Programme information

Saturday 26th September to Friday 2nd October 2020

WEEK 40

John Cleese | credit: Andy Gotts

MOIRA STUART MEETS… JOHN CLEESE

Sunday 27th September, 9pm to 10pm

Moira Stuart concludes the first series of her interview programme.

In the final show for now, Moira meets actor, comedian and writer John Cleese (above), best known for his roles writing and starring in Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, alongside children’s films including the Shrek and Harry Potter franchises.

Moira and John discuss the music and performers who influenced him in his early career, and the works famously used in Monty Python sketches, such as Sousa’s Liberty Bell March, and Strauss’ On the Beautiful Blue Danube.

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 40

SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

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

Moira celebrates the birthday of composer George Gershwin, born on this day in 1898, with a showstopping performance of his Rhapsody in Blue from Jean-Yves Thibaudet, accompanied by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Marin Alsop.

Elsewhere, two very different John Williams star, as the guitarist plays Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra, before we hear the film composer’s theme for Seven Years in Tibet, and Mariss Jansons conducts the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in a full performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5.

Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis Andrew Manze conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Johann Sebastian Bach Concerto in D minor for 2 violins BWV.1043 Violins: Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvatore Accardo English Chamber Orchestra

George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue Piano: Jean-Yves Thibaudet Marin Alsop conducts the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Giacomo Puccini ‘E lucevan le stelle’ (From Tosca) Tenor: Jonas Kaufmann Marco Armiliato conducts. The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

Francisco Tarrega Recuerdos de la Alhambra Guitar: John Williams

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Symphony No.5 in E minor Opus 64 Mariss Jansons conducts the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

John Williams Seven Years in Tibet Cello: Yo-Yo Ma John Williams conducts a studio orchestra

2 SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

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

Andrew continues his survey of the best movie scores across the decades, tonight playing film music from the 1990s and 2000s. The soundtracks for blockbusters such as Craig Armstrong’s Romeo + Juliet, James Horner’s Titanic, and Thomas Newman’s The Shawshank Redemption all feature. The second half of the programme includes Klaus Badelt’s iconic theme for Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as Hans Zimmer’s moving score to Ridley Scott’s masterpiece released in 2000, Gladiator.

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

Rob marks the anniversary of one of the greatest singers of the 20th century, Fritz Wunderlich, born 90 years ago today; we hear him sing Schubert. Also on the programme are the combined forces of two great Czech string quartets, the Janáček Quartet and the Smetana Quartet, performing music by a teenage Mendelssohn, and an exhilarating performance of Mambo from Bernstein’s West Side Story from the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel.

9pm to 10pm: BEETHOVEN: THE MAN REVEALED with JOHN SUCHET (38 / 52)

John continues to tell the story of Beethoven through the eventful year of 1812. The composer meets his literary hero, the German poet Goethe, but they do not get on. That doesn’t stop Beethoven continuing to compose music based on his poetry however, as John demonstrates when he plays a real rarity.

He also reveals Beethoven’s reaction when he received a letter from his brother, informing him that he intended to marry the mother of an illegitimate child. What followed was a confrontation, a meeting with a Bishop, and a piece of music that perhaps reflected the great composer’s temperament at the time.

It isn’t all low mood, though. John also plays the finale to the joyous symphony that Beethoven was also composing that year; his Symphony No.8.

3 SUNDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER

3pm to 5pm: JOHN HUMPHRYS

John marks the anniversary of two significant classical music premieres: the first performance of Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves, conducted by the composer in London in 1934; and then Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet No.3, which debuted on this day in 1797 in Eisenstadt in Austria.

John also plays music from the latest album by a multi-award winning classical guitarist – Xuefei Yang’s Sketches of China.

5pm to 7pm: DAVID MELLOR

David plays tribute to the Australian conductor Richard Bonynge, who turns 90 next week. He shares personal anecdotes of the great musician, and plays recordings from across his illustrious career, including excerpts from Verdi’s Othello, and Minkus’ La Bayadère.

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 25-year-old pianist Tyler Hay. In 2016, he won the esteemed Gold Medal competition at the Royal Northern College of Music, and played in the prize winner's concert at Wigmore Hall. Since then, he has performed some of the most demanding works in the repertoire at Cadogan Hall, the Southbank Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

9pm to 10pm: MOIRA STUART MEETS… JOHN CLEESE (8 / 8)

Moira Stuart concludes the first series of her interview programme. Moira has spoken with some of the most well-known names from the worlds of the arts, politics, sport and entertainment.

In the final programme of the series, Moira meets actor, comedian and writer John Cleese, best known for his roles writing and starring in Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, alongside children’s films including the Shrek and Harry Potter franchises.

Moira and John discuss the music and performers who influenced him in his early career, and the works famously used in Monty Python sketches, such as Sousa’s Liberty Bell March, and Strauss’ On the Beautiful Blue Danube.

4 MONDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: COMPOSER RIVALRIES

This evening the gloves come off, as John explores some of the most notorious rivalries and feuds between great composers. The programme begins with the overture to The Magic Flute by Mozart, whose legendary and complex relationship with Salieri has been immortalised on stage and screen.

After, music by Brahms, who had a peculiar skill for ruffling the feathers of his contemporaries, including Liszt and Tchaikovsky, the latter composer describing his music as “repellent to Russian hearts”.

