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Donald Macleod talks to the composer about his passions for social justice and visual art, and they discuss his vocal work tackling the subject of domestic violence.

Donald Macleod talks to the composer about his passions for social justice and visual art, and they discuss his vocal work tackling the subject of domestic violence.

Mark-Anthony Turnage is a man with a reputation for shaking up the world of British classical music - a composer with a distinctive and rebellious creative voice. His work vividly fuses influences of jazz, soul and contemporary pop with music that remains boldly and defiantly avant-garde. It鈥檚 music that packs a punch, yet whose visceral impact accompanies a deep lyricism and emotion. Over four decades, Turnage鈥檚 work has tackled social commentary: domestic violence, drug abuse, and the refugee crisis. But he鈥檚 also a composer with a subversive streak, with an opera exploring the life of former Playboy model Anna-Nicole Smith, and orchestral pieces inspired by his beloved Arsenal football club and pop superstar Beyonc茅.

Turnage鈥檚 music is often inspired by issues in the contemporary the world: today, he talks to Donald Macleod about his dramatic scena 鈥淭wice Through The Heart鈥, to words by the Scottish poet Jackie Kay, which addresses the trauma of domestic abuse from a woman鈥檚 perspective. They also discuss the composer鈥檚 deep love of visual art, as we hear a work inspired by the 鈥淧ope鈥 paintings of Francis Bacon.

Set To
Brass Partout

Three Screaming Popes
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor

Twice Through the Heart (Part Two)
Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Marin Alsop, conductor

Your Rockaby (excerpt)
Martin Robertson, saxophone
成人快手 Symphony Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis, conductor

True life stories (Tune for Toru)
Ian Brown, piano

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Set To

    Ensemble: Brass Partout.
    • BIS : BIS CD-1354.
    • BIS.
    • 17.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Three Screaming Popes

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI 555 0912.
    • EMI.
    • 3.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Twice Through The Heart (Part 2)

    Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • LPO : LPO-0031.
    • LPO.
    • 1.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Your Rockaby (excerpt)

    Performer: Martin Robertson. Orchestra: 成人快手 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • DECCA : 468 814-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 6.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    True Life Stories (Tune for Toru)

    Performer: Ian Brown.
    • Black Box : BBM1065.
    • Black Box.
    • 14.

Broadcast

  • Tue 7 Dec 2021 12:00

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