George Benjamin and Inspiration
Donald Macleod in conversation with Sir George Benjamin explores the composer’s sources of inspiration.
Donald Macleod in conversation with Sir George Benjamin explores the composer’s sources of inspiration, both visual and literary.
Composer of the Week marks the sixtieth birthday of the celebrated British composer Sir George Benjamin. All this week Benjamin joins Donald Macleod in the studio to provide listeners with personal insights into his music and distinguished career. They discuss the composer's musical connections, his inspirations, his interest in collaboration, the compositional process, and his work as a pianist, conductor and teacher.
When composing music, Sir George Benjamin takes inspiration from various sources. The composer discusses with Donald Macleod the importance of visual inspirations in his music, and how words can have an impact upon the music he is composing. They explore the themes within some of his stage works, including homosexuality, and how he endeavours in his music to make old stories compelling for a contemporary audience.
Ringed by the Flat Horizon
Ross Pople, cello
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Symphony Orchestra
Mark Elder, conductor
Into the Little Hill (Scene VI & VII)
Hila Plitmann, soprano
Susan Bickley, contralto
London Sinfonietta
George Benjamin, conductor
Lessons in Love and Violence (Sc.3 Please everyone be seated)
Stéphane Degout (King), baritone
Barbara Hannigan (Isabel), soprano
Gyula Orendt (Gaveston / Stranger), baritone
Peter Hoare (Mortimer), tenor
Samuel Boden (Boy / Young King), tenor
Jennifer France (Witness / Singer / Woman 1), soprano
Krisztina Szabó (Witness / Singer / Woman 2), mezzo-soprano
Andri Björn Róbertsson (Witness 3 / Madmad), bass-baritone
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
George Benjamin, conductor
Sometime Voices
Dietrich Henschel, baritone
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Deutsches Symphony Orchestra
Kent Nagano, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Wales.
Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Sir George Benjamin
Ringed by the Flat Horizon
Performer: Ross Pople. Orchestra: Â鶹ԼÅÄ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.- NIMBUS : NI5643.
- NIMBUS.
- 1.
-
![]()
Sir George Benjamin
Into the Little Hill - Scenes VI & VII
Singer: Hila Plitmann. Singer: Susan Bickley. Orchestra: London Sinfonietta. Conductor: Sir George Benjamin.- NIMBUS : NI5964.
- NIMBUS.
- 6.
-
![]()
Sir George Benjamin
Lessons in Love and Violence - Scene 3, Please everyone be seated
Singer: Stéphane Degout. Singer: Barbara Hannigan. Singer: Gyula Orendt. Singer: Peter Hoare. Singer: Samuel Boden. Singer: Jennifer France. Singer: Krisztina Szabó. Singer: Andri Bjorn Robertsson. Orchestra: Netherlands Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Sir George Benjamin.- NIMBUS : NI5976.
- NIMBUS.
- 10.
-
![]()
Sir George Benjamin
Sometime Voices
Singer: Dietrich Henschel. Choir: Berlin Radio Choir. Orchestra: Deutsches Symphonie Orchestra. Conductor: Kent Nagano.- NIMBUS : NI5828.
- NIMBUS.
- 18.
Broadcast
- Thu 10 Dec 2020 12:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
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
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s 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 – 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.