The programme culminates in a performance of Copland’s Rodeo – 4 Dance Episodes, and music by Vaughan Williams, about whom Copland gave one of the most cutting reviews: “Listening to the fifth symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams is like staring at a cow pat”.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Magic Flute – Overture Claudio Abbado conducts the Mahler Chamber Orchestra

Antonio Salieri Flute & Oboe Concerto in C major Flute: Susan Milan Oboe: David Theodore Richard Hickox conducts the City of London Sinfonia

Johannes Brahms Academic Festival Overture Opus 80 Marin Alsop conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Franz Listz Consolation No.3 Piano: George Li

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings in C major Opus 48 Neeme Järvi conducts the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Aaron Copland Rodeo – 4 Dance Episodes Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

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

5 TUESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: RICHARD BONYNGE – A 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

John presents a very special celebration of the great conductor Richard Bonynge, in honour of his 90th birthday that falls today.

We hear several recordings from his long partnership with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, including Lehár’s overture to The Merry Widow, Weber’s Invitation to the Dance, and Les Sylphides – Glazunov’s arrangement of Chopin’s piano works.

There’s also a Verdi favourite from Bonynge’s professional and personal partner, Joan Sutherland, and he joins forces with the new generation of great musicians in a performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto, with soloist Simon Tedeschi.

Franz Lehár The Merry Widow – Overture Richard Bonynge conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra

Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor Opus 16 Piano: Simon Tedeschi Richard Bonynge conducts the Queensland Symphony Orchestra

Carl Maria von Weber Invitation to the Dance Opus 65 Richard Bonynge conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra

Frédéric Chopin Les Sylphides Richard Bonynge conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra

Giuseppe Verdi ‘Libiamo ne’lieti calici’ (From La Traviata) Soprano: Joan Sutherland Tenor: Luciano Pavarotti Richard Bonynge conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra and London Opera Chorus

Paul Lincke Gavotte Pavlova Richard Bonynge conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Benjamin Britten Matinées Musicales Opus 24 Richard Bonynge conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra

6 WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: VARIATIONS ON A THEME

John explores a programme of composers who adapted, enhanced and repurposed melodies to great effect.

To begin, Vaughan Williams’ loving tribute to Thomas Tallis, which is based on a Psalter by the favourite composer of Queen Elizabeth I, in a performance from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra led by Pinchas Zukerman, before a mystery theme adapted by Elgar in his ‘Enigma’ variations.

Later in the programme, Franz Bendel pays homage to Chopin, and Yuja Wang is the soloist in Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, the most famous of many works based on Paganini’s Caprice No.24.

Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis Pinchas Zukerman directs the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from the violin

Edward Elgar Variations on an Original Theme Opus 36 (‘Enigma’) Simon Rattle conducts the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Franz Bendel Hommage a Chopin Opus 111 No.1 Piano: Jonathan Plowright

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

Sergei Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Opus 43 Piano: Yuja Wang Claudio Abbado conducts the Mahler Chamber Orchestra

7 THURSDAY 1ST OCTOBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: LIVE MUSIC MONTH

The COVID-19 crisis has had a devasting impact on the live music industry with many orchestras, organisations and venues at best having to cancel masses of scheduled performances, and at worst risking facing financial ruin.

There are some positive signs this autumn as orchestral seasons begin, in a much different guise, however. To support and champion the live classical music sector, October is Classic FM’s Live Music Month – celebrating great live recordings and concert performances.

John shines the spotlight on the Philharmonia Orchestra for the first of these special programmes. The centrepiece of the evening is an exciting new performance of music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, recorded with the orchestra’s principal conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali at London’s Royal Festival Hall in November 2019.

To begin the programme however, Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, recorded as part of the orchestra’s full Rachmaninov cycle in 2017, and later John plays an archived live performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No.8 conducted by Otto Klemperer.

Dmitri Shostakovich Festive Overture in A major Opus 96 Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake – Suite Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.8 in F major Opus 93 Otto Klemperer conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra

Felix Mendelssohn Concerto in D minor for Violin and Piano Violin: Zsolt-Tihamer Visontay Piano: Min-Jung Kym Clemens Schuldt conducts the Mahler Chamber Orchestra

8 FRIDAY 2ND OCTOBER

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: LIVE MUSIC MONTH

In the second evening of Classic FM’s Live Music Month, John shines the spotlight on Max Bruch, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death on this day in 1920. We hear a sparkling performance of his celebrated, celtic inspired Scottish Fantasy from Michael Ludwig, recorded live with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra under their music director JoAnn Falletta.

Elsewhere in the programme, there’s a recording of piano virtuoso Lang Lang performing at the prestigious Vienna Musikverein in 2010, Nicholas McGegan conducts Haydn’s ‘London’ symphony, and the great Benjamin Britten conducts Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.1, live from Snape Maltings.

Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in D major BWV.1046 Benjamin Britten conducts the English Chamber Orchestra

Frederic Chopin Waltz in Ab major Opus 34 No.1 Piano: Lang Lang

Max Bruch Scottish Fantasy Opus 46 Violin: Michael Ludwig JoAnn Falletta conducts the Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No.14 in C-sharp minor Opus 27 No.2 (‘Moonlight’) Piano: Valentina Lisitsa

Joseph Haydn Symphony No.104 in D major (‘London’) Nicholas McGegan conducts the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

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