Programme information

Saturday 27th March to Friday 2nd April 2021

WEEK 13

THE CLASSIC FM CHRONICLES with MOIRA STUART

Friday 2nd April, 9pm to 10pm

Moira Stuart presents the first episode in a special Easter bank holiday series telling the abridged history of classical music – perfect for newcomers and ardent fans of classical music alike.

To begin, Moira features a selection of composers and their music from across eight centuries and four periods of classical music, all in the space of an hour. The music of Hildegard of Bingen takes us back to as far as the 11th century to the Early Period of classical music, where the foundations were set for the composers over the centuries to come. Fast forward to the 16th century to the Renaissance period – an era of discovery, innovation and exploration for classical music with music by British composer Thomas Tallis. Moira goes on to highlight the likes of Bach, Vivaldi, Purcell and Handel, who pioneered new musical styles throughout the Baroque period of the 17th century.

Classic FM is available across the UK on 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, on Global Player on your smart speaker (“play Classic FM”), iOS or Android device and at ClassicFM.com. 1 WEEK 13

SATURDAY 27TH MARCH

4pm to 7pm: MOIRA STUART’S HALL OF FAME CONCERT

The programme opens with Rossini’s overture to The Thieving Magpie, which the composer, whose procrastinating was infamous, had to be locked into his study in order to complete. Following this, music by one of Rossini’s key inspirations, Mozart. We hear his Piano Concerto No.23 in a stand-out recording by Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Elsewhere, there’s a full performance of Tchaikovsky’s moving Symphony No.5 from the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra under Mariss Jansons, and young talent Kian Sotani is the soloist in Dvořák’s Cello Concerto.

Gioachino Rossini The Thieving Magpie – Overture Yehudi Menuhin conducts Sinfonia Varsovia

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No.23 in A major K.488 Vladimir Ashkenazy directs the Philharmonia Orchestra from the keyboard

Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

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

Ennio Morricone Gabriel’s Oboe (From The Mission) Cello: Hauser Robert Ziegler conducts the Prague Symphony Orchestra

Dmitri Shostakovich The Assault on Beautiful Gorky (From The Unforgettable Year 1919) Piano: Dmitri Alexeev Jerzy Maksymiuk conducts the English Chamber Orchestra

Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Opus 14 – Un Bal Colin Davis conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Ludovico Einaudi Nuvole Bianche Piano: Ludovico Einaudi

Continued…

2 SATURDAY 27TH MARCH

4pm to 7pm: MOIRA STUART’S HALL OF FAME CONCERT

Continued…

Antonin Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor Opus 104 Cello: Kian Soltani Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin

7pm to 9pm: SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES with ANDREW COLLINS

Andrew puts life lessons front and centre, focusing on the films that contain wise mottos.

Featuring Braveheart, in which William Wallace said, "Every man dies, but not every man really lives" scored by James Horner, lessons beyond mathematics in Good Will Hunting composed by Danny Elfman, wise words from It's A Wonderful Life scored by Dmitri Tiomkin, and there are a few tips on how not to run a family business, accompanied by the theme to Succession by Nicholas Britell.

9pm to 10pm: DAVID MELLOR’S MELODIES

David celebrates some of the best loved melodies from the world of musicals. He begins and ends with the world-famous music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, there’s selection of hits from Lerner and Loewe’s retelling of the Pygmalion myth, My Fair Lady, plus plenty more nostalgic favourites.

3 SUNDAY 28TH MARCH

4pm to 7pm: JOHN HUMPHRYS

John takes a springtime walk along one of classical music’s most famous rivers, as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra perform the unofficial Austrian national anthem, By the Beautiful Blue Danube.

He also features another Welsh Male Voice Choir: a traditional tune written to depict the mysterious peak of a Welsh mountain. John plays Rock of Cader Idris, in a recording by the Morriston Orpheus Choir.

Finally, he selects another of his favourite poems, and plays another piece chosen by a listener that first showed how magical classical music could be.

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

Join Charlotte as she marks World Piano Day by devoting the first 60 minutes of the programme entirely to music performed on the keyboard instrument.

