William Alwyn

1/5. Donald Macleod explores the range of music Alwyn created during his long and prolific career. While the composer was well-known for film scores including for Odd Man Out, Fallen Idol and The History of Mr Polly, he also wrote many works for the concert hall, which are rarely heard today.

Rhapsody for piano quartet

David Willison (piano)

Members of Quartet of London

Divertimento

Kate Hill (flute)

Overture to a Masque

London Symphony Orchestra

Richard Hickox (conductor)

Concerto grosso No 1

City of London Sinfonia

Exploring the range of music Alwyn created in his long and prolific career.

2/5. During the Second World War Alwyn, began composing for propaganda films and documentaries and was soon in demand for feature films. Donald Macleod introduces music from the soundtracks of some of his best-known films, plus a recording of the composer conducting his own harp concerto and his first venture into symphonic writing.

Punting Scene (The History of Mr Polly); Odd Man Out Suite (excerpts); Symphony No 1 (final mvt)

London Symphony Orchestra

Richard Hickox (conductor)

Lyra Angelica

Osian Ellis (harp)

London Philharmonic Orchestra

William Alwyn (conductor).

With some of Alwyn's best-known film scores and his first venture into symphonic writing.

3/5. Alwyn was a man of diverse and passionate enthusiasms: he wrote poetry and enjoyed painting, both as an artist himself and as a collector. Donald Macleod introduces a work inspired by one of his favourite pre-Raphaelite artists and plays the 1972 recording of Alwyn conducting his fiercely dramatic third symphony.

Libera Me (Svengali)

Susan Bullock (soprano)

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Rumon Gamba (conductor)

Crepuscule

Ieuan Jones (harp)

Autumn Legend

Nicholas Daniel (cor anglais)

City of London Sinfonia

Richard Hickox (conductor)

Symphony No 3

London Philharmonic Orchestra

William Alwyn (conductor).

With a work inspired by one of Alwyn's favourite artists plus his dramatic third symphony.

4/5. During the 1950s Alwyn's home and professional life had become so stressful that in the early 1960s he suffered a nervous breakdown. Donald Macleod looks at some of the chamber music Alwyn wrote during those difficult years and introduces a work dedicated to the man who was perhaps more influential on Alwyn's career than any other - Sir Henry Wood.

Fantasy-Waltzes: Nos 1, 2, 3 and 6

John Ogdon (piano)

Overture (Derby Day)

London Philharmonic Orchestra

William Alwyn (conductor)

String Trio

Members of the Quartet of London

Concerto grosso No 3

City of London Sinfonia

Richard Hickox (conductor).

Focusing on chamber music Alwyn wrote during a stressful period in his life.

5/5. One of Alwyn's long-cherished dreams while he was writing film scores was to compose for the stage, and after he had settled into his new home in Suffolk he spent the next 14 years working on two operas.

Donald Macleod presents highlights from the second opera Miss Julie, based on August Strindberg's play of the same name, and introduces one of Alwyn's last orchestral works, inspired by the 17th century English writer Sir Thomas Browne.

Naiades

Anna Noakes (flute)

Gillian Tingay (harp)

Symphony No 5 (Hydriotaphia)

London Philharmonic Orchestra

William Alwyn (conductor)

Miss Julie (excerpts)

Miss Julie - Jill Gomez (soprano)

Jean - Benjamin Luxon (baritone)

Kristin - Della Jones (mezzo-soprano)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Vilem Tausky (conductor).

With late orchestral work by Alwyn and highlights from his second opera.