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Revolution and Rebirth

Episode 4 of 4

Simon Russell Beale investigates the symphonic world of the Soviet Union composer Shostakovich, and how Ives and Copland were creating a new American sound.

Simon Russell Beale's journey takes him into the 20th century, a time when the certainties of empire were falling away, war was looming and the world was changing faster than ever before.

Simon investigates the extraordinary symphonic world of Shostakovich, the star composer of the new Soviet Union, as well as the work of Ives and Copland who were both, in their different ways, creating a new American sound. He discovers how the development of the gramophone and broadcasting meant that more people could hear their music than ever before and how it became possible to immortalise the symphony in sound.

The symphonies are played by the 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 27 Feb 2015 20:00

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Music Played

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 9 - Last Mvt聽

    Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 1, 2nd Movement聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 1, Allegro聽

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 1, 2nd Movement

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 1, 4th Movement

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
  • Charles Ives

    Washington's Birthday聽

    Orchestra: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: David Zinman.
  • Charles Ives

    Holiday Quickstep聽

    Performer: Danbury Brass Band聽.
  • Charles Ives

    Symphony No 2, 5th Movement聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Charles Ives

    Symphony No 2, 5th Movement聽

    Conductor: Andrew Litton. Orchestra: Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
  • William Steffe

    Battle Hymn of the Republic / Columbia, Gem of the Ocean

    Composer: Julia Ward Howe. Performer: Danbury Brass Band聽.
  • Charles Ives

    Symphony No 2, 5th Movement聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony No 1聽

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Georg Solti.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No 3 Pastoral 1st Movement

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No 3 Pastoral 2nd Movement

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No 7聽

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No 7聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 5 Allegro Con Brio

    Orchestra: Odeon Orchestra. Conductor: Friedrich聽Kark.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 5 Allegro Con Brio

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Berlin. Conductor: Richard Strauss.
  • Edward Elgar

    Pomp & Circumstance聽

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony No 2, 2nd Movement聽

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 9, 4th Movement聽

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Bruno聽Walter.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 11聽

    Conductor: Arturo Toscanini. Orchestra: NBC Symphony Orchestra.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Furtwangler - Beethoven's 9th Symphony聽

    Composer: Wilhelm Furtw盲ngler. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 7, 1st Movement聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 7, Last Movement

    Orchestra: Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Dmitry Yablonsky.
  • Aaron Copland

    Symphony No 3, 4th Movement聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 9, 1st Movement聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 9, 4th Movement

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 9, 4th Movement聽

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 9, 5th Movement聽

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.

Learn more with The Open University

Learn more with The Open University

Go deeper into the music and unravel the secrets of the Symphony with The Open University.


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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Simon Russell Beale
Producer Simon Broughton
Director Simon Broughton
Series Producer Helen Mansfield
Conductor Sir Mark Elder
Orchestra 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra

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