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Music by Berlioz, Virgil Thomson and Tchaikovsky inspired by Byron's poetry, and readings by Robert Glenister from his writings, in today's programme celebrating Byron (1788-1824)

Bryon's dramatic narrative poems Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Manfred and The Corsair have inspired symphonies and ballets by composers including Verdi, Liszt, Robert Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz , Hugo Wolf and Elgar.

On April 19th 1824, he died aged 36 in Missolonghi in Greece during a violent electrical storm. He was on his way to fight against Turkey but became seriously ill.
Although his death was two centuries ago, his life and writing seem much more of our times - from his fame and infamy described as ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’, his life as a ‘celebrity’ mobbed by fans and renowned across Europe, his bisexuality, his writing in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage on his horror at being shown the damage caused by Lord Elgin’s removal of the Parthenon marbles in Greece - to his poem Darkness written after the volcano Mount Tambora erupted in Indonesia, which reads like a premonition of the wild fires and famine we see today.

Robert Glenister reads from poems, diaries, journals and his opening speech in the House of Lords on the plight of the Luddites alongside music inspired by his works.

Producer: Fiona McLean

Readings:

15 days left to listen

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Dec 202518:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Hector Berlioz

    Serenade (Harold in Italy)

    Orchestra: Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
  • 00:08

    Judith Weir

    Piano Trio

    Ensemble: The Schubert Ensemble.
  • 00:13

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Soave sia il vento (Cosi fan Tutte)

    Singer: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Conductor: Karl Böhm.
  • 00:17

    David Bowie

    Golden Years

  • 00:21

    Franz Liszt

    Orage (Annees de Pelerinage)

    Performer: Jenő Jandó.
  • 00:27

    Joan Baez

    So We'll Go No More A-Roving

  • 00:29

    Olivier Messiaen

    Liturgie de cristal (Quatuor pour la fin du temps)

    Performer: Olli Mustonen. Performer: Joshua Bell. Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Michael Collins.
  • 00:34

    Virgil Thomson

    Lord Byron Interlude

    Ensemble: Monadnock Music.
  • 00:38

    The Army of Redressers

    Song for the Luddites

  • 00:40

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Menuetto (Divertimento in D major, K.334)

    Ensemble: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
  • 00:48

    Edward Elgar

    Deep in my soul

    Choir: Cambridge University Chamber Choir. Conductor: Christopher Robinson.
  • 00:52

    Franz Liszt

    Eglogue (Annees de Pelerinage)

    Performer: Lazar Berman.
  • 00:57

    Max Richter

    Embers

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
  • 01:01

    Hugo Wolf

    Sonne der Schlummerlosen

    Singer: Angelika Kirchschlager. Performer: Helmut Deutsch.
  • 01:04

    Gustav Mahler

    Adagietto (Symphony No.5)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Apr 202418:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sun 28 Dec 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3

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