Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Donald Macleod explores the the life and work of American music-theatre giant, Richard Rodgers. Today, Rodgers meets the woman who'll become his wife.

Donald Macleod explores the the life and work of American music-theatre giant, Richard Rodgers. Today, Rodgers meets the woman who'll become his wife and we see his partnership with lyricist Lorenz Hart flourish, with new commissions arriving from Broadway and Hollywood.

With a song in my Heart (Spring is here)
José Carreras, tenor
Los Angeles Music Centre Opera Chorus
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Zubin Metha, conductor

Isn’t it romantic (Love me tonight)
Ella Fitzgerald, vocals
Studio orchestra
Buddy Bergman, conductor

My Heart Stood Still (A Connecticut Yankee, Act 1)
Mario Lanza, vocals
Studio orchestra

Thou Swell (A Connecticut Yankee, Act 1)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
David Garrison, vocals
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor

Richard Rodgers, arr. Angela Morley
Lover (Love me tonight)
The Boston Pops Orchestra
John Williams, conductor

Richard Rodgers, arr. Angela Morley
My Funny Valentine (Babes in Arms, Act 1)
The Boston Pops Orchestra
John Williams, conductor

Ten Cents A Dance (Simple Simon)
Ruth Etting, vocalist
Studio orchestra

Dancing On The Ceiling (Ever Green)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor

A Ship Without A Sail (Heads Up)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor

You Are Too Beautiful (Hallelujah, I’m a Bum)
Cannonball Adderley, saxophone
Studio Orchestra
Richard Hayman, conductor

It’s Easy To Remember (Mississippi)
Dean Martin, vocals
Studio Orchestra
Gus Levene, conductor

My Romance (Jumbo)
Tony Bennett, vocals
Ruby Braff, cornet
George Barnes, guitar
Wayne Wright, guitar
John Giuffrida, bass

Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (On Your Toes)
New York Philharmonic
Richard Rodgers, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Richard Rodgers

    With a Song in my Heart (from Spring is Here)

    Singer: José Carreras. Choir: Los Angeles Music Centre Opera Chorus. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Zubin Mehta.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 2564683126.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 4.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Isn't It Romantic (from Love Me Tonight)

    Singer: Ella Fitzgerald. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Buddy Bregman.
    • VERVE : 6784949.
    • VERVE.
    • 13.
  • Richard Rodgers

    My Heart Stood Still (from A Connecticut Yankee)

    Singer: Mario Lanza. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • RCA : G010001797691Y.
    • RCA.
    • 6.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Thou Swell (from A Connecticut Yankee)

    Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Orchestra: Orchestra. Conductor: Eric Stern.
    • NONESUCH : 7-94062.
    • NONESUCH.
    • 6.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Lover (from Love Me Tonight)

    Music Arranger: Angela Morley. Orchestra: Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.
    • SONY : SK-53380.
    • SONY.
    • 3.
  • Richard Rodgers

    My Funny Valentine (from Babes in Arms)

    Performer: John Williams. Music Arranger: Angela Morley. Orchestra: Boston Pops Orchestra.
    • SONY : SK-53380.
    • SONY.
    • 2.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Ten Cents A Dance (from Simple Simon)

    Singer: Ruth Etting. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • MASTER CLASSICS : 885686610633.
    • MASTER CLASSICS.
    • 5.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Dancing on the Ceiling

    Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Conductor: Eric Stern. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • ROGERS - He was too good to me (Simple Simon).
    • NONESUCH.
    • 14.
  • Richard Rodgers

    A Ship Without A Sail (from Heads Up)

    Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Conductor: Eric Stern. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • NONESUCH : 7559-19406-2.
    • NONESUCH.
    • 13.
  • Richard Rodgers

    You Are Too Beautiful (from Hallelujah, I'm a Bum)

    Performer: Cannonball Adderley. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hayman.
    • ENLIGHTENMENT.
  • Richard Rodgers

    It's Easy To Remember (from Mississippi)

    Singer: Dean Martin. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Gus Levene.
    • CAPITOL RECORDS : CDP 77779847822.
    • CAPITOL RECORDS.
    • 15.
  • Richard Rodgers

    My Romance (from Jumbo)

    Performer: Ruby Braff. Performer: George Barnes. Performer: Wayne Wright. Singer: Tony Bennett. Singer: John Giuffrida.
    • CONCORD JAZZ : CCD-2243-2.
    • CONCORD JAZZ.
    • 19.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (from On Your Toes)

    Performer: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Richard Rodgers.
    • CBS : 22103/-A.
    • CBS.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Tue 16 Sep 2025 16:00

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.