Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Alexander Armstrong 9am - 12pm

    Alexander Armstrong

    Now Playing

    Symphony No.3 Opus 36 (2) Henryk Gorecki Download 'Symphony No.3 Opus 36 (2)' on iTunes

    Symphony No.3 Opus 36 (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Learning
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • More Classic FM

    10 unexpected ways Charles Dickens was connected to classical music

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Charles Dickens is the most celebrated English novelist of the 19th century. His books – including such classics as ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘David Copperfield’ and ‘Great Expectations’ – have inspired countless film and TV adaptations with great scores. But Dickens also has other connections with classical music.

    1. Charles Dickens operetta Village Coquettes Hullah

      1. Dickens the opera librettist

      In 1836, Dickens himself wrote the libretto for an operetta, titled ‘The Village Coquettes’. The composer John Pyke Hullah wrote the music. Hullah was an aspiring composer and student at the Royal Academy of Music where Dickens' sister Fanny was one of the first students admitted and an accomplished pianist and singer.

    2. Charles Dickens The College Hornpipe popular dance tune

      2. Popular songs of the day

      Dickens often referred to popular songs in his novels, as they were heard in a domestic setting. A well-known dance tune of the day, ‘The College Hornpipe’ is mentioned in both, ‘Dombey and Son’ and ‘David Copperfield.’

    3. Charles Dickens Sir Arthur Sullivan Gluck Orfeo Paris

      3. Friends with Sir Arthur Sullivan

      Charles Dickens was a good friend of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s. Together they saw Gluck’s opera ‘Orfeo’ while in Paris. ‘He rushed about tremendously all the time and I was often with him,’ Sullivan said of Dickens. ‘His electric vitality was extreme, but it was inspiring and not overpowering.’

    4. Charles Dickens Oliver Twist David Lean Arnold Bax Alex Guiness

      4. 'Oliver Twist' by Sir Arnold Bax

      Appointed Master of the King’s Music in 1942, Sir Arnold Bax (1883-1953) was not a fan of Dickens' ‘Oliver Twist’. Nevertheless, he pulled out all the stops towards the end of his life to create a marvelous score for David Lean’s atmospheric 1948 film adaptation, which starred Alec Guiness as Fagin.

    5. Charles Dickens The Cricket on the Hearth Alexander Mackenzie

      5. 'The Cricket on the Hearth'

      Dickens’s sentimental Christmas tale inspired a 1914 operetta by the Scottish composer Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Its overture starts with a kettle coming to the boil, the first line of the story being, ‘The kettle began it!’.

    6. Charles Dickens Great Expectations John Mills Alec Guiness David Lean

      6. The Harmonious Blacksmith

      In ‘Great Expectations’, Herbert Pocket gives Pip the nickname of Handel, in reference to his upbringing as a blacksmith – and Handel’s work, ‘The Harmonious Blacksmith’. Pictured are Alec Guiness as Pocket and John Mills as Pip in the 1946 David Lean film adaptation of 'Great Expectations'.

    7. Charles Dickens opera lover Chopin Mendelssohn Mozart

      7. Dickens the music lover...

      Dickens reportedly enjoyed the music of Chopin, Mendelssohn and Mozart. He would often attend opera performances whenever traveling in Europe.

    8. Charles Dickens Pickwick Papers Harry Secombe Ivy Green

      8. ...and songwriter

      The writer also enjoyed singing and wrote a few songs and ballads himself. These include ‘The Ivy Green,’ which also appears in ‘The Pickwick Papers.’ Pictured is Harry Secombe who played Pickwick in another musical version - a 1963 show with music by Cyril Ornadel and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.

    9. Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Britten Vaughan Williams

      9. 'A Christmas Carol'

      ‘A Christmas Carol’ has inspired countless musical versions including a Benjamin Britten chamber piece, ‘Men of Goodwill: Variations on A Christmas Carol’. It was also turned into a ballet with music by Vaughan Williams, known as ‘On Christmas Night’. Richard Addinsell, composer of the 'Warsaw Concerto' provided the score for the classic 1951 film version in which Alastair Sim was the definitive Scrooge.

    10. Charles Dickens Rachel Portman Nicholas Nickleby

      10. Nicholas Nickleby

      Oscar-winning British movie composer Rachel Portman has made quite a name for herself scoring film adaptations of Dickens' novels. She provided evocative music for both 'Nicholas Nickleby' (2002) - pictured - and Roman Polanski's 'Oliver Twist' (2005).

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Discover music

    See more Discover music

    A smaller, but still immense, 5,000 strong choir in Japan sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’

    Listen to this 10,000-strong Japanese megachoir sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’

    17 hours ago

    Beethoven

    The traditional ‘piping in of the haggis’

    The haggis gets its own entrance music on Burns Night – here’s what it sounds like

    1 day ago

    9-year-old violinist Sora Lavorgna plays Richter's 'Summer 1' in finals of 'Prodiges'

    9-year-old violin prodigy plays Max Richter’s thrilling take on Vivaldi ‘Summer’ in talent show finale

    1 day ago

    Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as Joseph Boulogne in 'Chevalier' (2023)

    ‘Chevalier’ film: plot, release date, cast and all details about the Joseph Boulogne biopic

    1 day ago

    John Williams makes history as oldest person to be nominated for an Academy Award

    John Williams makes history as oldest person to be nominated for an Academy Award

    2 days ago

    Steven Spielberg confirms plans to make a documentary on film composer John Williams.

    Steven Spielberg confirms a documentary on film music legend John Williams is coming

    2 days ago

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Women composers gallery

    21 of the greatest women composers in classical music

    Best pianists of all time

    The 25 best pianists of all time

    Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

    Classic FM Live Playlists

    See more Classic FM Live Playlists

    Classic FM Hall of Fame

    Classic FM Pet Classics

    Classic FM at the Movies

    Classic FM Relax

    Classic FM Revision

    Classic FM Christmas

    Browse by

    See more Browse by

    Periods & genres

    Occasions

    Moods

    Instruments

    Latest on Classic FM

    Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2022

    Classic FM Live 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall: get your tickets to enjoy opera’s greatest hits!

    Events

    Martha Argerich Performs With The Youth Orchestra de Bahia in 2018

    Pianist Martha Argerich cancels performances due to heart-related health condition

    Martha Argerich

    Cellist HAUSER plays ‘Phantom of the Opera’ on Lloyd Webber musical’s 35th anniversary

    Cellist HAUSER plays ‘Phantom of the Opera’ on Lloyd Webber musical’s 35th anniversary

    Lloyd Webber

    Xiaole the piano playing robot

    Watch the piano-playing robot developed by leading AI lab that can also read human emotions

    Videos

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery.

    This week’s Classic FM radio highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    King Charles’ Coronation Concert will take place the day after his coronation

    King Charles III’s coronation and concert: what music could feature over the Royal weekend?

    RIOPY

    Meet RIOPY: the unbreakable French pianist who escaped a childhood cult

    Anna Siminska as Queen of the Night in the Royal Opera's production of Mozart's Die Zauberflote

    What are the lyrics to the ‘Queen of the Night’ aria?

    Mozart

    Isata Kanneh-Mason and Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau play piano duet at St Pancras station

    Isata Kanneh-Mason and Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau play charming duet at St Pancras station piano

    Violinist Boglarka Gyorgy plays with a washing machine

    Violinist plays a surprisingly charming duet… with her bleeping washing machine

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Google Doodle
    • Quizzes
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • LBC News
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2023
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager