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Conductor Naomi Woo sets off on a colourful musical journey

Conductor Naomi Woo reveals familiar and unfamiliar works in a new light, including a striking choral work by Johannes Brahms and a virtuosic piano piece by György Ligeti.

Canadian conductor and pianist Naomi Woo draws on a melting pot of musical inspirations that span over 400 years. At the early end of the spectrum, Naomi chooses music by Claudio Monteverdi, performed with a sense of freedom and adventure that brings it straight into the present day.

The present day itself features with pieces by Lisel (“an electro-pop alien taken by the wonders of auto-tune”), London-based Chinese composer Sun Keting and Jeremy Dutcher, a Canadian composer and vocalist whose music shape shifts between classical and traditional, operatic power and the tuneful melodies of his Wolastoq Nation.

There’s also orchestral and operatic gems by Ethel Smyth, Ludwig van Beethoven, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Florence Price and Richard Wagner as well as a piece performed by the American jazz singer and pianist Blossom Dearie that took her a mere 11 years to learn.

A series in which each week a musician explores a selection of music - from the inside.

A Tandem Production for ѿý Radio 3

1 hour, 56 minutes

Music Played

  • Ethel Smyth

    The Wreckers (Overture)

    Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Blossom Dearie

    Lush Life

    • DAFFODIL RECORDS.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Serenade for Strings in C (II. Waltz)

    Orchestra: Saito Kinen Orchestra. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.
    • PHILIPS.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Toccata & Prologo (L'Orfeo)

    Ensemble: Cappella Mediterranea. Director: Leonardo García Alarcón.
    • ALPHA.
  • Jeremy Dutcher

    Mehcinut

    • JEREMY DUTCHER.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Pulcinella Suite (Gavotte, Variation I, Variation II)

    Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.
  • Johannes Brahms

    13 Canons, Op. 113 (XIII. Einformig ist der Liebe Gram)

    Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • SDG.
  • György Ligeti

    Touches bloquées (Études, Book 1)

    Performer: Pierre‐Laurent Aimard.
    • SONY.
  • Sun Keting

    It's distance that makes mountains mountains

    Ensemble: Tangram.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 (I. Allegro moderato)

    Performer: Ivan Moravec. Orchestra: Vienna Musikverein Orchestra. Conductor: Martin Turnovský.
    • SUPRAPHON.
  • Lisel

    Ciphers

    • LUMINELLE RECORDINGS.
  • Florence Price

    Symphony No. 1 in E minor (IV. Finale)

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • DG.
  • Arnold Schoenberg

    5 Klavierstücke, Op. 23, No. 1

    Performer: Glenn Gould.
    • SONY.
  • Vincent Ho

    The Shaman (III. Fire Dance)

    Performer: Evelyn Glennie. Orchestra: Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Alexander Mickelthwate.
    • CENTREDISCS.
  • Robert Schumann

    Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (II. Lebhaft, leicht)

    Performer: David Shifrin. Performer: Carol Rosenberger.
    • DELOS.
  • Richard Wagner

    Liebestod (Tristan & Isolde, Act 3)

    Singer: Jessye Norman. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Klaus Tennstedt.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Mar 2023 13:00

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