Main content

Musical Highs

Tom Service looks under the bonnet at musical climaxes and crescendos. How do composers negotiate musical drama to often devastating beauty and power?

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Fri 2 Oct 2020 16:30

Music Played

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Le Poeme de l'extase Op.54 for orchestra

    Conductor: Valery Gergiev. Performer: Mariinsky Orchestra.
    • Philips.
    • 468 035-2.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 9 in D minor Op.125 (Choral)

    Conductor: David Parry. Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • X5.
    • 105.
  • Richard Wagner

    Gotterdammerung [Part 4 of 'Der Ring des Nibelungen']

    Conductor: Georg Solti. Performer: Vienna Philharmonic.
    • Decca.
    • 455 573-2.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony no. 8 in C minor

    Conductor: Christian Thielemann. Performer: Staatskapelle Dresden.
    • C MAJOR.
    • 716108.
  • Richard Strauss

    Eine Alpensinfonie Op.64

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Performer: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • DG.
    • DG 4390172.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Concerto in D major Op.77 for violin and orchestra

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Performer: Christian Ferras. Performer: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • DG.
    • DG 4777486.
  • George Benjamin

    Written on skin - opera in 3 parts

    Performer: George Benjamin. Performer: Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
    • Nimbus.
    • LC 5871.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Il Barbiere di Siviglia - opera in 2 acts

    Conductor: Claudio Abbado. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • DG.
    • E4577332.
  • Samuel Barber

    Adagio for Strings

    Performer: TiΓ«sto.
    • Warner.
    • 0000547474.
  • Morton Feldman

    For Philip Guston for flute, percussion and piano/celesta

    Performer: California E.A.R. Unit.
    • Bridge.
    • 9078A/D.
  • Thomas AdΓ¨s

    Concerto for violin and orchestra

    Performer: Anthony Marwood. Performer: Thomas Adès. Performer: Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
    • WARNER.
    • 9995002715.
  • Anna Meredith

    Nautilus

    Performer: Anna Meredith Band.
    • Moshi Moshi.
    • MOSHICD67.
  • Mark Simpson

    Night music for cello and piano

    Composer: Mark Simpson.
    • nmc.
    • NMC NMCD225.
  • John Adams

    Grand pianola music for wind, 2 pianos, percussion & voices

    Conductor: Ransom Wilson. Performer: Alan Feinberg. Performer: Ursula Oppens. Performer: Solisti New York.
    • EMI.
    • CDC 7 47331.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Sep 2020 17:00
  • Fri 2 Oct 2020 16:30

Why do we call it 'classical' music?

Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).

Six of the world's most extreme voices

From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.

Watch the animations

Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.

When does noise become music?

We like to think we can separate β€œnoise” from β€œmusic”, but is it that simple?

Podcast