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Music for new beginnings feat. Alice Sara Ott

Join Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds for a calming musical journey inspired by fresh starts. Plus classical pianist Alice Sara Ott shares the song that brings her ultimate calm.

Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds is ready to unwind. After an incredibly busy time playing concerts all over the world, he is back with a second series of Ultimate Calm - twelve unique episodes, each one a musical journey that seeks to find that all too elusive feeling of calm.

In the spirit of a new series, in this first episode Ólafur takes inspiration from the idea of new beginnings, with music related to fresh starts. He shares pieces from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Poppy Ackroyd and Philip Glass, and reflects on how music can provide feelings of escape and rejuvenation.

For each episode, Ólafur has invited a special guest to share with listeners their own sonic safe haven - the piece of music that brings them ultimate calm. This week our guest is the celebrated classical pianist Alice Sara Ott, who tells us about the piece that made her stand still when she first heard it - a composition by Arvo Pärt that she plays regularly in her own performances, leaving both her and her audience transformed every time.

Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds

10 months left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 29 Dec 202521:00

Music Played

  • Ólafur Arnalds

    Saman ii (sunrise sessions)

  • Ólafur Arnalds

    New Grass

  • Sofi Paez

    Preludio

  • Arvo Pärt

    II Silentium (Gidon Kremer Version)

    Performer: Gidon Kremer.
  • A Winged Victory for the Sullen

    So That The City Can Begin To Exist

  • Poppy Ackroyd

    Seedling

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto

    20211130

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Eyes Shut - Nocturne in C Minor

    Composer: Ólafur Arnalds. Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Für Alina

  • Aphex Twin

    Aisatsana

  • Sophie Hutchings, Peter Hollo & Jay Kong

    A Small Kind Of Revival

  • Colin Stetson

    The First

  • Philip Glass

    Opening (Electric Guitar Version)

    Performer: Sergio Sorrentino.
  • Brian Eno

    Always Returning

Broadcasts

  • Mon 10 Apr 202321:00
  • Mon 2 Dec 202421:00
  • Wed 15 Jan 202521:00
  • Mon 24 Feb 202521:00
  • Mon 24 Mar 202521:00
  • Mon 19 May 202521:00
  • Mon 14 Jul 202521:00
  • Mon 25 Aug 202521:00
  • Mon 29 Sep 202521:00
  • Mon 24 Nov 202521:00
  • Mon 29 Dec 202521:00