Donald Macleod assesses the converging events surrounding Martinu's love affair with Vitezslava Kapralova. Today's music includes excerpts from Martinu's opera of dreams, Julietta.

Caught up in the events of the Second World War, Bohuslav Martinu spent the majority of his life living in exile. When he was born in 1890, the little town of Policka was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A period of independence for Czechoslovakia came to an end when, in 1938, Hitler annexed part of the country to Germany. By the time of Martinu's death in 1959, he was living in Switzerland, where he was receiving treatment for cancer and the Communists had assumed power in his homeland. Yet, despite his protracted absence, Martinu remained spiritually attached to his homeland and readily acknowledged the influence of its music. But equally, as we'll hear across this week, Martinu's music expresses a rich diversity of styles. From his years spent in Paris there are works informed by the popularity of jazz and by Debussy and Stravinsky in the swinging 1920s. When he moved to the United States he turned to symphonic writing. On his return to Europe, he was drawn to Renaissance Art and produced chamber music, basking in the warmth of Nice as well as turning to the poetry of his beloved homeland. Drawing on all these experiences, Martinu was a prolific composer who worked ceaselessly at his craft. He produced a treasury of more than four hundred works across every conceivable form and instrumentation, which reflect not only his roots but his thirst for novelty and inspiration.

For Martinu, his breakthrough opera Julietta was a major artistic achievement. At the same time his personal life became more complicated when he fell in love with a young and talented fellow Czech composer. When the Second World War broke out, there were irrevocable consequences.

Zvestovani (Four Songs of Mary)
Brno Academy Choir
Jaroslav Kyzlink, conductor

Spalicek, Suite No 1
Estonian Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Jarvi, conductor

Julietta, Act 2: La scène des souvenirs
Steve Davislim (tenor), Michel
Frédéric Goncalves (baritone), Old man/youth
Michèle Lagrange (soprano), Old woman
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Charles Mackerras, conductor

Julietta, Act 3 Finale
Magdalena Kozena (soprano), Julietta
Steve Davislim (tenor), Michel
Nicolas Teste (bass-baritone), Night Watchman
Michèle Lagrange (soprano), Young Arab
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Charles Mackerras, conductor

Double Concerto for two string orchestras, piano and timpani
Josef Ruzicka, piano
Jan Bouse, timpani
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Charles Mackerras, conductor. Show less