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Expand your horizons with classical music

Half an hour of back to back classical music including works by Ravel, Purcell, Elena Kats-Chernin, and a film score from John Barry.

Wind down at the end of a busy day with half an hour of back to back classical music. Today's sequence begins with a serene instrumental interlude from Purcell's "King Arthur", and a song from Ravel's "Shéhérazade" sung exquisitely by Janet Baker. Violinist Esther Abrami weaves her way through an arrangement of a chant by Hildegard of Bingen, and the peerlessly perfect choral ensemble Tenebrae provides a shimmering account of "Spheres" from Ola Gjeilo's "Sunrise Mass". John Barry's sleepily, seductive film score to the film "Midnight Cowboy" sits alongside a playful piano miniature by Elena Kats-Chernin, and the playlist ends with a ravishing arrangement of a Bach three part invention from the Swingle Singers.

Producer: Helen Garrison

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 4 Feb 202619:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Henry Purcell

    King Arthur: Act V Symphony

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Performer: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Warner.
    • 0191622.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Sheherazade - 3 poems for mezzo-soprano and orchestra: iii L'indifferent

    Performer: Janet Baker. Performer: New Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: John Barbirolli.
    • EMI.
    • 2080872.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O virtus sapientiae, arr. for violin and string quintet

    Music Arranger: Penelope Axtens. Performer: Esther Abrami. Performer: Esther Abrami Quintet.
    • Sony Classical.
    • G0100054551074X.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Intermezzo in C major, Op 119 No 3

    Performer: Julius Katchen.
    • Decca.
    • 4300532.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Sunrise Mass for chorus and strings: The Spheres

    Performer: Tenebrae. Performer: The Chamber Orchestra of London. Director: Nigel Short.
    • Decca.
    • 4788689.

  • Franz Schubert

    Ellens Gesang 3 (Ave Maria) D.839 arr. for violin & orch [orig.vn & pf]

    Music Arranger: Arthur Harris. Performer: Isaac Stern. Performer: Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Frank Brieff.
    • Sony Classical.
    • SK45816.

  • John Barry

    Midnight Cowboy (main theme from the movie)

    Performer: John Barry.
    • Parlophone.
    • 0724353593452.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Green Leaf Prelude for violin and piano

    Performer: Nicola Sweeney. Performer: Sarah Nicolls.
    • Signum Classics.
    • SIGCD 058.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sinfonia no.11 in G minor BWV.797 arr. for voices

    Music Arranger: Jonathan Rathbone. Performer: The Swingle Singers.
    • Virgin.
    • 7243545049 2 1.

Broadcast

  • Wed 4 Feb 202619:00
    BBC Radio 3

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Music to help you focus

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