Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Donald Macleod explores Ligeti's vocal and choral music, including two of his Nonsense Madrigals, Lux Aeterna - which featured in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey - and the Requiem.

Donald Macleod is joined by composer, pianist and teacher George Benjamin, to explore Ligeti's life and music.

He introduces vocal and choral music, including two of Ligeti's Nonsense Madrigals - the serene, slowly ebbing Lux Aeterna (one of the works Stanley Kubrick included in the soundtrack to 2001: A Space Odyssey). Plus the Requiem, of which The Times music critic William Mann remarked after its London premiere that its effect was so compelling that he 'would gladly have forgone Beethoven's Ninth symphony after the interval'.

The Lobster Quadrille (1989) - excerpt
The King's Singers:
David Hurley, Nigel Short (countertenor)
Bob Chilcott (tenor)
Bruce Russell, Philip Lawson (baritone)
Stephen Connolly (bass)
Sony SK 62311, track 5

Sippal, dobal, nadihegeduvel (With pipes, drums, fiddles) - settings of Sandor Weores (2000)
Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano)
Rose Taylor (contralto)
Omar Ebrahmim (baritone)
Members of The Philharmonia Orchestra
Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)
Sony SK 62311, track 8

Lux aeterna (1966) - excerpt
London Sinfonietta Voices
Terry Edwards (conductor)
Sony SK 62305, track 12

Requiem (1963-5)
Liliana Poli (soprano)
Barbro Ericson (mezzo-soprano)
Chorus of Bavarian Radio
Hessian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Michael Gielen (conductor)
Wergo 60 045-50, track 1

Cuckoo in the Pear Tree (1988) - excerpt
The King's Singers:
David Hurley, Nigel Short (countertenor)
Bob Chilcott (tenor)
Bruce Russell, Philip Lawson (baritone)
Stephen Connolly (bass)
Sony SK 62311, track 2.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 13 Mar 2009 22:00

More episodes

Next

You are at the last episode

See all episodes from Composer of the Week

Broadcasts

  • Fri 13 Mar 2009 12:00
  • Fri 13 Mar 2009 22:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.