An enchanting blend of music and documentary, this programme looks at the life, times and work of the French composer Poulenc (1899-1963). The framework for the programme is a reconstruction of a soirée typical of those frequented by fashionable society in the early years of the twentieth century. Poulenc’s work is performed by Paul Crossley (piano), Susan Milan (flute), Thomas Mohr (baritone), Ulrike Sonntag (soprano) and the Aulos Wind Quintet, with Anthony Spiri (piano).
Towards New Shores: Modest Mussorgsky
Night on a Bare Mountain and Pictures at an Exhibition are firm favourites in the classical repertoire but, like many of Mussorgsky’s famous works, they are rarely performed as he wrote them. This programme, filmed on location in Russia, examines why his genius has been so obscured. It focuses on the detective work undertaken by the Singer Yevgeny Nesterenko, and the British conductor, David Lloyd-Jones, to uncover the details of the life and work of Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881).
David Bailey
Photographer David Bailey made his name in the early 1960s when his pictures, his image and his lifestyle epitomised ‘Swinging London’. More recently he has turned to film-making. In this programme, he talks in interview and is seen behind the camera as well as in front of it. The full range of his work is explored and there are contributions from some of his famous subjects, including Jean Shrimpton, Marie Helvin and Terence Stamp.
Karen Kain
This dance portrait celebrates the illustrious career of Canada’s prima ballerina, Karen Kain. Specially-filmed dance extracts from MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Petit’s Proust, Bruhn’s Swan Lake and Feld’s solo, Echo, showcase her superb technique, and she recalls her life in dance and her favourite roles. There are also contributions from fellow dancers, choreographers and critics, including Rudolf Nureyev and Reid Anderson.
Peter Dickinson
A series of major concertos written in the 1980s – one for organ, one for piano and
one for violin – established British composer Peter Dickinson as an important and individual
musical voice. This programme looks at his career and influences, particularly American music,
from Cage to Joplin. The second half of the programme consists of a complete performance of his
composition London Rags, performed by London Brass, for whom it was composed.
The New World Symphony Orchestra
The New World Symphony, the USA’s first permanent national training orchestra, was the inspiration of the celebrated American conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas. It enables the country’s finest musical graduates to be part of a musical community that lives and works together before they find full-time professional positions. This film joined Tilson Thomas and the orchestra as they prepared for their second concert season.
Choirs and Places Where They Sing
This programme explores the British Choral tradition – the choirs, the composers and the reasons why the British love to sing together. With the help of many choirs and choral societies – from Westminster Abbey to Watford football ground – the programme traces one thousand years of British Choral music. The guide is Simon Preston, organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey.
Russian Theatre
In Rehearsal: Valery Gergiev
Featuring some of today’s leading conductors in rehearsal, the “In Rehearsal” series gives a unique insight into the process of creating great music. The conductors’ very different styles and methods; the dialogue between an orchestra and an inspired interpreter; the intensity of the preparations for a concert performance; and the struggle towards perfection are captured in these revealing audio-visual records. Most episodes include a full run-through of the work rehearsed. All include interviews with the conductor who is seen at work. Valéry Gergiev works with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra on Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite Op. 20. Directed by Rob van den Berg 59′
Aboriginal Art
When the first Europeans sailed into Sydney Cove they disturbed at least forty thousand years of unique aboriginal culture and, in the sometimes violent clashes that followed, much of that culture was eclipsed and even destroyed. This film considers the work of four contemporary Aborigines who demonstrate that the rich visual and oral traditions of their people still flourish against all odds: writer Archie Weller, artist Trevor Nickolls, painter and carver Banduk Marika, and poet Kath Walker.