Episodes
Series | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | A Revised Legacy | 20181221 | Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In the final programme of the week, Donald explores Rimsky-Korsakov's legacy, and to what degree the composer was a conscious architect of his own music's reputation via the countless revisions he made of his works. Donald also examines the impact which Rimsky-Korsakov had on the reception of other Russian composers' music overseas. Flight of the Bumblebee (Tsar Saltan) Wynton Marsalis, trumpet Eastman Wind Ensemble Donald Hunsberger, director Maid of Pskov - Overture Chorus of the Kirov Opera Kirov Orchestra Valery Gergiev, conductor Night on the Bare Mountain Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra Mariss Jansons, conductor Polonaise (Christmas Eve Suite) The Philadelphia Orchestra Eugene Ormandy, conductor Mlada: Act III, Scenes 2 and 3 Nina Kulagina (Morena) Chorus & Orchestra of Moscow State Broadcasting Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor Mozart & Salieri: Scene 2 (extract) Nikita Storojev, bass Vladimir Bogachov, tenor I Musici de Montreal Choir Yuli Turovsky, conductor Upon the hills of Georgia, Op.3 Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov's legacy |
2018 | A Surprising Revolutionary | 20181219 | Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In Wednesday's programme, Donald examines the acts of rebellion which pepper Rimsky-Korsakov's life, exploring the composer's dual roles as establishment stalwart and revolutionary hero, a position which led, at one point, to the banning of his music in St. Petersburg. Allegro in B flat major (Les Vendredis, Book II) Vertavo Quartet Overture on Russian Themes, Op 28 Seattle Symphony Gerard Schwarz, conductor Symphony No 3: II. Scherzo London Symphony Orchestra Yondani Butt, conductor Kashchey the Immortal: Tableau 3 Konstantin Pluzhnikov, tenor (Kashchey) Marina Shaguch, soprano (The Princess) Larissa Diadkova, mezzo-soprano (Kastcheyevna) Alexander Morozov, baritone (Prince Ivan Korolovitch) Alexander Gergalov, bass (The Storm-Knight) Chorus of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg Orchestra of the Kirov Opera Valery Gergiev, conductor Suite from `The Golden Cockerel`: IV. Wedding Feast - Death of King Dodon - Finale Scottish National Opera Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales Donald Macleod examines Rimsky's dual role as establishment stalwart and revolutionary |
2018 | Atheist, Christian, Pantheist | 20181220 | Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. Rimsky-Korsakov professed to be an atheist, but wrote some sacred music for the Imperial Court Chapel. In Thursday's programme, Donald explores this claim, and the intriguing links between folk music and religion in the life and music of the man who Stravinsky famously said was 'closed to any religious or metaphysical idea'. Octave (5 Songs `To the Poet`, Op 45) Yuriy Yurchuk, baritone Sergey Rybin, piano May Night - Overture Royal Scottish National Orchestra Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor Snow Maiden: Act IV Finale Anna Netrebko, soprano (Snow Maiden) Vladimir Moroz, baritone (Mizgir) Dmitry Voropaev, tenor (Tsar Berendey) Nikolai Kornev, chorus master Mariinsky Orchestra Val退ry Gergiev, conductor Russian Easter Festival Overture USSR Academic Symphony Orchestra Yevgeny Svetlanov, conductor Chants for Holy Week: Alleluia; Thy Bridal Chamber; Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silent Cappella Romana Alexander Lingas, conductor The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya Suite: I. Hymn to Nature Russian National Orchestra Mikhail Pletnev, conductor Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov's beliefs. |
2018 | The Fantastic World Of Nikolai Andreyevich | 20181218 | Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In Tuesday's episode, Donald explores Rimsky Korsakov's use of fairy-tales and folklore, the idea of otherness' and the excitement of the exotic in his music - elements which seem to contrast with reports of the man himself. Captivated by the Rose, the Nightingale (4 Songs, Op 2 No 2) Anna Netrebko, soprano Daniel Barenboim, piano Antar: IV. Allegretto - Adagio The Philharmonia Yevgeny Sveltlanov, conductor Skazka, Op 29 BBC Philharmonic Vassily Sinaisky, conductor Capricco Espagnol, Op 34 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Jesús Lopez-Cobos, conductor Hymn to the Sun from The Golden Cockerel Aida Garifullina, soprano ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien Cornelius Meister, conductor Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales Donald Macleod explores the idea of the exotic in Rimsky-Korsakov's works |
2018 | The Sea | 20181217 | Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In Monday's episode, Donald explores Rimsky-Korsakov's relationship with the sea, which began as a childhood obsession, before an early naval career, and a civilian job as Inspector of Russia's Naval Bands brought him into closer proximity to the ocean. Donald also ponders what the ocean represented for Rimsky and for his largely landlocked Russian audience, alongside the various evocations of the sea in his music. By the Sea, Op 46: The Wave Breaks into a Spray Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone Mikhail Arkadiev, piano Scheherazade (I. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship) Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra Mariss Jansons, conductor From Homer Op.60 Svetlana Sizova, mezzo-soprano Tatiana Fedotova, soprano Chorus of the Moscow Academy of Choral Art & Moscow Symphony Orchestra Vladimir Ziva, conductor Symphony No 1 (II. Andante tranquillo) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor Sadko, Op. 6 L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Ernest Ansermet, conductor Trombone Concerto (I. Allegro Vivace) Christian Lindberg, trombone Kosei Wind Orchestra Chikara Imamura, conductor Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov's relationship with the sea. |