Wagner at the Helm
Donald Macleod explores Wagner's tumultuous season in charge of the RPS's orchestra in 1855. Plus RPS commissions by Spohr, Stendale Bennett, Tchaikovsky and Musgrave.
By the middle of the 19th century, the Society was looking for a new musical direction. Enter stage left the young, supremely confident Richard Wagner, who was appointed chief conductor of the Society's orchestra for one truly tumultuous concert season in 1855. Donald Macleod explores the highs and lows, the drama and mutual antipathy with the help of cultural historianb Leanne Langley, before presenting works by Spohr and the "great white hope" of Victorian British music, William Sterndale Bennett. He also introduces the Society's relationship with European composers of the late 19th century and the reception of Tchaikovsky's dramatic "Pathetique" symphony.
The programme ends with a masterpiece of 20th century British orchestral music - Thea Musgrave's Clarinet Concerto, commissioned by the RPS in 1969.
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Music Played
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Richard Wagner
'Rule Britannia' Overture (excerpt)
Performers: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Performers: Varujan Kojian
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Louis Spohr
Symphony No. 8, Op. 137 - 2nd movement
Performers: Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana Performers: Howard Shelley
- Hyperion CDA67802.
- 2.
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William Sterndale Bennett
Symphony in G minor - 1st movement
Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra Performer: Nicholas Braithwaite
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 6, 'Pathetique' - Last movement
Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich
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Thea Musgrave
Clarinet Concerto
Performer: Gervase de Peyer (Clarinet) Performer: London Symphony Orchestra Performer: Norman Del Mar
Broadcasts
- Wed 7 Aug 201312:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 7 Aug 201318:30BBC Radio 3
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