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Donald Macleod explains how, at the age of 81, Vaughan Williams made a deep impression on a woman 40 years his junior, which eventually led to marriage.

At the age of 81 a new and highly creative stage of the composer's career is about to begin. Donald Macleod follows the composer has he moves to a grand new house in London and makes a deep impression on a woman 40 years his junior (all thanks to a fetching green pork-pie hat) which will eventually lead to marriage.

Valiant for Truth
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Timothy Brown, director

Violin Sonata in A minor (Scherzo)
Marianne Thorsen, violin
Ian Brown, piano

Symphony No 8 (1. Fantasia)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Adrian Boult, conductor

The Pilgrim's Progress, Act 1, Sc 2 (The House Beautiful)
Gerald Finley, baritone (Pilgrim)
Rebecca Evans, Susan Gritton, sopranos; Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo-soprano (Shining Ones)
Mark Padmore, tenor (Interpreter)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Richard Hickox, conductor

Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus
Susan Lynn, violin
Thomas Waddington, cello
Audrey Douglas, harp
English String Orchestra
William Boughton, conductor.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 8 Apr 2016 18:30

Music Played

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Valiant For Truth

    Choir: Clare College Cambridge Choir. Conductor: Timothy Brown.
    • naxos 8572465.
    • NAXOS.
    • 2.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Sonata in A minor

    Performer: Marianne Thorsen. Performer: Ian Brown. Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • HYPERION : CDA-67313.
    • HYPERION.
    • 13.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony no. 8 In D minor - Fantasia

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
    • Decca 4732412.
    • DECCA.
    • 6.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The pilgrim's progress - The house beautiful

    Singer: Gerald Finley. Conductor: Richard Hickox. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: Rebecca Evans. Singer: Susan Gritton. Singer: Pamela Helen Stephen. Singer: Mark Padmore.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    5 variants of 'dives and lazarus'

    Ensemble: Halle. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • Halle CD HLL 7540.
    • Halle.
    • 6.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 8 Apr 2016 12:00
  • Fri 8 Apr 2016 18:30

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