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Graham Vick

Graham Vick, one of the foremost opera directors of our time, talks to Michael Berkeley about his personal musical favourites, ranging from Machaut and Monteverdi to Bernstein.

Graham Vick, Artistic Director of the Birmingham Opera Company, is one of the leading opera directors of our time. His productions have been seen all over the world, from La Scala, Milan and the Kirov in St Petersburg to Paris, Munich, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and all the major British opera houses. His pioneering work in Birmingham is seen to be at the forefront of the modernisation of opera, opening it up to new audiences.

As Graham Vick's work is primarily with opera, he prefers to relax by listening to a variety of vocal and instrumental music. His choices start with the 14th-century 'Messe de Notre Dame' by Guillaume de Machaut, and continue with the madrigal 'Vorrei baciarti' by Monteverdi. Then there's Chopin's Prelude in C sharp minor, Op.45, played by Benedetti Michelangeli, followed by an early afternoon Indian rag played by Ravi Shankar. The Finale of Beethoven's String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op.131, played by the Alban Berg Quartet precedes Graham Vick's only operatic selection - an extract from Mozart's 'Magic Flute', which for him is perhaps the most sublime example of a master craftsman at work. His programme ends with the final chorus from Leonard Bernstein's musical 'Candide', which sums up Graham Vick's philosophy of 'making our garden grow'.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 3 Oct 2010 12:00
成人快手 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Guillaume de Machaut

    Messe de notre Dame, Kyrie

    Performer: Esemble Organum, Marcel P茅res (director)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI HMG 901590.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Vorrei baciarti (from Book 7 of the Madrigals)

    Performers: Sara Mingardo (alto), Monica Bacelli (mezzo soprano), Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini

    • NA脧VE OP 30395.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin - Prelude in C sharp minor, Op 45

    Performer: Michelangeli (piano)

  • Ravi Shankar

    Raga Shudh Sarang [an early afternoon rag]

    Performer: Ravi Shankar

    • SAREGAMA RECORDS CDNFC150918/9.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op 131 (Finale, Allegro)

    Performers: Alban Berg Quartet

    • EMI CDS 7471358.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Die Zauberfl枚te (Act II, scene 8)

    Performers: Evelyn Lear (Pamina), Fritz Wunderlich (Tamino), James King and Marrti Talvela (Armed Men), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl B枚hm

    • DG 449 749-2.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Make Our Garden Grow (finale of Candide)

    Performers: Robert Rounseville (Candide), Barbara Cook (Cunegonde), The Company, Original Broadway Cast recording, Samuel Krachmalnick (musical director)

    • SONY SK 48017.

Broadcast

  • Sun 3 Oct 2010 12:00
    成人快手 Radio 3

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Podcast

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