Oliver Knussen (1952-)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2016

Sound Frontiers: Early Notoriety

20160926

As part of Radio 3 live at Southbank Centre, London, Donald Macleod presents special editions of the long-running series that began life just three years before the launch of the 'Third Programme' in 1946. Donald invites celebrated British composer Oliver Knussen to join him live at the Radio 3 pop-up studio to discuss a life and career that spans nearly all of Radio 3's seven decades.

In their first programme, they look at Knussen's early steps toward the composer he would become, encouraged by the likes of Benjamin Britten and Leonard Bernstein.

Hums and Songs of Winnie-the-Pooh Op.6

Lisa Saffer, soprano

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Oliver Knussen, conductor

Frammenti da 'Chiara' Op.19

BBC Singers

Simon Joly, conductor

Symphony No.2 Op.7

Elaine Barry, soprano

London Sinfonietta

Oliver Knussen, conductor.

Donald Macleod explores Knussen's early steps towards the composer he would become.

2016

Sound Frontiers: About Ophelia

20160927

Today, Donald and Olly discuss a literary character whose influence persists through his Third Symphony and several subsequent works.

Symphony No.3 Op.18

Philharmonia Orchestra

Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor

Trumpets Op.12 (1975)

Linda Hirst, soprano

Michael Collins, clarinet

Edward Pillinger, clarinet

Ian Mitchell, clarinet

Ophelia Dances Op.13

London Sinfonietta

Oliver Knussen, conductor

Ophelia's Last Dance Op.32

Kirill Gerstein, piano.

Donald Macleod explores a literary character whose influence is in several Knussen works.

2016

Sound Frontiers: Working With Maurice Sendak

20160928

Today, they focus on Oliver Knussen's long-time friendship with Maurice Sendak, author and illustrator of the famous children's book, Where the Wild Things Are.

Songs and a Sea Interlude, Op 20a

Claire Booth, soprano

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Ryan Wigglesworth, conductor

Higglety Pigglety Pop! Op 21: First interlude and scenes 4-5

Cynthia Buchan, mezzo soprano (Jennie)

Lisa Saffer, soprano (Baby)

Rosemary Hardy, soprano (Rhoda / Baby's Mother)

Christopher Gillet, tenor (Cat)

London Sinfonietta

Oliver Knussen, conductor

Where the Wild Things Are, Op 20: Scene 6 'The Wild Rumpus

Lisa Saffer, soprano (Max)

Oliver Knussen, conductor.

Donald Macleod focuses on Oliver Knussen's long-time friendship with Maurice Sendak.

2016

Sound Frontiers: Music About Music

20160929

Knussen has said about his music 'I don't set out to express myself'. Today, Donald asks him what it is that drives him to compose, and about the kinds of ideas that inspire him.

Flourish with Fireworks, Op 22

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Sir Simon Rattle, conductor

Music for a Puppet Court, Op.11

London Sinfonietta

Oliver Knussen, conductor

Two Organa, Op 27

Horn Concerto, Op 28

Barry Tuckwell, horn

Oliver Knussen, conductor.

Composer Oliver Knussen explains to Donald Macleod drives him to write music.

2016

05 LAST

Sound Frontiers: Commemorations

20160930

In their final conversation, we hear about some of Knussen's many musical memorials, plus a lullaby composed for his sleepless, four-month-old daughter.

Sonya's Lullaby, Op 16

Peter Serkin, piano

Violin Concerto, Op 30

Leila Josefowicz, violin

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Oliver Knussen, conductor

Secret Psalm

Alexandra Wood, violin

Requiem - Songs for Sue, Op 33

Claire Booth, soprano

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

Oliver Knussen, conductor.

