The magic and the mayhem
Martin Handley concludes his four-part series which aims to demystify the art of conducting. We've reached the performance, and Martin explores where & how the magic really happens
Martin Handley concludes his four-part series aiming to demystify the role of the conductor - an activity that the late, great Bernard Haitink described as "arranging the air".
In this final episode, with the help of conductors Jakub Hrusa, Dalia Stasevska, Mark Wigglesworth, Harry Christophers, Sofi Jeannin and Trevor Pinnock, Martin explores the end product - the performance itself.
What makes some live performances particularly electric, and how do conductors get the best out of an orchestral, choral or opera performance to make an audience leave feeling they've been involved in something magical? Though, of course, there are times when it doesn't go completely to plan...
Including top recordings of music by Richard Strauss, George Frederick Handel, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Sergei Prokofiev, Samuel Barber, Caroline Shaw, Carl Maria von Weber and Jean Sibelius.
To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Matters".
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Richard Strauss
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op.30 - Prelude (Sunrise)
Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.- Strauss, R.: Also sprach Zarathustra.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
- 1.
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George Frideric Handel
Lift up your heads [Messiah]
Choir: The English Concert Choir. Orchestra: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.- Handel: Messiah.
- Archiv Produktion.
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Giacomo Puccini
Turandot, Act 1: Aria. "Signore, ascolta!" (Liù)
Singer: Mirella Freni. Orchestra: The Rome Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Franco Ferraris.- Opera Arias.
- Warner Classics.
- 12.
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Benjamin Britten
Battle scene [Billy Budd, Act II]
Singer: Philip Langridge. Singer: Thomas Allen. Singer: Neil Howlett. Choir: Chorus of English National Opera. Orchestra: English National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: David Atherton.- ARTHAUS MUSIK.
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Giuseppe Verdi
Verdi: Falstaff / Act 3: Tutto nel mondo è burla
Singer: Geraint Evans. Singer: Giulietta Simionato. Singer: Ilva Ligabue. Singer: Robert Merrill. Singer: Mirella Freni. Singer: Alfredo Kraus. Singer: Rosalind Elias. Singer: John Lanigan. Singer: Piero de Palma. Choir: Coro della RCA Italiana. Orchestra: Orchestra della RCA Italiana. Conductor: Georg Solti.- Verdi: Falstaff.
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Sergey Prokofiev
Masks [Romeo & Juliet, Op.64]
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Valery Gergiev.- LSO LIVE.
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Samuel Barber
Adagio for Strings
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.- Musique au coin du feu (Radio Classique).
- Warner Classics.
- 16.
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Caroline Shaw
and the swallow (Psalm 84)
Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.![]()
Carl Maria von Weber
Clarinet Concerto No.2 in E flat, Op.74 (3rd mvt:Alla Polacca)
Performer: Andrew Marriner. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.- Weber: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Clarinet Concertino.
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
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Jean Sibelius
Symphony No.5 in E flat major, Op.82 (finale)
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
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