Adagio in G minor
Virginia McKenna explores the lasting impact of Albinoni's adagio, while Andrew Gant maintains it is wrongly attributed to him. From 2014.
Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor, is one of the most popular and moving pieces of music.
But, as academic and composer Andrew Gant explains, it wasn't written by Albinoni and is now attributed to 20th century Italian composer, Giazotto.
Award-winning veteran BBC foreign correspondent, Malcolm Brabant recalls the ' cellist of Sarajevo', Vedran Smailovic, playing it everyday for weeks amidst the wreckage of the beautiful city, as Serbian gunfire raged around.
Actress Virginia McKenna explains its importance to her and her late husband, actor Bill Travers, who died in 1994. The piece was played at the beginning and end of his memorial service.
And TV producer, Gareth Gwenlan reveals why it was chosen as the theme for the character played by Wendy Craig, in the BBC’s 1970s TV sitcom, Butterflies.
Producer: Lucy Lunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2014.
Last on
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“I play for my dead friends”
Duration: 05:33
Virginia Mckenna speaks of her great love for Albinoni's Adagio
Broadcasts
Tue 29 Apr 201411:30BBC Radio 4- Sun 24 Aug 201413:30BBC Radio 4
- Fri 11 Aug 201718:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 12 Aug 201700:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Tue 18 Jan 202218:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 19 Jan 202200:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
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