In the Studio
Donald Macleod chats to Max Richter, one of the world鈥檚 most in-demand composers. Today, inside his studio, they explore his creative process and what drives him to write today.
Donald Macleod joins composer Max Richter in his creative habitat to explore how and why he writes.
German-born British musician Max Richter is one of the most influential composers of his generation. A streaming sensation with over 3 billion listens, he blends classical and electronic elements in his music and is just as at home on 6Music as on Radio 3. He鈥檚 a producer, pianist and serial collaborator whose trailblazing work ranges from ballets and orchestral works to major Hollywood scores and solo albums. At his studio in rural Oxfordshire, Donald sits down with Max to talk about his musical life, from making synthesisers in his bedroom, to Grammy nominations, writing the world鈥檚 longest lullaby and tackling some of society鈥檚 biggest questions through the medium of music. Across the week, we dig into Max鈥檚 eclectic back catalogue, and journey through one of his most popular works, his reinterpretation of Vivaldi鈥檚 Four Seasons.
In today鈥檚 final episode, we get a glimpse into Max鈥檚 creative practice as he takes us inside his purpose-built studio. From his very first recording, humanitarian issues and political activism have been a long-running thread through Max鈥檚 work, and he thinks of music as an ever-more crucial place to reflect. He and Donald discuss the role of the composer in the 21st century and what drives Max to write today, while playing a selection of his most recent works.
The Twins (Prague) (excerpt)
Max Richter, piano
Exiles (excerpt)
Baltic Sea Philharmonic
Kristjan J盲rvi, conductor
Testament
Max Richter, piano
Max Baillie, violin
Venetia Jollands, violin
Yume Fujise, viola
Max Ruisi, cello
Flowers of Herself
Baltic Sea Philharmonic
Kristjan J盲rvi, conductor
Voices: All Human Beings ; Origins
Max Richter, Piano, organ, synthesiser
KiKi Layne, speaker
Ian Burdge, cello
Air Lyndhurst Orchestra
Tenebrae
Robert Ziegler, conductor
Winter (Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons)
Elena Urioste, violin
Chineke! Orchestra
Max Richter, synthesiser
Mercy
Mari Samuelsen, violin
Max Richter, piano
Produced by Amelia Parker for 大象传媒 Audio Cardiff
(Photo credit: Mike Terry)
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Music Played
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Max Richter
Exiles (parts 7 and 8)
Orchestra: Baltic Sea Philharmonic. Conductor: Kristjan J盲rvi.- DG : 4860445.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 1.
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Max Richter
Testament
Performer: Max Richter. Performer: Max Baillie. Performer: Venetia Jollands. Performer: Yume Fujise. Performer: Max Ruisi. -
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Max Richter
Flowers of Herself
Performer: Baltic Sea Philharmonic. Conductor: Kristjan J盲rvi.- DG : 4860445.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 25.
-
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Max Richter
Voices (excerpts)
Performer: Max Richter. Narrator: KiKi Layne. Orchestra: Air Lyndhurst String Orchestra. Choir: Tenebrae.- Decca 0898651.
- Decca.
- 1.
-
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Elena Urioste
Winter (2022)
- The New Four Season - Vivaldi Recomposed.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
Broadcast
- Fri 6 Jan 2023 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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