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Dame Rachel de Souza

Michael Berkeley's guest is Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England.

Dame Rachel de Souza is the Children’s Commissioner for England. She’s the fourth person to take on this role, which was established in 2004 to promote and protect the rights of all children.
Before becoming the Commissioner in 2021, she worked as a teacher and headteacher, and was credited with improving failing schools in less than privileged areas.
In her current post, she’s said that her priority is to listen to children, to hear about their lives and champion their voices – and she’s focused on big and difficult questions, including mental health, online safety and the strip-searching of children by the police.
Rachel's music includes Handel, Tippett, Messiaen and Beethoven.

5 days left to listen

1 hour, 26 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Jul 2025 12:00

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral": IV. Presto "Ode to Joy"

    Singer: Ann Murray. Singer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson. Singer: René Pape. Choir: London Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Klaus Tennstedt.
    • Beethoven Symphony No.9 in D minor 'Choral'.
    • LPO.
    • 4.
  • Olivier Messiaen

    Joie du sang des étoiles (Turangalîla-Symphonie)

    Performer: Steven Osborne. Performer: Cynthia Millar. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Juanjo Mena.
    • Messiaen: Turangalila-symphonie.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.
  • Ennio Morricone

    On Earth As It Is In Heaven (The Mission)

    Conductor: Ennio Morricone.
    • The Mission: Music From The Motion Picture.
    • EMI Marketing.
    • 1.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (La rondine)

    Singer: Kiri Te Kanawa. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Pritchard.
    • A Room with a View [Soundtrack].
    • EMI.
    • 7.
  • George Frideric Handel

    For unto us a child is born (Messiah)

    Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society. Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia. Conductor: Jane Glover.
    • Handel: Messiah.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 212.
  • Hans Abrahamsen

    I will go out now (Let Me Tell You)

    Singer: Barbara Hannigan. Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Let Me Tell You for Soprano and Orchestra (2013).
    • Winter & Winter.
    • 1.
  • Michael Tippett

    Steal Away (A Child of Our Time)

    Singer: Jessye Norman. Singer: John Shirley‐Quirk. Choir: ѿý Singers. Choir: ѿý Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davies.
    • A Child of Our Times.
    • Phillips Classics.
    • 6.
  • Richard Strauss

    Im Abendrot (4 Last Songs)

    Singer: Jessye Norman. Orchestra: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Conductor: Kurt Masur.
    • Strauss, R.: Four Last Songs; 6 Orchestral Songs - Norman, Gewandhausorchester L.
    • Philips.
    • 04.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" (conclusion)

    Singer: Barbara Hendricks. Singer: Christa Ludwig. Choir: Westminster Choir. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • Mahler: Symphony No.2 "Resurrection".
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 15.

Broadcast

  • Sun 13 Jul 2025 12:00

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