Programme information

Saturday 18th April to Friday 24th April 2020

WEEK 17

THE FULL WORKS CONCERT: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY

Tuesday 21st April, 8pm to 10pm

Jane Jones honours a very special birthday, as Queen Elizabeth II turns 94 years old. We hear from several different Masters of the Queen’s (or King’s) Music, from William Boyce who presided during the reign of King George II, to Judith Weir who was appointed the very first female Master of the Queen’s Music in 2014.

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force also plays Nigel Hess’ Lochnagar Suite, inspired by Prince Charles’ book The Old Man of Lochnagar. Her Majesty has also supported classical music throughout her inauguration of The Queen’s Music Medal which is presented annually to an “outstanding individual or group of musicians who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation”. Tonight, we hear from the 2016 recipient, Nicola Benedetti, who plays Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.

Classic FM is available across the UK on 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, at ClassicFM.com, and on the Classic FM and Global Player apps. 1 WEEK 17

SATURDAY 18TH APRIL

3pm to 5pm: MOIRA STUART’S HALL OF FAME CONCERT

Over Easter weekend, the new Classic FM Hall of Fame was revealed and this afternoon, Moira Stuart begins her first Hall of Fame Concert since the countdown with the snowy mountains in Sibelius’ Finlandia, which fell to its lowest ever position this year, before a whimsically spooky dance by Saint-Saens.

The piano is showcased in all its glory in Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ concerto, which held onto its place at number 6 in the chart, played in a stunning recording by Alfred Brendel accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, before a choral favourite by Mozart provides a moment to unwind and relax.

Finally, we hear the tales of One Thousand and One Nights in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, which sits comfortably at number 48 in this year’s chart, performed in full by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra led by the great Herbert von Karajan.

Jean Sibelius Finlandia Opus 26 Andrew Davis conducts the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Camille Saint-Saens Danse Macabre Opus 40 Violin: Madeline Atkins Thierry Fischer conducts the Utah Symphony Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat major Opus 73 (‘Emperor’) Piano: Alfred Brendel Bernard Haitink conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Ave Verum Corpus K.618 Stephen Cleobury conducts the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade Opus 35 Herbert von Karajan conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

2 SATURDAY 18TH APRIL

5pm to 7pm: SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES with ANDREW COLLINS

‘Based on a true story’ is the theme of this evening’s Saturday Night at the Movies, as Andrew presents two hours of music from films based on actual events.

John Williams’ score to Catch Me if You Can starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio is included, as well as music from Stanley Kubrick’s film Spartacus starring Kirk Douglas with a rousing score by Alex North. Hans Zimmer’s eerie and menacing soundtrack to the multi award-winning 2017 movie Dunkirk also features in this evening’s programme.

7pm to 9pm: COWAN’S CLASSICS with ROB COWAN

Rob features a lush, richly orchestrated performance of Cole Porter’s ‘So in Love’ performed by the Hollywood Bowl Pops Orchestra.

Also on the programme is the renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin leading the Bath Festival Orchestra in Handel’s Concerto Grosso and a performance of the finale of Mahler’s epic ‘Symphony for a Thousand’, conducted by the wunderkind Yannick Nezet-Segan.

9pm to 10pm: BEETHOVEN: THE MAN REVEALED with JOHN SUCHET (15 / 52)

John describes Beethoven’s diverging fortunes – as his professional life improves and his musical reputation grows in Vienna, his personal life doesn’t see the same level of success.

Amongst the music, John plays a rarity from the great composer, entitled ‘A Good Shoe Shouldn’t Pinch’, written for a singer with whom Beethoven fell in love, and who turned down his marriage proposal describing him as “ugly and half crazy”. John also reveals Beethoven’s growing concerns for his health, including his hearing, and how two visitors from Bonn turn out to be the last thing he needs; his younger brothers arrive to live with him.

3 SUNDAY 19TH APRIL

3pm to 5pm: JOHN HUMPHRYS

John includes two new recordings this afternoon: firstly, Symphony No.1 by the 19th Century French composer Louise Farrenc, and then Bach’s Cello Suite No.1; the third time that work has been recorded by star cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Plus, on the anniversary of the opening of the Natural History Museum, he digs up some musical fossils thanks to Saint-Saens!

