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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
Ö÷²¥´óÐã Singers
Francesca Massey, piano
Will Dawes, conductor

Koong Shee
Ö÷²¥´óÐã Concert Orchestra
Rebecca Miller, conductor

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

Release date:

59 minutes

Broadcast

  • Tue 8 Oct 2024 16:00

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