Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Not many classical musicians write works based on the life of a Playboy model or pop superstar. Donald Macleod explores Turnage鈥檚 love of mainstream culture.

Not many classical musicians write works based on the life of Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith or pop superstar 叠别测辞苍肠茅. Donald Macleod explores Turnage鈥檚 love of mainstream culture.

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 叠别测辞苍肠茅.

Turnage鈥檚 opera 鈥淎nna Nicole鈥, based on the tragic life of former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith, inspired more column inches in the mainstream press than perhaps any opera in living memory - a subversive, sometimes lurid blend of the satirical and elegiac. Whilst some voices fulminated at its subject matter, many others praised the way it blended the contemporary and the sadly timeless: the story of a woman looked down upon and thwarted by society. Donald Macleod talks to the composer about the opera鈥檚 fascinating and sometimes controversial genesis and reception, as well other works inspired by 叠别测辞苍肠茅 and Led Zeppelin.

Hammered Out
成人快手 Symphony Orchestra
David Robertson, conductor

From The Wreckage
Hakan Hardenberger, flugelhorn; trumpet; piccolo trumpet
London Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Harding, conductor

Anna Nicole, Act 1 (excerpt)
Eva-Maria Westbroek, soprano (Anna Nicole)
Gerald Finley, baritone (Stern, Anna Nicole鈥檚 lawyer)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Antonio Pappano, conductor

Texan Tenebrae
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Marin Alsop, conductor

Twisted Blues With Twisted Ballad (Reflections on 鈥淪tairway To Heaven鈥 by Led Zeppelin)
Piatti Quartet

59 minutes

Music Played

  • 叠别测辞苍肠茅

    Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

    • Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).
    • MUSIC WORLD MUSIC.
    • 1.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Hammered Out

    Orchestra: 成人快手 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: David Robertson.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    From The Wreckage

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding. Conductor: H氓kan Hardenberger.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Anna Nicole, Act 1 (excerpt)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Choir: Royal Opera House Chorus. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Eva-Maria Westbroek.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Texan Tenebrae

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • LPO LPO 0066.
    • LPO.
    • 3.
  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Twisted Blues With Twisted Ballad (Reflections on "Stairway To Heaven")

    Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.
    • CHAMPS HILL : CHRCD-145.
    • CHAMPS HILL.
    • 14.

Broadcast

  • Thu 9 Dec 2021 12:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.