A Birthday: John Tavener
Evening Music | May 6, 2010
John Tavener, the British composer known for his modern take on Orthodox religious music, was born this day in 1944. We celebrate his 61st birthday with several works.
Opening the evening is John Tavener’s “Chant,” played on solo cello by Steven Isserlis. The work is a musical palindrome; the music turns back upon itself and retraces the notes until the first note becomes the last. “Song for Athene” became known throughout the world when it was played at the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. We hear Myung-Whun Chung conduct the Orchestra and Chorus of the Santa Cecilia Academy, Rome. We return to Tavener toward the evening’s end, when Clio Gould plays violin and conducts the BT Scottish Ensemble in "...Depart in Peace." Patricia Rozaria sings the Greek setting of the “Song of Simeon,” often referred to as “Nunc dimittis” for its Latin text.
Meanwhile we hear from Christine Schafer, the celebrated soprano, who can be heard live in recital in the Great Performers series at Alice Tulley Hall on February 4th. We bring you her interpretation of three Richard Strauss songs, “Wiegenlied,” "Das Rosenband,” and “Morgen,” with Claudio Abbado conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Schubert's “Wanderer Fantasy” as performed by pianist Artur Rubinstein and Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 from Jeanne Lamon and Tafelmusik are also heard.
» View today's selected reading from "The Writer's Almanac"
Hosted by Garrison Keillor
Opening the evening is John Tavener’s “Chant,” played on solo cello by Steven Isserlis. The work is a musical palindrome; the music turns back upon itself and retraces the notes until the first note becomes the last. “Song for Athene” became known throughout the world when it was played at the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. We hear Myung-Whun Chung conduct the Orchestra and Chorus of the Santa Cecilia Academy, Rome. We return to Tavener toward the evening’s end, when Clio Gould plays violin and conducts the BT Scottish Ensemble in "...Depart in Peace." Patricia Rozaria sings the Greek setting of the “Song of Simeon,” often referred to as “Nunc dimittis” for its Latin text.
Meanwhile we hear from Christine Schafer, the celebrated soprano, who can be heard live in recital in the Great Performers series at Alice Tulley Hall on February 4th. We bring you her interpretation of three Richard Strauss songs, “Wiegenlied,” "Das Rosenband,” and “Morgen,” with Claudio Abbado conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Schubert's “Wanderer Fantasy” as performed by pianist Artur Rubinstein and Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 from Jeanne Lamon and Tafelmusik are also heard.
» View today's selected reading from "The Writer's Almanac"
Hosted by Garrison Keillor
