Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Berg and Beethoven

Live from the Barbican, Simon Rattle conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Berg's Violin Concerto with Lisa Batiashvili, and Beethoven's oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives.

Simon Rattle has made the not very difficult prediction that Beethoven will be absolutely inescapable this year, the 250th anniversary of his birth. He's made sure of it in this concert which pairs Berg's Violin Concerto with Beethoven's rarely heard oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives. Rarely heard perhaps because when it's judged by the yardstick Beethoven himself set (it comes from the same year, 1803, as the mould-breaking Eroica Symphony), it falls short. But there's much to enjoy here and it's hard to know why it's been so thoroughly neglected. It focuses on Jesus's humanity as it tells the story of His last hours, Calvary looming but not depicted. Be prepared for some striking music, including an atmospheric orchestral introduction, stirring choruses and coloratura arias. And a performance of anything with the LSO and the Simon Halsey-prepared LSO Chorus conducted by Rattle is going to be special.

Berg's 1935 Violin Concerto has long been considered a 20th-century classic. Dedicated by Berg 'To the memory of an angel' (the 18-year-old daughter of Berg's close friends), it manages to walk the tightrope of 12-tone technique and recognisable tonality, movingly including a Bach chorale at the beginning of its final movement. It's played tonight by world-renowned Georgian-born German violinist Lisa Batiashvili.

Presented live from the Barbican Hall by Martin Handley.

Berg: Violin Concerto

8.10pm
Interval music (from CD)
Haydn: String Quartet No. 5 in G Major, Op.33 "How do you do?"
Quatuor Hanson

8.30pm
Beethoven: Christ on the Mount of Olives

Lisa Batiashvili (violin)
Elsa Dreisig (soprano)
Pavol Breslik (tenor)
David Soar (bass)
London Symphony Chorus
Simon Halsey (chorus director)
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)

Photo - Mark Allen

2 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Thu 13 Feb 2020 19:30
成人快手 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Mozart's final flourish

Next

Beethoven and Scriabin with the London Philharmonic Orchestra

See all episodes from Radio 3 in Concert

Recipes

See all recipes from Berg and Beethoven

Music Played

  • Alban Berg

    Concerto for violin and orchestra

    Performer: Lisa Batiashvili. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet No. 5 in G Major, Op.33 "How do you do?"

    Ensemble: Quatuor Hanson.
    • Haydn: String Quartets "All shall not die".
    • 础辫补谤迟茅.
    • 13-17.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Christus am Olberge (The Mount of Olives) - oratorio Op.85

    Performer: Pavol Breslik. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto in A minor for flute, violin and keyboard, BWV 1044

    Performer: Christophe Rousset. Performer: Rachel Brown. Performer: Simon Standage. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Bach: Harpsichord Concertos: Rousset/AAM/Hogwood.
    • L'Oiseau-Lyre.
    • 10.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Festival Te Deum

    Performer: Andrew Lucas. Choir: St Paul's Cathedral Choir. Singer: Jeremy Budd. Director: John Scott.
    • Hear my Prayer: Budd/St Paul's Cathedral Choir/Scott.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10.

  • William Byrd

    Cunctis diebus

    Choir: The Cardinall鈥檚 Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.
    • William Byrd: Infelix ego The Cardinall's Musick.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Thu 13 Feb 2020 19:30
    成人快手 Radio 3

Featured in...