Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Wednesday - Rob Cowan with Hanif Kureishi

With Rob Cowan. CD of the Week: Marenzio's First Book of Madrigals; Artist of the Week: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli; Essential Choice: Berlioz: Royal Hunt and Storm (The Trojans).

Discover definitive recordings of the greatest classical music with your trusted guide, Rob Cowan. This week his guest is playwright, screenwriter and novelist Hanif Kureishi.

9am
A selection of music including Rob's Essential CD of the Week: Marenzio's First Book of Madrigals performed by La Compagnia del Madrigale.

9.30am
Relative Values
Take part in our daily musical challenge and identify the personal relationship that connects two pieces of music.

Artist of the Week: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Throughout the week we explore recordings by the renowned 20th-century Italian pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Rob showcases his interpretations of Schumann, Haydn, Debussy, Rachmaninov and Beethoven.

10.30am
Rob is joined by Hanif Kureishi, who shares a selection of his favourite classical music. An internationally acclaimed playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and novelist, Hanif was appointed a CBE in 2007 and was included by The Times in a list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. He talks to Rob about his award-winning career as well as the role classical music has played in his life.

11am
This week Rob's Essential Choices at 11am are inspired by 大象传媒 Music's Ten Pieces - chosen to open up the world of classical music to children across the UK.
He takes listeners on a musical journey, each day recommending a work that's connected to one of the Ten Pieces.
Berlioz
The Trojans: Royal Hunt and Storm
London Symphony Orchestra
Colin Davis (conductor).

3 hours

Music Played

  • Paul Dukas

    La P茅ri (Fanfare)

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier.
    • Chandos.
  • Richard Wagner

    The Mastersingers of Nuremberg: Prelude to Act 1

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • EMI.
  • CD of the Week

    • Luca Marenzio

      'Madonna mia gentil', from 1st Book of Madrigals

      Ensemble: La Compagnia del Madrigale.
      • Glossa.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 38 in C. Hob 1:38

    Conductor: Frans Br眉ggen. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • Philips.
  • anon

    Relative Values

  • Artist of the Week: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

    • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

      Mazurka in C, op.68 no.1; Mazurka in F minor, op.68 no.4

      Performer: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
      • DG.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto Grosso no.4 in A minor, HWV 322

    Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • George Gershwin

    'I Got Rhythm' Variations for piano and orchestra

    Conductor: Steven Richman. Ensemble: Harmonia Ensemble New York. Performer: Lincoln Mayorga.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Artist of the Week: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

    • Claude Debussy

      Images, Book 1

      Performer: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
      • DG.
    • Claude Debussy

      Images, Book 2

      Performer: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
      • DG.
  • Hanif Kureishi's Choice No. 1

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      Prelude in B minor

      Performer: Emil Grigoryevich Gilels. Music Arranger: Siloti, Alexander.
      • MUSIC & ARTS.
  • Hanif Kureishi's Choice No. 2

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      String Quintet in G minor, K516; 3rd mvt, Adagio ma non troppo

      Ensemble: Grumiaux Trio.
      • PHILIPS.
  • Essential Choice

    • Hector Berlioz

      Royal Hunt and Storm (Les Troyens)

      Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Choir: London Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Colin Davis.
      • LSO Live.
  • C茅sar Franck

    Piano Quintet

    Performer: Gregor Piatigorsky. Performer: Leonard Pennario. Performer: William Primrose. Performer: Jascha Heifetz. Performer: Israel Baker.
    • Sony.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Exsultate, jubilate, K 165

    Singer: Sylvia McNair. Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Philips.

Musical Challenge - Relative Values

Answer:
Schoenberg and Gershwin were friends and tennis partners.

The music played:

Schoenberg
String Trio, op.45
The Leopold String Trio
HYPERION

Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue (original 'jazz band' version)
Lincoln Mayorga (piano)
Harmonia Ensemble New York
Steven Richman (conductor)
HARMONIA MUNDI

Broadcast

  • Wed 1 Oct 2014 09:00

Our Classical Century

Our Classical Century

Radio 3 explores 100 key musical moments that shaped us, from 1918 to the present day.

Time Travellers: the podcast

Time Travellers: the podcast

Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough presents quirky tales gathered from the corners of history.