In recent years there has been a surge in popularity for piano music, particularly the contemporary minimalist styles of the likes of Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi. Classic FM was the first UK radio station to play the music of the latter; both composers will feature in this hour long celebration of 88 black and white keys.

Charlotte also includes another Italian contemporary piano playing composer – Alberto Giurioli – who is the youngest ever composer to feature in the Classic FM Hall of Fame, as well as the music of Liszt, Chopin and Debussy.

9pm to 10pm: JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER’S RISING STARS (5 / 5)

Julian presents the final episode in the five-part series celebrating the very best young musicians; a talented bunch who make up his “30 under 30”.

He introduces a multi-talented cellist who has conquered music from baroque masterpieces to his own electronic compositions. Christoph Croisé plays the final movement of Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.1. There’s also music from a Basingstoke- based prodigy who has been dubbed the “new Mozart”, Alma Deutscher, and one of Decca Classics’ most recent signings, American violinist Randall Goosby.

4 MONDAY 29TH MARCH

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL – A 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

John presents a very special concert in honour of one of the county’s greatest musical venues – the Royal Albert Hall – which was officially opened on this day 150 years ago, in 1871. Dedicated to Queen Victoria’s late husband, Prince Albert, the hall was inaugurated by the Prince of Wales, as the Queen herself became too overcome with emotion. It quickly became known as a hub for talent and to this day. many of the greatest musical names flock to perform there.

Tonight’s programme includes some of the best live performances recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, including Lang Lang’s critically acclaimed 2013 sold-out recital, and a gala concert held in Luciano Pavarotti’s honour in 1982. There’s also music by Rachmaninov and Wagner, who both visited the hall several times to perform their own works, and a symphony by Gounod, who conducted at the hall’s first ever concert in 1871.

Edward Elgar Pomp & Circumstance March No.1 in D major Opus 39 Vernon Handley conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Giacomo Puccini ‘E lucevan le stelle’ (From Tosca) Tenor: Luciano Pavarotti Kurt Herbert Adler conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Johann Sebastian Bach Toccata & Fugue in D minor BWV.565 Organ: Harold Britton

Johann Strauss Jr Vienna Blood Opus 354 André Rieu conducts the Johann Strauss Orchestra

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

Richard Wagner Ride of the Valkyries Klauss Tennstedt conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Sergei Rachmaninov Vocalise Opus 34 No.14 Cello: Gautier Capuçon Douglas Boyd conducts the Chamber Orchestra of Paris

Continued…

5 MONDAY 29TH MARCH

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL – A 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Continued…

Frédéric Chopin Ballade No.1 in G minor Opus 23 Piano: Lang Lang

Charles Gounod Symphony No.1 in D major Patrick Gallois conducts the Sinfonia Finlandia

6 TUESDAY 30TH MARCH

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: BEETHOVEN’S VIOLIN CONCERTO

The centrepiece of this evening’s concert is Beethoven’s fearsomely difficult Violin Concerto, which was actually his second attempt at writing a concerto for the instrument. Annie-Sophie takes the lead role in her 2002 recording with Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

There’s also a suite by Dvořák that showcases traditional Czech dances, including a Bohemian Sousedská, which compares to a slow waltz, and Robert Casadesus plays Fauré’s Ballade for Piano & Orchestra, which was composed after a suggestion from Liszt, and dedicated to Saint-Saëns.

Giuseppe Verdi La Forza del Destino – Overture Antal Dorati conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Ralph Vaughan Williams English Folksong Suite Andrew Manze conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Johann Sebastian Bach Goldberg Variations - Aria Piano: Angela Hewitt

Ludwig van Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major Opus 61 Violin: Anne-Sophie Mutter Kurt Masur conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Antonin Dvořák Czech Suite Opus 39 José Serebrier conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Gabriel Fauré Ballade for Piano & Orchestra Opus 19 Piano: Robert Casadesus Leonard Bernstein conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra

7 WEDNESDAY 31ST MARCH

8pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CONCERT with JOHN SUCHET: IN THE SHADOW OF BEETHOVEN

John explores how Elgar became inspired to write an English equivalent of Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony, an idea which he said “possessed” him for over ten years: the result was Elgar’s Symphony No.1, which was so in demand its premiere that it was performed 100 times in the space of just one year. Vasily Petrenko directs the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in a full performance of the symphony this evening.

