The romantic story of haw Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote one of the most popular pieces of music (conceived in 1914 as the British fleet massed in the Channel, put on hold as RVW served as an ambulance driver in the Great War and retrieved and completed two years after it) is topped by that of the work's dedicatee, Marie Hall. Leading up to the premiere performance of The Lark on 15th December 1920, is a story of a wandering life as part of an indigent musical family who had to resort to playing in the streets for pennies. Rescued from this life of drudgery by discerning musicians and rich patrons, by the time she met RVW, and assisted him with the final version of the piece, she was already an internationally-renowned soloist.
BBC Four's celebratory programme of 2012 not only tells the story and recreates that first violin and piano performance (uninterrupted, thank goodness) but is also a happy reminder of Diana Rigg who presented the programme and Peter Sallis who contributed.
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