´óÏó´«Ã½

with Rob Cowan, and his guest, actor Simon Russell Beale.

9am
A selection of music, including the Essential CD of the Week: Frederick Fennell - Fabulous Marches for Orchestra.
Eastman-Rochester Pops and Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell (director). MERCURY 434 394-2

9.30-10.30am
A daily brainteaser from one of our listeners, and performances by the Artists of the Week, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

10.30am
Rob's guest this New Year week is the actor Simon Russell Beale, whose many accolades include being described as "the greatest stage actor of his generation" by The Independent. His recent stage roles include Leontes in The Winter's Tale and Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard. In 2010 he played Sir Harcourt Courtly in London Assurance at the National Theatre, and in 2011 he made his debut with The Royal Ballet in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Simon has also worked in television, most recently as Home Secretary, William Towers, in the final series of ´óÏó´«Ã½1's spy drama, Spooks. In 2008 he made his debut as a television presenter, fronting the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four series Sacred Music with Harry Christophers and The Sixteen, with a second series broadcast in 2010. Recent radio appearances include the character of George Smiley in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 adaptations of John Le Carré novels.

Earlier this year Simon appeared in the title role in Timon of Athens at the Royal National Theatre, which was broadcast to cinemas around the world. He will star in a revival of Peter Nichols's Privates on Parade at the Noel Coward Theatre until March 2013.

11am Rob's Essential Choice
Scriabin: Prometheus - the Poem of Fire, Op. 60
Berlin Philharmonic Claudio Abbado (conductor)
SONY SK53978

Schubert: String Quartet in A minor, D.804 ('Rosamunde')
Alban Berg Quartet
TELDEC 2564 69606-7.