Donald Macleod hears about some of Knussen's many musical memorials.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2016	01	Sound Frontiers: Early Notoriety	20160926	As part of Radio 3 live at Southbank Centre, London, Donald Macleod presents special editions of the long-running series that began life just three years before the launch of the 'Third Programme' in 1946. Donald invites celebrated British composer Oliver Knussen to join him live at the Radio 3 pop-up studio to discuss a life and career that spans nearly all of Radio 3's seven decades. In their first programme, they look at Knussen's early steps toward the composer he would become, encouraged by the likes of Benjamin Britten and Leonard Bernstein. Hums and Songs of Winnie-the-Pooh Op.6 Lisa Saffer, soprano The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Oliver Knussen, conductor Frammenti da 'Chiara' Op.19 BBC Singers Simon Joly, conductor Symphony No.2 Op.7 Elaine Barry, soprano London Sinfonietta Oliver Knussen, conductor. Donald Macleod explores Knussen's early steps towards the composer he would become.
2016	02	Sound Frontiers: About Ophelia	20160927	As part of Radio 3 live at Southbank Centre, London, Donald Macleod presents special editions of the long-running series that began life just three years before the launch of the 'Third Programme' in 1946. Donald invites celebrated British composer Oliver Knussen to join him live at the Radio 3 pop-up studio to discuss a life and career that spans nearly all of Radio 3's seven decades. Today, Donald and Olly discuss a literary character whose influence persists through his Third Symphony and several subsequent works. Symphony No.3 Op.18 Philharmonia Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor Trumpets Op.12 (1975) Linda Hirst, soprano Michael Collins, clarinet Edward Pillinger, clarinet Ian Mitchell, clarinet Ophelia Dances Op.13 London Sinfonietta Oliver Knussen, conductor Ophelia's Last Dance Op.32 Kirill Gerstein, piano. Donald Macleod explores a literary character whose influence is in several Knussen works.
2016	03	Sound Frontiers: Working With Maurice Sendak	20160928	As part of Radio 3 live at Southbank Centre, London, Donald Macleod presents special editions of the long-running series that began life just three years before the launch of the 'Third Programme' in 1946. Donald invites celebrated British composer Oliver Knussen to join him live at the Radio 3 pop-up studio to discuss a life and career that spans nearly all of Radio 3's seven decades. Today, they focus on Oliver Knussen's long-time friendship with Maurice Sendak, author and illustrator of the famous children's book, Where the Wild Things Are. Songs and a Sea Interlude, Op 20a Claire Booth, soprano BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Ryan Wigglesworth, conductor Higglety Pigglety Pop! Op 21: First interlude and scenes 4-5 Cynthia Buchan, mezzo soprano (Jennie) Lisa Saffer, soprano (Baby) Rosemary Hardy, soprano (Rhoda / Baby's Mother) Christopher Gillet, tenor (Cat) London Sinfonietta Oliver Knussen, conductor Where the Wild Things Are, Op 20: Scene 6 'The Wild Rumpus Lisa Saffer, soprano (Max) Oliver Knussen, conductor. Donald Macleod focuses on Oliver Knussen's long-time friendship with Maurice Sendak.
2016	04	Sound Frontiers: Music About Music	20160929	As part of Radio 3 live at Southbank Centre, London, Donald Macleod presents special editions of the long-running series that began life just three years before the launch of the 'Third Programme' in 1946. Donald invites celebrated British composer Oliver Knussen to join him live at the Radio 3 pop-up studio to discuss a life and career that spans nearly all of Radio 3's seven decades. Knussen has said about his music 'I don't set out to express myself'. Today, Donald asks him what it is that drives him to compose, and about the kinds of ideas that inspire him. Flourish with Fireworks, Op 22 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Sir Simon Rattle, conductor Music for a Puppet Court, Op.11 London Sinfonietta Oliver Knussen, conductor Two Organa, Op 27 Horn Concerto, Op 28 Barry Tuckwell, horn Oliver Knussen, conductor. Composer Oliver Knussen explains to Donald Macleod drives him to write music.
2016	05 LAST	Sound Frontiers: Commemorations	20160930	As part of Radio 3 live at Southbank Centre, London, Donald Macleod presents special editions of the long-running series that began life just three years before the launch of the 'Third Programme' in 1946. Donald invites celebrated British composer Oliver Knussen to join him live at the Radio 3 pop-up studio to discuss a life and career that spans nearly all of Radio 3's seven decades. In their final conversation, we hear about some of Knussen's many musical memorials, plus a lullaby composed for his sleepless, four-month-old daughter. Sonya's Lullaby, Op 16 Peter Serkin, piano Violin Concerto, Op 30 Leila Josefowicz, violin BBC Symphony Orchestra Oliver Knussen, conductor Secret Psalm Alexandra Wood, violin Requiem - Songs for Sue, Op 33 Claire Booth, soprano Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Oliver Knussen, conductor. Donald Macleod hears about some of Knussen's many musical memorials.