The Full Works Concert - Friday 2 January 2015

Catherine Bott celebrates two of the 20th century's great musical figures - the pianist Glenn Gould and the composer Sir Michael Tippett.

Catherine Bott celebrates the 60th anniversary of pianist Glenn Gould’s debut performance at the Philips Gallery in Washington, and we mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of English composer Michael Tippett. 

The Canadian pianist Glenn Gould was one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. His playing was distinguished by remarkable technical proficiency but he was equally well known for various eccentricities, from his unorthodox musical interpretations and mannerisms at the keyboard to aspects of his lifestyle and personal behaviour. We hear him tonight playing Beethoven.

Sir Michael Tippett rose to prominence during and immediately after the Second World War. In his lifetime he was considered to rank with his contemporary Britten as one of the leading British composers of the 20th century. Among his best-known works is the oratorio A Child of Our Time - Catherine has his Five Spirituals from that work.

Also tonight, listen out for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra's fantastic recording of Holst’s The Planets – a favourite with Classic FM listeners which in 2014 was No.14 in the Classic FM Hall of Fame. 
 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro – Overture
Bobby McFerrin conducts the St Paul Chamber Orchestra 

Gustav Holst: The Planets
David Lloyd-Jones conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with the Ladies of the RSNO Chorus 

Michael Tippett: Five Spirituals from A Child of our Time
Harry Christophers conducts The Sixteen 

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.30 in E major
Piano: Glenn Gould 

Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto in D minor for 2 violins
Violins: Isaac Stern & Gill Shaham
Daniel Barenboim directs the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra