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Tim Harford

Economist Tim Harford shares his passion for contemporary classical music with Michael Berkeley.

The economist Tim Harford shares his passion for contemporary classical music with Michael Berkeley.

Tim Harford has for many years been the Undercover Economist at the Financial Times; he is the author of nine books, and is a familiar voice on Radio 4 as the presenter of More or Less, Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy, and now also How to Vaccinate the World.

Tim is on a mission to show us how, if properly investigated and explained, good statistics can help us see things about the world and about ourselves that we would not be able to see in any other way. He was awarded an OBE for services to improving economic understanding in 2019.

Tim talks to Michael Berkeley about how his love of music developed in childhood, encouraged by his father, who introduced him to composers such as Jan谩膷ek and Britten. He chooses music by his favourite contemporary composers Philip Glass, Brian Eno and Steve Reich, and a beautiful piece of choral music by Arvo P盲rt that was sung at his wedding.

Tim spends his working life pursuing cool-headed analysis of statistics and data but he reveals to Michael Berkeley the piece of music that makes him surrender to his most passionate emotions.

Producer: Jane Greenwood
A Loftus Media production for 成人快手 Radio 3

Available now

36 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 Feb 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • Benjamin Britten

    Serenade for tenor, horn and strings (Prologue - Pastoral)

    Performer: Dennis Brain. Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Eugene Goossens. Singer: Peter Pears.
  • Brian Eno

    Music for Airports

    Ensemble: Bang on a Can All-Stars.
  • Arvo P盲rt

    The Beatitudes

    Performer: Daniel Justin. Choir: Leeds Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Thomas Leech.
  • Steve Reich

    Electric Counterpoint (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Sean Shibe.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Glagolitic Mass (Introduction)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
  • Philip Glass

    Knee Play 5 (Einstein on the Beach)

    Ensemble: Philip Glass Ensemble. Conductor: Michael Riesman.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.9 in D minor, Op.125 (Choral) (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.

Broadcast

  • Sun 14 Feb 2021 12:00

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