Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 01 | George Benjamin's Musical Connections | 20201207 | In the first of this week's programmes exploring the music of Sir George Benjamin, Donald Macleod is joined by the composer to discuss his musical influences and teachers. Composer of the Week marks the sixtieth birthday of the celebrated British composer Sir George Benjamin. All this week Benjamin joins Donald Macleod in the studio to provide listeners with personal insights into his music and distinguished career. They discuss the composer's musical connections, his inspirations, his interest in collaboration, the compositional process, and his work as a pianist, conductor and teacher. One of the first composers whose music George Benjamin felt a particular connection with was Beethoven. In 1975 he met Olivier Messiaen who took Benjamin under his wing, and from there his trajectory as a composer became firmly established. While studying with Messiaen in Paris, Benjamin not only took piano lessons with his teacher's second wife, Yvonne Loriod, but he also met some of the most significant composers of the 20th century: Iannis Xenakis, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez. Boulez would become a significant early influence upon Benjamin and his music, through a period of study at the Institute for Music and Acoustic Research and Coordination established by Boulez. Viola, Viola Tabea Zimmermann, viola Antoine Tamestit, viola Piano Sonata (Vivace) George Benjamin, piano Palimpsests Ensemble Moderne Orchestra George Benjamin, conductor Written on Skin (XIV & XV The Protector of Agn耀s & The Boy / Angel 1) Christopher Purves (Protector), baritone Barbara Hannigan (Agn耀s), soprano Bejun Mehta (Angel 1), countertenor Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales. Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd Donald Macleod chats with Sir George Benjamin about his musical influences. |
| 2020 | 02 | George Benjamin And Composing | 20201208 | Donald Macleod is joined by Sir George Benjamin to talk about his compositional process. Composer of the Week marks the sixtieth birthday of the celebrated British composer Sir George Benjamin. All this week Benjamin joins Donald Macleod in the studio to provide listeners with personal insights into his music and distinguished career. They discuss the composer's musical connections, his inspirations, his interest in collaboration, the compositional process, and his work as a pianist, conductor and teacher. Marking the sixtieth birthday of Sir George Benjamin, the composer joins Donald Macleod to talk about his compositional process. Benjamin describes his need for total isolation when he's writing music, and reveals how he deals with blocks. Panorama Tape A Mind of Winter Penelope Walmsley-Clark, soprano London Sinfonietta George Benjamin, conductor Dance Figures BBC Symphony Orchestra Oliver Knussen, conductor Dream of the Song Bejun Mehta, countertenor NDR Choir NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales. Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd Donald Macleod discusses the process of composing with Sir George Benjamin. |
| 2020 | 03 | George Benjamin, Performer, Conductor And Teacher | 20201209 | Donald Macleod discusses with Sir George Benjamin the composer's talents as a performer, conductor and teacher. Composer of the Week marks the sixtieth birthday of the celebrated British composer Sir George Benjamin. All this week Benjamin joins Donald Macleod in the studio to provide listeners with personal insights into his music and distinguished career. They discuss the composer's musical connections, his inspirations, his interest in collaboration, the compositional process, and his work as a pianist, conductor and teacher. One of Sir George Benjamin's earliest musical experiences was being taught the piano and recorder at school. In his sixtieth birthday year, the composer talks to Donald Macleod about his experiences in later life as a teacher, the importance of music education, and its rewards. They also explore Benjamin's career as a conductor and pianist - including his time improvising music to accompany silent films. Piano Figures George Benjamin, piano At First Light London Sinfonietta George Benjamin, conductor Written on Skin (VIII The Protector of Agn耀s) Christopher Purves (Protector), baritone Barbara Hannigan (Agn耀s), soprano Mahler Chamber Orchestra Upon Silence Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano Fretwork Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales. Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd Donald Macleod chats with George Benjamin about his work in performing and teaching. |
| 2020 | 04 | George Benjamin And Inspiration | 20201210 | Donald Macleod in conversation with Sir George Benjamin explores the composer's sources of inspiration, both visual and literary. Composer of the Week marks the sixtieth birthday of the celebrated British composer Sir George Benjamin. All this week Benjamin joins Donald Macleod in the studio to provide listeners with personal insights into his music and distinguished career. They discuss the composer's musical connections, his inspirations, his interest in collaboration, the compositional process, and his work as a pianist, conductor and teacher. When composing music, Sir George Benjamin takes inspiration from various sources. The composer discusses with Donald Macleod the importance of visual inspirations in his music, and how words can have an impact upon the music he is composing. They explore the themes within some of his stage works, including homosexuality, and how he endeavours in his music to make old stories compelling for a contemporary audience. Ringed by the Flat Horizon Ross Pople, cello BBC Symphony Orchestra Mark Elder, conductor Into the Little Hill (Scene VI & VII) Hila Plitmann, soprano Susan Bickley, contralto London Sinfonietta George Benjamin, conductor Lessons in Love and Violence (Sc.3 Please everyone be seated) St退phane Degout (King), baritone Barbara Hannigan (Isabel), soprano Gyula Orendt (Gaveston / Stranger), baritone Peter Hoare (Mortimer), tenor Samuel Boden (Boy / Young King), tenor Jennifer France (Witness / Singer / Woman 1), soprano Krisztina Szab (Witness / Singer / Woman 2), mezzo-soprano Andri Bj怀rn R bertsson (Witness 3 / Madmad), bass-baritone Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Sometime Voices Dietrich Henschel, baritone Rundfunkchor Berlin Deutsches Symphony Orchestra Kent Nagano, conductor Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales. Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd Donald Macleod journeys through George Benjamin's sources of inspiration. |
| 2020 | 05 LAST | George Benjamin And Collaboration | 20201211 | Donald Macleod with the composer Sir George Benjamin delves into the world of collaboration. Composer of the Week marks the sixtieth birthday of the celebrated British composer Sir George Benjamin. All this week Benjamin joins Donald Macleod in the studio to provide listeners with personal insights into his music and distinguished career. They discuss the composer's musical connections, his inspirations, his interest in collaboration, the compositional process, and his work as a pianist, conductor and teacher. To collaborate is to surrender part of your creativity according to Sir George Benjamin, so finding the right people to collaborate with is very important to him. Now in his sixtieth year, he has regularly collaborated with groups such as Ensemble Modern and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard and the librettist Martin Crimp. In the last of this week's programmes, the composer talks to Donald Macleod about why collaboration is important to him, and why in the case of opera productions, he takes a journey with the singers in the creation of their roles. Three Inventions for Chamber Orchestra George Benjamin, conductor Shadowlines Pierre-Laurant Aimard, piano Lessons in Love and Violence (Sc.1 Not when you grip my neck) St退phane Degout (King), baritone Barbara Hannigan (Isabel), soprano Gyula Orendt (Gaveston / Stranger), baritone Peter Hoare (Mortimer), tenor Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Duet for Piano and Orchestra Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales. Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd Donald Macleod explores the world of collaboration with George Benjamin. |