchestral work.

This week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia’ at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell’s music almost disappeared from view - until recently.

At a turning point in her career, Howell wrote the score for a ballet which had all the right ingredients for a huge success, and should have capitalised on the success of Lamia at the Proms. The young composer’s self-confidence was badly affected by hostile reviews, but through the ballet she made contact with Ethel Smyth, who became a mentor.

Five Studies (Mvt 5)
Sophia Rahman, piano

Rosalind
Lorraine McAslan, violin
Sophia Rahman, piano

The Little Round House, The Bears
Â鶹Éç Singers
Francesca Massey, piano
Will Dawes, conductor

Koong Shee
Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra
Rebecca Miller, conductor

Phantasy for violin and piano
Lorraine McAslan, violin
Sophia Rahman, piano

19 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Dorothy Howell

    Five Studies for piano (No 5)

    Performer: Sophia Rahman.
    • DUTTON : CDLX-7144.
    • DUTTON.
    • 13.
  • Dorothy Howell

    Rosalind

    Performer: Lorraine McAslan. Performer: Sophia Rahman.
    • DUTTON : CDLX-7144.
    • DUTTON.
    • 4.
  • Dorothy Howell

    The Little Round House

    Performer: Francesca Massey. Choir: Â鶹Éç Singers. Conductor: Will Dawes.
  • Dorothy Howell

    The Bears

    Performer: Francesca Massey. Choir: Â鶹Éç Singers. Conductor: Will Dawes.
  • Dorothy Howell

    Koong Shee

    Orchestra: Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • SIGNUM : SIGCD763.
    • SIGNUM.
    • 7.
  • Dorothy Howell

    Phantasy in G minor

    Performer: Lorraine McAslan. Performer: Sophia Rahman.
    • DUTTON : CDLX-7144.
    • DUTTON.
    • 15.

Broadcast

  • Tue 8 Oct 2024 16:00

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