Programme information

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1 Programme information Saturday 6 th April to Friday 12 th April 2019 WEEK 15 Above: Alan Titchmarsh and Rob Cowan ANDRE PREVIN: A LIFE IN MUSIC (continued) Saturday 6 th April 7am to 10am: Alan Titchmarsh 7pm to 9pm: Cowan s Classics with Rob Cowan On what would have been André Previn s 90 th birthday, Alan Titchmarsh and Rob Cowan complete Classic FM s week-long tribute to the great conductor, pianist and composer. From Rob Cowan: Celebrating what would have been André Previn s 90 th on Cowan s Classics brings back precious memories of a breakfast interview in Vienna back in 1997, talking to the great man about Ravel, Richard Strauss, Vaughan Williams, Mozart and film music. I remember his suave manner, caustic wit and obvious enthusiasm for the music he loved most. I ve a terrific selection planned, ranging from Vaughan Williams evoking Westminster at night, to something sleek and sweet by Previn himself, Satie s restful Gymnopedie No. 1 and Rachmaninov s most famous piano concerto with Vladimir Ashkenazy as soloist. Here s hoping that on Classic FM, I play all the right pieces in the right order... Classic FM is available across the UK on FM, DAB digital radio and TV, the Classic FM app, at ClassicFM.com and on the Global Player. 1

2 WEEK 15 SATURDAY 6 TH APRIL 7am to 10am: ALAN TITCHMARSH Join Alan for his Great British Discovery and Gardening Tip after 8am, followed by a very special Classic FM Hall of Fame Hour at 9am. André Previn died in February at the age of 89; today would have been his 90 th birthday, so, ahead of a special programme with Rob Cowan tonight, Alan dedicates the Classic FM Hall of Fame Hour to Previn s finest recordings as both conductor and pianist. Back in 1971, Previn famously appeared alongside Morecambe and Wise on their prime-time TV show where he conducted Grieg s Piano Concerto, and this morning, Alan features the opening movement of that very work. Other highlights include Previn at the helm of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, both of which he led for several years. 5pm to 7pm: SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES with ANDREW COLLINS All great anti-heroes need a noble defeat, as well as fine music to accompany them when they meet their fate. Tonight, Andrew showcases film scores that provide the musical theme for the villains you love to hate. The highlights include John Williams urgent Imperial March that heralds the impending arrival of Darth Vader, and Howard Shore s eerie score to The Silence of the Lambs. And of course, no list of villains would be complete without the appearance of Alan Rickman s cultured and conniving Hans Gruber, foiled by John McClane in Die Hard. 7pm to 9pm: COWAN S CLASSICS with ROB COWAN All this week on Classic FM, we ve been celebrating the life and music of André Previn, who passed away in February at the age of 89. Today would have been his 90 th birthday, so tonight, Rob Cowan rounds off our station-wide tribute by presenting his favourite recordings by the great conductor, pianist and composer. Selections include Previn s own composition The Blue Subterranean, utterly characteristic in its sublime cool and sensual tunefulness; Previn as pianist in the exuberant Septet by Saint-Saens; and, to round off the evening, a classic recording of the young Previn, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in Walton s Symphony No.1. 2

3 SATURDAY 6 TH APRIL 9pm to 10pm: TURNING POINTS with JULIE WALTERS (6 / 7) Julie Walters presents the sixth episode in the new series of Turning Points: the programme that explores the moments when the course of classical music history changed forever. Tonight, Julie celebrates the most important inventions in the history of classical music, and the sparks of genius that changed how music was made and listened to. Julie looks at the invention of instruments, starting in a cave 67,000 years ago, to the invention of the saxophone in 1846, via the most famous violins of all time. We ll also hear music by the French composer Jean Baptiste Lully, whose invention became the death of him, and the piece of music that set the industry standard for CD recording: Beethoven s Symphony No.9. 3

4 SUNDAY 7 TH APRIL 3pm to 5pm: CHARLOTTE HAWKINS This week, Charlotte s Young Classical Star is the American violinist Benjamin Bielman. Born in 1989, Bielman is quickly building an impressive international reputation for his eloquent music making, rich tone and stunning virtuosity. Having won several prestigious competitions over the past decade, he now performs worldwide with major orchestras and is one of the fastest-rising stars of his generation. This afternoon, Charlotte shares a performance from his latest album, which celebrates the music of Schubert, Janacek and Debussy. 7pm to 9pm: DAVID MELLOR 2019 marks 150 years since the death of the French composer, Hector Berlioz. Tonight, David marks this significant anniversary with some of the most respected recordings of the music of Berlioz, his contemporaries and influences. We ll hear Sir Thomas Beecham s take on the vivid Symphonie Fantastique, contrasted with the Love Scene from Romeo & Juliet. David also features the Dance of the Brigands from Harold in Italy, which Berlioz was encouraged to write by the Italian virtuoso, Niccolo Paganini. 9pm to 10pm: EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC with CATHERINE BOTT Catherine dedicates tonight s programme to some comprehensive musical jargonbusting! If you ve ever wondered what a descant is, how composers expertly use major and minor keys, or what Beethoven s Symphony No.5 possibly has in common with Puccini s La bohème, join Catherine for another Sunday night date with discovery as she answers the questions you ve been asking. 4

