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Debussy's La Mer

Sara Mohr-Pietsch takes us on a listening journey towards Claude Debussy's orchestral work La Mer.

Sara Mohr-Pietsch takes us on a listening journey towards Claude Debussy's orchestral work La Mer.

On the way, we encounter seascapes from a gentle jazz trio by Bill Evans to Joseph Haydn's 'Rolling in Foaming Billows' from his oratorio The Creation. La Mer was partly inspired by Japanese artworks, and we hear another art-inspired piece by Ottorino Respighi, plus a Portrait of a Japanese Garden by Kaija Saariaho. And, reflecting the fact that Debussy worked on the score of La Mer in Eastbourne, there's a vintage tune from Albert Sandler and his Grand Hotel (Eastbourne) Orchestra.

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25 days left to listen

1 hour, 29 minutes

Last on

Sunday13:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Grace Williams

    Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: V. Calm Sea in Summer

    Conductor: John Andrews. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Miroirs: Une barque sur l'ocean

    Performer: Seong‐Jin Cho.
    • Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works.
    • DG.
    • 3.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Aria: "Rolling in foaming billows"

    Singer: Matthew Brook. Orchestra: Handel and Haydn Society. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • The Creation.
    • Coro.
    • 7.

  • Bill Evans

    Seascape

    Ensemble: Bill Evans Trio.
    • I Will Say Goodbye.
    • Original Jazz Classics.
    • 3.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Botticelli Triptych: I. La Primavera

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Geoffrey Simon.
    • Respighi: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Ouverture: Les Indes Galantes

    Orchestra: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: William Christie.
    • Rameau* – Les Arts Florissants, William Christie – Les Indes Galantes.
    • Harmonia Mundi France.
    • 1.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    Six Japanese Gardens: III. Dry Mountain Stream

    Performer: Florent Jodelet.
    • Private Gardens.
    • Ondine.
    • 1.

  • Claude Debussy

    Images III. Poissons d'or

    Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • Piano Works Vol.2.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Four Sea Interludes: I. Dawn

    Performer: Anna Lapwood. Music Arranger: Anna Lapwood.
    • Piano Works Vol.2.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Frank Bridge

    The Sea Suite: I. Seascape

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley.
    • Four Sea Interludes / The Sea / On The Sea Shore.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    La Boheme: Fantasia

    Orchestra: Albert Sandler and His Orchestra.
    • La Boheme - Fantasia.
    • Columbia.
    • 1.

  • Claude Debussy

    La Mer

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Debussy: La Mer.
    • EMI.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Sunday13:30
    BBC Radio 3