He was famed throughout Europe as a performer, teacher, and composer of ballets, opera, concertos and organ symphonies, although today he is largely remembered for one work, his Toccata, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Charles-Marie Widor.

In the last thirty years of Widor's long life, he saw his own musical style become more out-of-date. He was far from giving up though, and with his appointment to the French Academy of Fine Arts, Widor had plenty to do. He now held the highest official post for a musician in France, and utilised his position to help artists in need. During the Great War he refused to leave Paris, feeling that he was honour bound to remain at the Institut and do what he could.

His composing activities were now much reduced. During the war he composed a solitary song Dormez, Mèlité, and in 1934 came his last work for the organ, Trois Nouvelles Pièces Opus 87. Yet Widor continued to work tirelessly, establishing a new French cultural institute in Madrid, and also London, and completing over 60 years as organist at St. Sulpice in Paris. One of Widor's final masterpieces, on a Mahlerian scale, was his Symphonie antique Op 83 for soloists, choir, organ and orchestra.

Les Pêcheurs de Saint-Jean (Marche de Noël)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Martin Yates, conductor

Cello Sonata in A major Op 80 (Allegro moderato)
Mats Lidström, cello
Bengt Forsberg, piano

Dormez, Mèlité
Michael Bundy, baritone
Jeremy Filsell, piano

Classique d'aujord'hui (Trois Nouvelles Pièces Op 87)
Ben van Oosten, organ

Symphonie antique Op 83 for soloists, choir, organ and orchestra (Moderato)
Domkantorei Altenberg
Gürzenich-Chor Köln
Deutsch-Französischer Chor, Köln
Andreas Meisner, organ
Paul Wißkirchen, organ
Radio Sinfonie Orchestra Pilsen
Volker Hempfling, conductor

Producer Luke Whitlock. Show less