Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Power or Freedom?

Chávez is at an all-time high - but he finds himself composing less and less. Will he have to give up his newfound power in order to keep making the music that made his name?

Carlos Chávez was both a rebel and an educator. Born in a Mexico on the brink of revolution, he would go on to single-handedly revolutionise Mexican music and culture, filling his compositions with indigenous Aztec stories and sounds. Many cite Aaron Copland as an influence on Chávez, but the truth may have been the reverse. While Copland was championing American music in the States, Chávez was fighting for it in Mexico, educating the next generation of Mexican composers. He may have shaped American music more than any other - yet his legacy is little known. Odaline de la Martinez joins Donald Macleod to explore his life and work.

In today's programme, we find Chávez at an all-time high. Commanding an orchestra, directing a new fine art institution, giving lectures and lessons, left, right, and centre. He's finally able to support the next generation of Mexican composers - but his own composing is suffering. Will he have to give up his newfound power, in order to keep making the music that made his name?

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Pablo Roberto Diemecke, violin
Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de México
Enrique Arturo Diemecke, conductor

Sinfonia Romantica: III. Finale
Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York
Carlos Chávez, conductor

Symphony No 5: I. Allegro molto moderato, molto lento
London Symphony Orchestra
Eduardo Mata, conductor

Tambuco for Percussion
Tambuco Percussion Ensemble
Southwest Chamber Music
Jeff von der Schmidt, conductor

Produced by Alice McKee for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Audio Wales and West

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Carlos Chávez

    Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

    Performer: Pablo Roberto Diemecke. Orchestra: Mexico State Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Enrique Arturo Diemecke.
  • Carlos Chávez

    Sinfonia Romantica: III. Finale

    Orchestra: Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York. Conductor: Carlos Chávez.
    • EVEREST : EVERCD-008.
    • EVEREST.
    • 5.
  • Carlos Chávez

    Symphony No 5: I. Allegro molto moderato, molto lento

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Eduardo Mata.
    • VOX : CDX-5061.
    • VOX.
    • 2.
  • Carlos Chávez

    Tambuco

    Performer: Southwest Chamber Music. Ensemble: Tambuco Percussion Ensemble. Conductor: Jeff von der Schmidt.
    • CAMBRIA : CAMCD-8852.
    • CAMBRIA.
    • 11.

Broadcast

  • Thu 14 Sep 2023 12:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

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

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.