BBC SO - Sculthorpe, Leek, Wallen, Elgar (part 1)

Live from BBC Maida Vale Studios, London.

Presented by Martin Handley.

BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor Nicholas Collon celebrate the Commonwealth with Elgar's Symphony No 1 and music by Australian Peter Sculthorpe and Belize-born Errollyn Wallen. The BBC Singers contribute more music from Australia.

Peter Sculthorpe: From Oceania
Stephen Leek: 2 movements from "Great Southern Spirits"*
Errollyn Wallen: Mighty River

8.05 - Interval

8.25
Elgar: Symphony No. 1

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Nicholas Collon (Conductor)
BBC Singers/Tim Murray (Conductor)*

Errollyn Wallen's Mighty River was commissioned to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Abolition of Slave Trade Act of 1807. In From Oceania Peter Sculthorpe treats the orchestra like a giant percussion instrument and the choral works of his countryman Stephen Leek are full of references to indigenous Australian music. Elgar's 1st Symphony was premiered in 1908 when the British Empire was still expanding.