This studio recording featuring the Nederlands Dans Theater captures a scintillating performance of Kylián’s ballet inspired by the music of his Czech compatriot, Janácek. It is danced against a backdrop of the Bohemian countryside, created by Walter Nobbe, and expresses his emotional attachment to his homeland. He chose the piece because it stands as an ode to freedom, beauty and the joy of living, and the result is a ballet full of energetic exuberance, combined with some moving lyric passages.
Repercussions
“Compulsory viewing for anyone remotely interested in black music” (The Guardian), this series shows off the dazzling diversity of African-American music. To explore its constantly evolving cross-fusion of styles, the film-makers travelled to Gambia to search out the traditional music of the Mandinkas; to the USA to capture the sounds of rhythm and blues, gospel quartets, and the masters of bebop; to the Caribbean to survey the colourful variety of forms blending African and European influences; and, finally, to West Africa, to record the ecstatic polyrhythms of today’s African popular music.
Masterclass: Jorge Bolet
The legendary Cuban pianist, one of the last representatives of the grand tradition of Romantic piano playing, died in 1990. This masterclass series, made just a few years before his death, starts with a programme in which he talks about his life and work on the concert platforms of the world, illustrating his reminiscences at the keyboard. In three following programmes, Bolet works with up-and-coming young pianists on the movements of Rachmaninov’s formidable Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30. The series concludes with Bolet giving a concert performance of the piece with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bryden Thomson.
Symphony in D
In his ballet Symphony in D Jirí Kylián demonstrates a remarkable ability to create a highly inventive and graceful ballet, which is, at the same time, extremely funny. Set to Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 101 in D (Clock) and Symphony No. 73 (The Chase), it is an affectionate send-up of classical ballet poses, and is performed with great wit and style by the Nederlands Dans Theater in this live recording.
Song Recital: Liebeslieder Walzer
The Romantic Brahms is well observed in his many lieder, with their typically fluent melodies and rippling accompaniments. The pieces performed in these three programmes bear witness to the tremendous care Brahms took over the composition of these charming and simple settings. Liebeslieder Walzer (R0047.1) Volkslieder (R0047.2) Volkskinderlieder (R0047.3)
The King’s Singers’ Madrigal History Tour
In this series, the highly-acclaimed King’s Singers vocal ensemble travels through
Germany, Spain, France, England and Italy to perform a varied selection of madrigals in the
settings which first inspired their composition in the Golden Age of the sixteenth century. An
introductory programme looks at the origins of the madrigal in Italy and traces its development
throughout Europe to become the musical rage of the High Renaissance.
Zuzana Ruzickova: English Harpsichord Music
In this recording, the virtuoso harpsichordist Zuzana Ruzickova plays a selection of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century music, including works by William Byrd, John Bull, William Croft, Richard Farnaby, Thomas Morley and John Mundy.
Dancer
Peter Schaufuss presents a four-part series which puts the male dancer centre-stage, dispelling the shadow so often cast by his female partner. The programmes focus on the dancer as athletic virtuoso and as partner, and survey his role in the established repertoire, as well as in new work created by modern choreographers. Each film makes extensive use of specially shot dance extracts, featuring some of the world’s greatest dancers, companies and choreographers.
Piano Concerto in G Major
This live recording, from London’s Royal Festival Hall, of a performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G features two legendary artists – pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1920-95) and conductor Sergiu Celibidache (1912-96). They perform with the London Symphony Orchestra. An introduction to the programme includes an interview with Celibidache about Michelangeli’s flawless, yet seemingly effortless, technique.
Beat Route – Around the World with Jools Holland
This 6-part BBC TV series, Beat Route, takes top music television presenter, Jools Holland (The Tube, Later with Jools Holland) and places him in six major cities around the world to delve ‘under the skin’ of each location. The result is a stunning mix of music, travel and culture, with each city revealed through Jools’ inimitable wit and personality. Jools meets many celebrated musicians, listens to their music and jams with the best of them. From the urban blues of Chicago, the flamenco of Seville and the folklore of Budapest, to the riverside bars of Dublin, 1950s Cadillacs in Havana and girl bands in Beirut, Beat Route paints a vivid and engrossing picture of urban identity. Whether it’s a brief encounter with a dating agency run out of the back of a Chicago cab, or a musical collaboration in an old square in Havana, Beat Route pays homage to some of the world’s most fascinating and diverse locations.