Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 3,28 Mar 2026,180 mins

Violinist James Ehnes on his half century

Saturday Morning

Available for 24 days

Tom Service with guests, stories and the perfect classical soundtrack for the weekend! Tom talks to the brilliant multi-award-winning Canadian violinist James Ehnes, who is in the middle of a world tour to celebrate his 50th birthday - James talks to Tom about why he's still as in love with music as ever and why live performance is key for everyone's wellbeing. Talking of live performance, in 1975 the jazz pianist Keith Jarrett gave one of the most iconic concerts ever recorded - the Koln Concert, a jazz composition that straddled jazz and classical performance, entirely improvised. 50 years later, the pianist Maki Namekawa, who considers Jarrett a mentor, is performing a transcription of it around Europe, including in London. She talks to Tom about why the concert and Jarrett's playing was so special. And over the last few weeks in our ongoing focus on 'Creators', we've been looking at huge works for orchestra, electronics or singers - today, though, we go tiny and unpick the particular earwormmy power of the 4-note SNCF jingle that's heard in railway stations all over France. Written by Michael Boumendil, it signalled the start of 'sonic branding' - Michael talks to Tom about what those 4 notes mean. To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.

Programme Website
More episodes

Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Lemminkainen's Return (Lemminkainen Suite)
    Lemminkainen's Return (Lemminkainen Suite)
    Jean Sibelius
  3. 2.
    O clap your hands
    O clap your hands
    Orlando Gibbons
  4. 3.
    Gymnopédie no.1 in D major
    Gymnopédie no.1 in D major
    Erik Satie