蜜芽传媒

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore explore the pivotal 'modern' musical works of the 20th century, the groundbreaking composers who created them, and the radical cultural and artistic movements which gave rise to them. This is a story about a hundred years of change. Of war. Of oppression. Of steps towards equality. Of censorship. Of rapid, inescapable technological advancement. Of machines. Of transport. Of science... And it's the story of how art and music responded, the story of the composers who defined the 20th century, who created 'modern' musical art which would shock, appall and fascinate in equal measure, changing the way we listen for ever.

This week, Gillian explores the spiritually-charged music of Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-2025), including a full performance of the work which led to her recognition outside of the Soviet Union: the Violin Concerto 'Offertorium'. The score of this piece had to be smuggled out of the Soviet Union for performance in Europe by it鈥檚 dedicatee Gidon Kremer, who was in exile, having refused to return to the country after a two-year period of permission to perform worldwide. Gillian discovers how the composer reconnected with her nationality through folk music, and explores how Gubaidulina's incorporation of the music of her devout faith into her work represented a major act of rebellion.

"I am a religious Russian Orthodox person and I understand 鈥榬eligion鈥� in the literal meaning of the word, as 鈥榬e-ligio鈥�, that is to say the restoration of connections, the restoration of the 鈥榣egato鈥� of life. There is no more serious task for music than this." 鈥� Sofia Gubaidulina

Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for 蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

To listen on most smart speakers just say, 鈥渁sk 蜜芽传媒 Sounds to play 20th Century Radicals鈥