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Witold Lutoslawski: fate, struggle and controlling chance

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore shine new light on the 'modern' music of the 20th century. This week, Gillian explores the musical world of Lutoslawski's 3rd Symphony.

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present ѿý Radio 3's series exploring 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. In this episode, Gillian explores the beautiful, fractious musical world of the Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski, leading to a full performance of his 3rd Symphony. We will explore the underground radical art of Poland created during a period of martial law in the 1980s, chance upon an out-of-tune masterpiece born from the loft scene in 1960s Manhattan, and travel back to the revolutionary music of Beethoven via the lens of a 20th-century Hungarian visionary.

Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for ѿý Radio 3

27 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • The Police

    Every Breath You Take

    • Every Breath You Take.
  • Witold Lutosławski

    Symphony 3

    Performer: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Esa‐Pekka Salonen.
    • Symphony 3.
    • SONY.
  • Witold Lutosławski

    Double Concerto for oboe, harp and chamber orchestra - III. Marciale e grotesco

    Performer: Heinz Holliger. Performer: Ursula Holliger. Conductor: Witold Lutosławski. Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Double Concerto for oboe, harp and chamber orchestra - III. Marciale e grotesco.
    • PHILIPS.
  • Grażyna Bacewicz

    Overture for Orchestra

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Søndergård.
    • Overture for Orchestra.
    • LINN.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Leonore Overture No 3 in C Major, Op.72b

    Orchestra: Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington.
    • Beethoven - Overtures.
    • SWR.
  • György Kurtág

    Stele - I. Larghissimo - Adagio

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Stele – I. Larghissimo - Adagio.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • John Cage

    Concerto for Prepared Piano and Orchestra

    Performer: Margaret Leng Tan. Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies. Orchestra: American Composers Orchestra.
    • Cage: The Seasons.
    • ECM.
  • La Monte Young

    The Well Tuned Piano

    Performer: La Monte Young.
    • The Well Tuned Piano.
    • GRAMAVISION.
  • Witold Lutosławski

    Symphony 3

    Performer: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Esa‐Pekka Salonen.
    • Symphony 3.
    • SONY.
  • WIDT

    Soma

    • WIDT.
    • Zoharum.

Broadcast

  • Sunday 21:00