Vanessa Williams
Michael Berkeley's guest is the singer, actor and Broadway star Vanessa Williams, whose musical passions include Bach, Copland, Bernstein and Jennifer Higdon.
Vanessa Williams is musical theatre royalty. She’s worked with Stephen Sondheim on Broadway and is currently commanding the London stage as the fearsome fashion editor Miranda Priestly in the musical The Devil Wears Prada. She’s also topped the American pop charts, starred in Hollywood movies with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and played key roles in prize winning TV series including Ugly Betty.
And before all that she was crowned Miss America 1984 - the first Black American to take the title – although she was later forced to relinquish it in controversial circumstances.
Her choices include music from her homeland by Samuel Barber, Jennifer Higdon, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, as well as works by Bach and Delius.
Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Katy Hickman
Last on
Music Played
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Air (Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068)
Performer: James Galway. Music Arranger: James Galway. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Griffiths.- James Galway's Christmas Carol.
- RCA Red Seal.
- 3.
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John Rutter
Christ is the Morning Star
Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Rutter.- Rutter: The Gift of Life.
- Collegium.
- 11.
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Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring - Suite
Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Spano.- Rainbow Body.
- Telarc.
- 3.
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Frederick Delius
Irmelin Rose (7 Danish Songs)
Singer: Henriette Bonde-Hansen. Orchestra: Aarhus Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Bo Holten.- Delius: Danish Masterworks.
- Danacord Records.
- 8.
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Antônio Carlos Jobim
A Felicidade
Composer: Vinicius de Moraes. Ensemble: Antonio Carlos Jobim and his Orchestra.- Orfeu Negro.
- Poppydisc.
- 16.
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Stuart Duncan
Goat Rodeo
Composer: Edgar Meyer. Composer: Chris Thile. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Chris Thile. Performer: Stuart Duncan. Performer: Edgar Meyer.- Yo-Yo Ma - The Classic Albums Collection.
- Masterworks.
- 11.
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Leonard Bernstein
America (West Side Story)
Lyricist: Stephen Sondheim. Music Arranger: Danny Troob. Singer: Harolyn Blackwell. Conductor: Danny Troob. Singer: Vanessa Williams. Orchestra: A Simple Song Orchestra.- Blackwell Sings Bernstein: A Simple Song.
- RCA Victor.
- 15.
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Leonard Bernstein
A Boy Like That (From "West Side Story")
Lyricist: Stephen Sondheim. Music Arranger: Danny Troob. Singer: Harolyn Blackwell. Singer: Vanessa Williams. Orchestra: A Simple Song Orchestra. Conductor: Danny Troob.- Blackwell Sings Bernstein: A Simple Song.
- RCA Victor.
- 16.
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Cormac Breatnach & Martin Dunlea
Cufflink, Chuir Me Feisteas Ar Mo Theachsa, & Cufflink & Eilenn Ofe
Composer: Trad.. Composer: William Houston Collison. Ensemble: Cormac Breatnach & Martin Dunlea.- Music for Whistle and Guitar.
- Dioscaí Mandala/Pressure Records.
- 7.
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Samuel Barber
Must the Winter Come so Soon? (Vanessa)
Singer: Frederica von Stade. Orchestra: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Conductor: James Conlon.- Frederica von Stade - The Complete Columbia Recital Albums.
- Sony Classical.
- 20.
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Jennifer Higdon
Blue Cathedral
Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Spano.- Rainbow Body.
- TELARC.
- 4.
Broadcast
- Today12:00BBC Radio 3
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Private Passions
Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical passions.