5 MONDAY 8 TH APRIL 8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT SIR ADRIAN BOULT The English conductor Sir Adrian Boult was born 130 years ago today and tonight, Jane Jones shines the spotlight on the life and music of the influential maestro. Elgar s Cockaigne Overture opens our concert, with Boult at the helm of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, an ensemble he revived as Chief Conductor in Elgar is just one of the British composers that Boult championed. Tonight we ll also hear music by Holst, Vaughan Williams who he became lifelong friends with at Oxford and Walton, whose Orb and Sceptre Boult conducted at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Jane also features performances by prominent conductors of later generations who were influenced by Boult, including Vernon Handley and Sir Colin Davis, alongside a favourite by Debussy, who Boult travelled to hear conduct as a schoolboy. Edward Elgar Cockaigne Overture Opus 40 Adrian Boult conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.7 in A major Opus 92 Colin Davis conducts Staatskapelle Dresden William Walton Orb & Sceptre Adrian Boult conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra Gustav Holst Invocation Cello: Julian Lloyd Webber Vernon Handley conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra Claude Debussy Suite Bergamasque Piano: Jean-Yves Thibaudet Ralph Vaughan Williams Norfolk Rhapsody No.1 Adrian Boult conducts the New Philharmonia Orchestra 5

6 TUESDAY 9 TH APRIL 8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT WAR OF THE ROMANTICS Jane Jones takes listeners on a musical journey through one of classical music s chains of connections, the War of the Romantics. Beginning with Brahms s Academic Festival Overture, Jane links between various composers and their music, finishing with a composer who Brahms opposed musically: Wagner. We ll hear music by Robert Schumann, Tchaikovsky and Liszt. They are all linked by Schumann s wife, Clara; Liszt s illegitimate daughter, Cosima; Cosima s first husband, Hans von Bulow; and her second husband, Wagner. Join Jane as she unravels one of the musical webs of the Romantic era. Johannes Brahms Academic Festival Overture Opus 80 Marin Alsop conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor Opus 23 Piano: Beatrice Rana Antonio Pappano conducts the National Academy of St. Cecilia Orchestra Robert Schumann Konzertstuck for 4 horns in F Opus 86 Horns: Andrew Joy, Joachim Poltl, Kathleen Putnam, Rainer Jurkiewicz Hans Vonk conducts the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra Franz Liszt Un Sospiro Piano: Lang Lang Richard Wagner Siegfried Idyll Christian Thielemann conducts the German Opera Orchestra of Berlin 6

7 WEDNESDAY 10 TH APRIL 8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT CZECH FAVOURITES Tonight, Jane Jones shines the spotlight on the Czech Republic and some of the great musical talent nurtured there. Smetana s overture to his comic opera The Bartered Bride begins tonight s Full Works Concert, contrasted with elegant music by the Czech Republic s most famous composer, Dvorak. As well as his status as a composer, Dvorak was also a very wellrespected teacher. Later in the programme, Jane features a hidden gem by one of Dvorak s pupils, and eventual son-in-law, Josef Suk, followed by a performance by his great-grandson of the same name. Bedrich Smetana The Bartered Bride Overture Libor Pesek conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Antonin Dvorak Serenade for Strings Opus 22 Neville Marriner conducts the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Ennio Morricone Gabriel s Oboe Paul Bateman conducts the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra Leopold Kozeluch Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat major Howard Shelley leads the London Mozart Players from the keyboard Josef Suk Serenade for Strings Opus 6 Jiri Belohlavek conducts the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Giovanni Battista PergolesiConcertino No.2 in G major Violin: Josef Suk Suk Chamber Orchestra 7

8 THURSDAY 11 TH APRIL 8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT SIR CHARLES HALLÉ Sir Charles Hallé was born on this day 200 years ago and tonight, Catherine Bott shines the spotlight on the life, music and influence of the great pianist and conductor. The Hallé Orchestra, based in Manchester, was founded in 1858 and tonight, their current music director, Sir Mark Elder, opens our concert with the overture to Vaughan Williams The Wasps. We ll also hear from the Hallé Orchestra later in the concert, as they perform Brahms s Symphony No.2 under James Loughran. In addition, Catherine features two composers who shaped Hallé s musical style and career: the first, Louis Spohr, who took an interest in Hallé as a performer at the young age of 9; and Chopin, who he met in Paris. Best known for his orchestral work as a conductor and founder of the Hallé Orchestra, Charles Hallé was also an exceptional pianist proving his skill as the first pianist to play the complete series of Beethoven s piano sonatas in England. Tonight, British pianist Stephen Hough plays Beethoven s Moonlight Sonata in full. Ralph Vaughan WilliamsThe Wasps Overture Mark Elder conducts the Hallé Orchestra Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No.14 in C-sharp minor Opus 27 ( Moonlight ) Piano: Stephen Hough Louis Spohr Clarinet Concerto No.1 in C minor Opus 26 Clarinet: Andreas Ottensamer Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2 in D major Opus 73 James Loughran conducts the Hallé Orchestra Frederic Chopin Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Piano: Ingolf Wunder 8

9 FRIDAY 12 TH APRIL 8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT GREAT PATRONS Once upon a time, if you were a budding young composer needing a roof over your head, you had to work for the church, get a job at a palace, or find a rich patron to support you. Tonight, Catherine Bott shines the spotlight on the wealthy, cultured patrons of the arts who put up the money so the great composers could get on with their work. The centrepiece of tonight s concert, Tchaikovsky s Symphony No.5, exists thanks to Nadezhda von Meck. Tchaikovsky dedicated his Symphony No.4 to von Meck and her feedback became so important to him that after the critics condemned his Symphony No.5, she provided him with the support to persevere with composing. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra perform that very symphony tonight, alongside more music by composers who benefitted from the generosity of others. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Abduction from the Seraglio Overture Colin Davis conducts Staatskapelle Dresden Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 in G major Opus 58 Piano: Evgeny Kissin Colin Davis conducts the London Symphony Orchestra Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Symphony No.5 in E minor Opus 64 Vasily Petrenko conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Joseph Haydn Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major Oboe: Jonathan Kelly Bassoon: Stefan Schweigert Cello: Georg Faust Simon Rattle conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra 9