麻豆社

Please note that exact dates will be confirmed closer to transmission.

Our Classical Century

Our Classical Century will take place across the year in four parts, ending on the First Night of the Proms 2019. Further programming will be announced throughout the season.

PART ONE: November - December 2018 (1918-36)

麻豆社 Four	Our Classical Century episode one, 1918-1936 Presented by Suzy Klein and Sir Lenny Henry
麻豆社 Two	Holst & Vaughan Williams - Making Music English Presented by Tom Service & Amanda Vickery
麻豆社 Four	Discovering… Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue Performed by the 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Dausgaard Presented by Josie D’Arby
麻豆社 Four	The Prince and the Composer: The Prince and the Composer: A Film about Hubert Parry by HRH The Prince of Wales (archive)
麻豆社 Radio 3	Top 100 Countdown in Essential Classics (1-25)

 

PART TWO: February - March 2019 (1936-53)

麻豆社 Four	Our Classical Century episode two, 1936-1953 Presented by Suzy Klein and John Simpson CBE
麻豆社 Four	Discovering… Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Performed by the 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Moritz Gnann Presented by Katie Derham
麻豆社 Four	Britten’s War Requiem at English National Opera
麻豆社 Radio 3	Top 100 Countdown in Essential Classics (26-50)

PART THREE: April - May 2019 (1953-71)

麻豆社 Four	Our Classical Century episode three, 1953-1971 Presented by Suzy Klein and Joan Bakewell
麻豆社 Two	Brian Cox on Holst’s The Planets Performed by the 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ben Gernon
麻豆社 Four	Discovering… Arnold’s The Bridge on the River Kwai Performed by the 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra conducted by Christopher Seaman Presented by Katie Derham
麻豆社 Radio 3	Top 100 Countdown in Essential Classics (51-75). NB: Radio 3 will explore 1954-79.

PART FOUR: June - July 2019 (1980s-Present)

麻豆社 Four	Our Classical Century episode four, 1980s-Present Presented by Alexandra Burke and Suzy Klein
麻豆社 Two	Lucy Worsley presents Queen Victoria and the British Musical Revolution
麻豆社 Four	Discovering… Saariaho’s Graal Théâtre Performed by the 麻豆社 Philharmonic conducted by Ludovic Morlot Presented by Tom Service
麻豆社 Radio 3	Top 100 Countdown in Essential Classics (76-100)
	First Night of the Proms 2019

Episode four - 1980s - Present: Suzy Klein and Alexandra Burke
麻豆社 Four, June 2019

In this fourth programme, we explore the world of classical music from the 1980s until the present day when the walls between classical and popular culture began to come down; classical and opera were the soundtrack of great national moments of joy and sadness, of entertainment and mourning. It was during this period that classical music also became accessible to millions through the advent of new technologies. This programme features performances from Nigel Kennedy who performs Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing and Steven Isserlis who plays part of John Taverner’s The Protecting Veil. Further programme contributions from Sir Simon Rattle, Vanessa-Mae and Torvill and Dean all contribute to revealing how classical music gained a universal appeal and was brought to the forefront of popular consciousness.

• Director: James Giles
• Executive Producer: Steve Condie, Richard Bradley

A Lion Television production for 麻豆社 Four

Lucy Worsley presents Queen Victoria and the British Musical Revolution

Holst & Vaughan-Williams: Making Music English

麻豆社 Two, November 2018

Presenter Tom Service is joined by Professor of History Amanda Vickery to unearth the fascinating story behind the life-long friendship between Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst, two composers whose music is often credited with birthing the so-called ‘English Sound’ which emerged in the first half of the 20th century.

Tom and Amanda retrace the trips Vaughan Williams and Holst took across the country to discover how various influences, including works by Renaissance masters and folk music, imbued their music with the ‘English Sound’ we recognise today. The 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra performs excerpts of both composers’ music, illustrating the story.

• Director: Ben Weston

A Reef Television production for 麻豆社 Two

Discovering… Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue

麻豆社 Two, June 2019

To celebrate what would have been Queen Victoria’s 200th birthday in May 2019, historian Lucy Worsley sets out to explore the character and legacy of the famous monarch in a way that has never been attempted before - through music.

In this programme, Lucy explores how music played an intrinsic part not only in Queen Victoria’s personal life (particularly in her marriage to Prince Albert) but also in the cultural transformation that happened at large in Britain during her long reign whereby concert life, music halls and opera-going expanded exponentially.

Lucy looks at the life of the Queen and the changing face of Britain during this period through a multifaceted musical prism, unveiling new insight into Victoria’s character through examination of her daily journals which reveal an almost-daily involvement in music. This quest takes Lucy to locations across the country, unpicking the pivotal moments of Victoria’s life and reign which account for an untold story of a great British musical revolution.

• Directed by Ben Weston

A Reef Television production for 麻豆社 Two

Discovering… Saariaho’s Graal Théâtre

Britten’s War Requiem

麻豆社 Four, February 2019

‘My subject is war and the pity of war,
The poetry is in the pity,
All a poet can do today is warn.’

Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen’s words were the inspiration for Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, first performed in 1962. It was the same starting point that English National Opera’s Artistic Director Daniel Kramer used today in order to stage the first-ever operatic rendering of this timeless masterpiece in the UK.

Filmed over twelve months, this programme follows the English National Opera staff as they lift the curtain on a debut performance of Britten’s War Requiem, staged to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the armistice in November 2018.

A Speakit Films production for 麻豆社 Four

The Prince and the Composer: A Film about Hubert Parry by HRH The Prince of Wales

麻豆社 Four, June 2019

In the final discovery concert of the series, Tom Service presents Kaija Saariaho’s 1994 work, Graal Théâtre, performed by the 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ludovic Morlot.

Graal Théâtre is a haunting, explosive violin concerto, and one of the Finnish composer’s most frequently-performed works.

Following the performance, Tom meets the violinist performing the work’s electrifying solo and learns how Saariaho, herself a violinist, crafted the work to reflect her tempestuous relationship with the instrument. Loosely based on medieval tales from Arthurian legend, Tom explores the importance of these legends to the structure of Saariaho’s piece.

• Producer/Director: Mathew Tucker
• Executive Producer: Richard Bradley

A Lion Television production for 麻豆社 Four

Essential Classics: Top 100 Countdown (76-100)

麻豆社 Radio 3, June-July 2019

The final 25 key moments from the last century of classical music are revealed as Kate Molleson, Kate Romano and Gillian Moore conclude the Essential Classics Top 100 countdown, examining the stories behind the people, works and events from 1980 to the present day.

Related Speeches

• Tony Hall's speech at the launch of Our Classical Century