Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 01 | Doorstep Discovery | 20230102 | Donald Macleod speaks to trailblazing composer Max Richter about his musical beginnings. Today, we rewind back to Max's musical beginnings. His parents' classical records opened his eyes to the power of music, before a youth spent at punk gigs and obsessing with analogue synthesisers. Donald and Max discuss the liberating `failure` of his first record, and we hear about an unlikely influence on his creative destiny - the local milkman. Spring 1 (Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons) Daniel Hope, violin Konzerthaus Kammerhaus Berlin Andre de Ridder, conductor Last Days BBC Philharmonic Rumon Gamba, conductor Sketchbook November Mari Samuelsen Konzerthausorchester Berlin Jonathan Stockhammer, conductor Andras Arbenita (11 Years) Sarah Leonard, soprano Gongstream (excerpt) Piano Circus Future Sound of London Spring (Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons) Elena Urioste, violin Chineke! Orchestra Max Richter, synthesisers Organum |
| 2023 | 02 | Daylight | 20230103 | Donald Macleod and Max Richter revisit a lightbulb moment in his career. Today, with music on the theme of light and enlightenment, we go back to a pivotal moment for Max - a conversation that transformed the way he composed, leading him to push back against the prevailing trends in contemporary music. As he found his voice, we hear about the period in his career where his work began to find exposure - with his breakthrough album The Blue Notebooks. Vladimir's Blues Sunlight Louisa Fuller, violin Natalia Bonner, violin Rico Costa, violin John Metcalfe, (viola Ian Burdge, cello Chris Worsey, cello On the Nature of Daylight John Metcalfe, viola Philip Sheppard, cello Summer (Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons) Daniel Hope, violin Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin Andre de Ridder, conductor Flowers for Yulia ; Autumn Music 2 Robert Wyatt, speaker Selection from 24 Postcards in Full Colour Max Richter, piano and electronics Donald Macleod and composer Max Richter revisit a lightbulb moment in his career. |
| 2023 | 03 | In Motion | 20230104 | Donald Macleod and composer Max Richter explore his music for stage and screen. Today, Donald and Max adventure to the shores of Scotland, a Lebanese warzone, plunge into the London Underground, and jet off into outer space, on a journey through Max's music for stage and screen. As one of the most hotly-demanded composers writing for cinema and TV today, we'll hear what he's learnt over the years and how he approaches a score. Plus, with excerpts from his ballets, they talk about writing for dancers, and how what's on his bookshelf influences his work. The Shores of Scotland (from Mary Queen of Scots) Air Lyndhurst Orchestra Robert Ziegler, conductor Three Worlds: Woolf Works (II. Mrs Dalloway: In the Garden) Louisa Fuller, violin Natalia Bonner, violin John Metcalfe, viola Ian Burdge, cello Chris Worsey, cello Waltz with Bashir (excerpts) Infra (excerpts) Nick Barr, viola Three Worlds: Woolf Works (III. Orlando - excerpts) Sarah Sutcliffe, voice Mari Samuelsen, violin Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg Finale (from Mary Queen of Scots) I will not forget you (from Testament of Youth) Donald Macleod and composer Max Richter explore his diverse music for stage and screen. |
| 2023 | 04 | Dreamscapes | 20230105 | Donald Macleod talks to record-breaking composer Max Richter about his iconic work, SLEEP. Today, we journey into the dark and into other worlds, as Max talks about his obsession with space and night-time. We hear about one of his most ambitious projects to date, his record-breaking nocturnal opus, the 8.5-hour work SLEEP. Described as `an exploration of music, consciousness and human connectivity`. Max tells us about the experience of touring the work, and why he wants to puts the listener at the centre of his compositions - awake or not. Sleep (excerpt) American Contemporary Music Ensemble Erbarme Dich (from Ad Astra) Air Lyndhurst Orchestra Max Richter, celeste Tom Foster, conductor Journey (CP1919) Aurora Orchestra Nicholas Collon, conductor Autumn (Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons) Daniel Hope, violin Raphael Alpermann, harpsichord Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin Andre de Ridder, conductor Dream 3 (in the midst of my life) Max Richter, piano, organ, synthesisers, electronics Ben Russell, violin Clarice Jensen, cello Path 5 (delta) Grace Davidson, soprano |
| 2023 | 05 LAST | In The Studio | 20230106 | Donald Macleod joins composer Max Richter in his creative habitat to explore how and why he writes. In today's final episode, we get a glimpse into Max's creative practice as he takes us inside his purpose-built studio. From his very first recording, humanitarian issues and political activism have been a long-running thread through Max's work, and he thinks of music as an ever-more crucial place to reflect. He and Donald discuss the role of the composer in the 21st century and what drives Max to write today, while playing a selection of his most recent works. The Twins (Prague) (excerpt) Exiles (excerpt) Baltic Sea Philharmonic Kristjan J䀀rvi, conductor Testament Max Baillie, violin Venetia Jollands, violin Yume Fujise, viola Max Ruisi, cello Flowers of Herself Voices: All Human Beings ; Origins Max Richter, Piano, organ, synthesiser KiKi Layne, speaker Ian Burdge, cello Air Lyndhurst Orchestra Tenebrae Robert Ziegler, conductor Winter (Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons) Elena Urioste, violin Chineke! Orchestra Max Richter, synthesiser Mercy Mari Samuelsen, violin |