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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic Presents...

Jarvis Cocker and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic weave tales of insomnia and nocturnal visions with music from Bach, Rachmaninov and others - alongside a performance from Jarvis himself.

To mark the winter solstice, a chance to hear a programme first broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 on 1st October in which Jarvis Cocker brought his award winning series Wireless Nights to Salford, forming part of this year's Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic Presents... series, a celebration of orchestral music in its many different forms.

In front of a studio audience, Jarvis Cocker and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic weave tales of insomnia, nocturnal inspirations and dark imaginings from the world of classical music - against the backdrop of a President embroiled in the Vietnam War. There's also a special performance from Jarvis himself.

Jarvis tells stories of an insomniac German Count who supposedly had Bach compose his Goldberg Variations as a sleeping aid, and a wired President Nixon listening to Rachmaninov in the small hours when he felt the urge to go on a bizarre excursion in the presidential limo.

He also conjures up music that came in dreams and revelations – from Stravinsky's wild visions in the Rite of Spring to Schumann's once forgotten Violin Concerto, which apparently re-emerged during a séance many years after the composer's death.

Maxime Tortelier conducts the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic led by Yuri Torchinsky. Anthony Marwood plays solo violin and Peter Donohoe plays solo piano.

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 and repeated on 6 Music to mark the Winter Solstice.

Producers: Laurence Grissell and Neil McCarthy

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 24 May 2023 01:00

Music Played

  • Jarvis Cocker, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic & Maxime Tortelier (conductor)

    Black Night (arr. Fiona Brice)

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Aria from Goldberg Variations

    Performer: Peter Donohoe (piano).
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Rite of Spring, Dance of the Adolescents

    Performer: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic. Performer: Maxime Tortelier (conductor).
  • Robert Schumann

    Violin Concerto (2nd movt)

    Performer: Anthony Marwood (violin). Performer: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic. Performer: Maxime Tortelier (conductor).
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    3rd Piano Concerto (1st movt)

    Performer: Peter Donohoe (piano). Performer: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic. Performer: Maxime Tortelier (conductor).
  • Jarvis Cocker, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic & Maxime Tortelier (conductor)

    End of the Night (arr. Fiona Brice)

Broadcasts

  • Mon 13 Oct 2014 23:00
  • Sun 21 Dec 2014 01:00
  • Christmas Day 2014 22:00
  • Wed 24 May 2023 01:00

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