Before then, pianist Howard Shelley plays a concerto by Cipriani Potter, who was rejected for lessons by Beethoven, and there’s a new recording of Bazzini’s virtuoso showpiece La Ronde des Lutins from violinist Linus Roth.

Pietro Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana – Intermezzo Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra

Cipriani Potter Piano Concerto No.2 in D minor Howard Shelley directs the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Johann Strauss Jr Tales from the Vienna Woods Opus 325 Riccardo Muti conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Antonio Bazzini La Ronde des Lutins Violin: Linus Roth Piano: Jose Gallardo

Georges Bizet Pearl Fishers - Duet Tenors: Jonas Kaufmann & Ludovic Tezier Bertrand de Billy conducts the Bavarian State Orchestra

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

8 THURSDAY 1ST APRIL

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

John marks April Fool’s Day with Mozart’s own prank on listeners, A Musical Joke. Mozart was infamously known for enjoying a joke or two, often making the musicians under his direction the unfortunate butt of his comedy.

After, Alan Feinberg performs Amy Beach’s Piano Concerto, which at its premiere was described by critics as “a disappointment in nearly every way”, but has gained a popular following in the last few years, and Salvatore Accardo is the soloist in Bruch’s own favourite work.

Jean Sibelius Finlandia Opus 26 Mariss Jansons conducts the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart A Musical Joke K.522 Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Concentus Musicus Vienna

Amy Beach Piano Concerto in C-sharp minor Opus 45 Piano: Alan Feinberg Kenneth Schermerhorn conducts the Nashville Symphony Orchestra

Max Bruch Adagio Appassionato Opus 57 Violin: Salvatore Accardo Kurt Masur conducts the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

Joseph Haydn Symphony No.90 in C major Simon Rattle conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

9 FRIDAY 2ND APRIL

9am to 9pm: THE CLASSIC FM HALL OF FAME

This Easter, Classic FM counts down the world’s biggest annual survey of classical music tastes: The Classic FM Hall of Fame. The chart, which is now in its 26th year, is compiled entirely by the public from votes received during the first months of 2021.

From 9am to 9pm, across all four days of the long weekend, the 300 pieces of music the nation has chosen as its favourites will be unveiled, with that all-important number one revealed just before 9pm on Easter Monday.

9am to 12pm: THE CLASSIC FM HALL OF FAME 2021 with ALED JONES

12pm to 3pm: THE CLASSIC FM HALL OF FAME 2021 with ANNE-MARIE MINHALL

12pm to 3pm: THE CLASSIC FM HALL OF FAME 2021 with JOHN BRUNNING

12pm to 3pm: THE CLASSIC FM HALL OF FAME 2021 with JOHN SUCHET

9pm to 10pm: THE CLASSIC FM CHRONICLES with MOIRA STUART

Moira Stuart presents the first episode in a special bank-holiday series telling the abridged history of classical music, perfect for newcomers and ardent fans of classical music alike.

To begin, Moira features a selection of composers and their music from across eight centuries and four periods of classical music, all in the space of an hour. The music of Hildegard of Bingen takes us back to as far as the 11th century to the Early Period of classical music, where the foundations were set for the composers over the centuries to come. Fast forward to the 16th century to the Renaissance period – an era of discovery, innovation and exploration for classical music with music by British composer Thomas Tallis, who composed throughout the reign of Henry VIII. Moira goes on to highlight the likes of Bach, Vivaldi, Purcell and Handel, who pioneered new musical styles throughout the Baroque period of the 17th century. The final destination of the evening is the early Classical period of the 18th century, which again saw great progression in the world of music and music from one of the most gifted musicians in the history of music, Mozart, as well as Joseph Haydn and Chevalier de Meude-Monpas.

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