Guillaume Lekeu: Ophélie

[Paul Barasi]

Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great unsung Belgian composer Guillaume Lekeu, who died of lemon sorbet poisoning in 1894 and hasn't been heard at the Proms for over a century. Here, Ophélie's hauntingly pretty, fresh-faced love theme for Hamlet struggles against ominous hints of a unrequited and tragic future. Hamlet's tragedy was losing Ophélie despite Lekeu giving her one of the best love themes in all orchestral music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTxNtO-0wMo

[eschiss1]

It is true he hasn't been played at the Proms since 1913, but at least two works of his are scheduled to be played in the UK (his piano quartet in Poole and his violin sonata in London) in the next 3 months. Still, agreed as a general thing...

Oh, also, Lekeu's Adagio molto @ this Quatuor Danel concert on February 13, Martin Harris Centre for Music & Drama in Manchester UK, with works by Dusapin and Mieczyslaw Weinberg (violin and piano sonata no.4 in F).

(Lemon sorbet poisoning? The link in question mentions typhoid fever which, come to think, is what I'd always heard too. Maybe that's what he got the typhus from. Eat clean food...)

[eschiss1]

Also (and yes, again, this is to do with Lekeu not with Ophélie specifically) - pointing out this BBC link that may be of interest. Anyhow, thanks for the info!

[Alan Howe]

Back to Ophélie, please!