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Andreas Haefliger, Monastic Music

Sara Mohr-Pietsch is in conversation with German-born Swiss pianist Andreas Haefliger. Plus a focus on the musical life of a monastery.

Sara Mohr-Pietsch speaks to German-born Swiss pianist Andreas Haefliger ahead of his upcoming performance at London's Wigmore Hall. Known for the brilliance of his Beethoven playing, he talks about why the composer's music embodies the very best human ideals, why pianists need to learn to breathe and why he's removing himself completely from the internet.

Benedictine monks in monasteries all over the UK and around the world structure their whole day around the singing of plainchant - five or six times a day they gather together and sing the psalms. Sara visits Downside Abbey in Somerset to experience first hand the musical life of monks.

People often have a very traditional view of brass band music, yet composers from Harrison Birtwistle to Hans Werner Henze not to mention young contemporary composers have all written for bands. The composers Edward Gregson and Lucy Pankhurst reveal the cutting edge of brass band composition.

And Viviana Durante - former Royal Ballet principal and mentor on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ4's Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Young Dancer programme - talks to Sara about the show and the prospects for young dancers today.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Mon 17 Apr 2017 22:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Chapters

  • Andreas Haefliger

    Duration: 15:07

  • Monastic Music

    Duration: 13:46

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Young Dancer - Viviana Durante

    Duration: 05:01

  • Brass Band Music

    Duration: 08:42

Credits

Presenter Sara Mohr-Pietsch
Interviewed Guest Andreas Haefliger

Broadcasts

  • Sat 15 Apr 2017 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Mon 17 Apr 2017 22:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Music Matters

    The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters