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Sir James MacMillan at 60

Scotland's foremost composer celebrates his birthday with friends, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Colin Currie.

Another chance to hear Sir James MacMillan conduct his 60th birthday concert with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, celebrating a partnership that has stretched across decades. Recorded in February 2019, the concert opens with Arvo Part’s popular elegy to Benjamin Britten, written to mourn the passing of a composer whose work he thought most resembled his own. MacMillan’s celebrated concerto for percussion and orchestra 'Veni, Veni, Emmanuel' follows, performed by Scottish percussionist Colin Currie. The piece takes inspiration from biblical text found in Luke 21: β€œfor the powers of heaven will be shaken. And they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”. The concert closes with Macmillan’s Cantata for chorus and strings. Drawing on text from the gospels the piece is a heart-rending depiction of Christ’s crucifixion.

Arvo Part: Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten
James MacMillan: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel

20:10
INTERVAL: Olli Mustonen: Toccata performed by Mr McFall's Chamber

20:30
James Macmillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross

Colin Currie – Percussion
James MacMillan – conductor
Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Presenter - Kate Molleson
Producer - Laura Metcalfe

2 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 May 2020 19:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Arvo PΓ€rt

    Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Sir James MacMillan.

  • Sir James MacMillan

    Veni, veni, Emmanuel

    Performer: Colin Currie. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Sir James MacMillan.

  • Olli Mustonen

    Toccata

    Ensemble: Mr. McFall’s Chamber.
    • Solitudes: Baltic Reflections.
    • Delphian.

  • Sir James MacMillan

    Seven last words from the cross

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Sir James MacMillan.

  • Sir James MacMillan

    Remembering

    Performer: Charlotte Ashton.
    • Private recording.

  • Roxanna Panufnik

    All shall be well

    Performer: Richard May. Choir: Exultate Singers. Conductor: David Ogden.
    • NAXOS.

  • Leos JanÑček

    4 Lachian Dances: I. Starodavny, II. Pozhenany, III. Dymak, IV. Starodavny

    Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ondrej LenΓ‘rd.
    • Naxos.

Broadcast

  • Fri 8 May 2020 19:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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