5pm to 7pm: DAVID MELLOR

A fortnight ago, David shone the spotlight on British Light Music for two hours of popular classics from the likes of Eric Coates, Robert Farnon and Ernest Tomlinson.

He continues his mini-series and focusses on the very best of American Light Music. The likes of Leroy Anderson’s Forgotten Dreams features, as well as The Teddy Bears Picnic performed by the New London Orchestra under Ronald Corp and music by Richard Rodgers.

7pm to 9pm: SMOOTH CLASSICS AT SEVEN with CHARLOTTE HAWKINS

Charlotte presents a selection of laidback music, specially selected to provide a moment of calm and relaxation before thoughts turn to Monday morning.

Charlotte’s Young Classical Star is the French-Swiss multi-instrumentalists Camille and Julie Berthollet.

In 2018, Charlotte featured both Camille and Julie separately as Young Classical Stars, but tonight, she shines the spotlight on the siblings as a duo, who have recently released their fourth album on the Warner Classics label which features Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.

Speaking about the album, the sisters said, “we heard The Four Seasons for the first time before we even knew how to talk, and the sound of the violin is one of our first memories. It’s as if we always knew we would return to this repertoire one day, that we would happily dive back into our childhood.”

4 SUNDAY 19TH APRIL

9pm to 10pm: EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC with CATHERINE BOTT

In tonight's episode of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Classical Music, Catherine explores the lives and music of those with many strings to their bow. Among the well-known composers who had other professions as well as in music, are Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and Holst who dabbled in law, journalism, priesthood and teaching in their time.

Join Catherine for an hour of fascinating stories, accompanied by the Piano Concerto in A minor by one time Prime Minister Paderewski, The Seal Lullaby by model Eric Whitacre, and an excerpt from Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky – the composer who trained as a lawyer.

5 MONDAY 20TH APRIL

8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT – MUSICAL HOMAGES

It was the great Pablo Picasso who once said, “good artists borrow, and great artists steal”, and that statement holds true in the classical music as much as in the art world. As proof, this evening Jane Jones presents an evening of composers who paid tribute to their predecessors and idols by repurposing their music.

To open the programme, Classic FM’s Solo Artist in Residence Maxim Vengerov plays Franz Waxman’s fantasy on well-known themes from Bizet’s opera Carmen. Claudio Abbado then directs the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in Brahms’ Variations on a Theme of Haydn, which the composer based on a chorale he unearthed himself.

Mozart also proves his influence, as his music is the inspiration for two works in the programme: we hear Tchaikovsky’s ‘Mozartiana’ suite, which he wrote to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Don Giovanni, and Chopin’s set of variations on ‘La ci darem la mano’ from the same opera.

Franz Waxman Carmen – Fantasy Violin: Maxim Vengerov Zubin Mehta conducts the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Johannes Brahms Variations on a Theme of Haydn Opus 56a Claudio Abbado conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Joaquin Rodrigo Fantasia Para un Gentilhombre Guitar: Milos Karadaglic Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Suite No.4 in G major Opus 61 (‘Mozartiana’) Evgeny Svetlanov conducts the Russian State Symphony Orchestra

Frederic Chopin Variations on ‘La ci darem la mano’ Piano: Daniil Trifonov

6 TUESDAY 21ST APRIL

8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT – CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY

Jane Jones honours a very special birthday, as Queen Elizabeth II turns 94 years old. We hear from several different Masters of the Queen’s (or King’s) Music, from William Boyce who presided during the reign of King George II, to Judith Weir who was appointed the very first female Master of the Queen’s Music in 2014.

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force also plays Nigel Hess’ Lochnagar Suite, inspired by Prince Charles’ book The Old Man of Lochnagar which tells of a character who lives in the cliff caves near the royal estate of Balmoral.

Her Majesty has also supported classical music throughout her inauguration of The Queen’s Music Medal which is presented annually to an “outstanding individual or group of musicians who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation”. Tonight, we hear from the 2016 recipient, Nicola Benedetti, who plays Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.

George Frideric Handel Arrival of the Queen of Sheba John Eliot Gardiner conducts the English Baroque Soloists

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending Violin: Nicola Benedetti Andrew Litton conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

William Boyce Symphony No.4 in F major Christopher Hogwood conducts the Academy of Ancient Music

Nigel Hess The Lochnagar Suite Nigel Hess conducts the Central Band of the Royal Air Force

John Stanley Trumpet Voluntary Opus 6 No.5 Trumpet: Wynton Marsalis Anthony Newman conducts the English Chamber Orchestra

Eric Coates 3 Elizabeths Suite Reginald Kilbey conducts the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Judith Weir Love Bade Me Welcome Edward Higginbottom conducts the Choir of New College, Oxford

Continued…

7 TUESDAY 21ST APRIL

8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT – CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY

Continued…

Edward Elgar The Wand of Youth Suite No.1 Opus 1a Mark Elder conducts the Halle Orchestra

Joe Hisaishi Birthday Piano: Joe Hisaishi directs Pan Strings from the piano

8 WEDNESDAY 22ND APRIL

8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT – EARTH DAY

Jane Jones celebrates all things wild, from the cliffs of Scotland in Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture to the mountains of Czechia in Dvořák’s In Nature’s Realm, in honour of World Earth Day.

The centrepiece of the evening is Beethoven’s glorious ‘Pastoral’ symphony, mimicking the sounds of wildlife and played in full by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle.

Other highlights include music from the award-winning TV series Blue Planet II, and something a little closer to home, with a Debussy piano study titled ‘Gardens in the Rain’.

Felix Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture Opus 26 (‘Fingal’s Cave) Edward Gardner conducts the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.6 in F major Opus 68 (‘Pastoral’) Simon Rattle conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Pablo Casals Song of the Birds Sheku Kanneh-Mason directs the cellos of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Hamish MacCunn The Land of the Mountain and the Flood Alexander Gibson conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Hans Zimmer Blue Planet II – Albatross Flight Studio Orchestra

Antonín Dvořák In Nature’s Realm Opus 91 Jose Serebrier conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Claude Debussy Jardins sous la pluie (From ‘Estampes’) Piano: Stephen Hough

Gerald Finzi The Fall of the Leaf Opus 20 Mark Elder conducts the Halle Orchestra

9 THURSDAY 23RD APRIL

8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT – ST. GEORGE’S DAY

Catherine Bott celebrates St George’s Day with a programme featuring some of the best English composers, musicians and conductors.

We begin with a long-time Classic FM favourite from Handel associated with coronations and other festivities: Zadok the Priest. There are other English treats from Vaughan Williams, Finzi, and William Lloyd Webber, plus a moment of spiritual moment from the 16th Century – Thomas Tallis’s Spem in alium.

The evening ends as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform Elgar’s long-awaited Symphony No.1, which took him over ten years to write.

George Frideric Handel Zadok the Priest Martin Neary conducts the English Chamber Orchestra and Westminster Abbey Choir

Ralph Vaughan Williams English Folksong Suite John Wilson conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Gerald Finzi 5 Bagatelles Opus 23 Clarinet: Emma Johnson Piano: Malcolm Martineau

William Walton Crown Imperial Andrew Litton conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

William Lloyd Webber Serenade for Strings Richard Hickox conducts the City of London Sinfonia

Thomas Tallis Spem in alium Peter Philips conducts the Tallis Scholars

Edward Elgar Symphony No.1 in A-flat major Opus 55 Vasily Petrenko conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

10 FRIDAY 24TH APRIL

8pm to 10pm: THE FULL WORKS CONCERT – FEEL-GOOD FRIDAY

We end the week on a high as Catherine Bott presents an evening of music designed to lift the spirits and ease you into the weekend, beginning with a march by Eric Coates.

Young musician Julian Bliss is the soloist in Mozart’s joyful Clarinet Concerto, followed by an ode to friendship in Bizet’s Pearl Fishers. The highlight of the evening is Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4 which the composer described as “the jolliest piece I have ever done” in a letter to his sister and fellow composer Fanny Mendelssohn.

Eric Coates Dambusters March Charles Groves conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A major K.622 Clarinet: Julian Bliss Maria Vengazo conducts the Royal Northern Sinfonia

Georges Bizet Pearl Fishers – Duet Tenors: Andrea Bocelli and Bryn Terfel Barry Wordsworth conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 in A major Opus 90 (‘Italian’) John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Astor Piazzolla Libertango Fionnuala Hunt directs the RTE Concert Orchestra from the violin

Johann Nepomuk Hummel Piano Concerto No.1 in C major Opus 34 Howard Shelley directs the London Mozart Players from the keyboard

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