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  4. From Ecstasy to Infinity

From Ecstasy to Infinity

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Last broadcast on Fri, 4 Sep 2009, 21:30 on BBC Radio 3 (see all broadcasts).

Synopsis

Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy explores the role of science and mathematics in the arts of the baroque. From Bernini's architecture and sculpture in Rome, the playful gardens at Versailles, to the grand dome of St Paul's Cathedral and the music of Monteverdi and Bach, he discovers that new ideas about perspective, capturing movement and the infinite all play a part in the baroque vision.

'The Baroque was always a style I'd associated with vulgarity and excess. But in this programme I’ve discovered how much control and structure underpins the spectacle of the baroque. The dramatic and sensational effects of the greatest baroque architects like Borromini and Bernini are founded on sound mathematical principles. Painters like Caravaggio and Rubens are battling with the same problems as Newton and Leibniz in their attempt to capture bodies in motion. And the extravagant sounds of Monteverdi and Bach would not be possible without the mathematical development of new ideas of temperament. It is my world of mathematics and science which allows the artist and musician to play with your emotions. Join me on my journey to the conversion of the delights of the baroque.' Marcus Du Sautoy

Marcus Du Sautoy

Marcus du Sautoy is the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of New College. He has been named by the Independent on Sunday as one of the UK's leading scientists. In 2004 Esquire Magazine chose him as one of the 100 most influential people under 40 in Britain and in 2008 he was included in the prestigious directory Who’s Who. He is author of numerous academic articles and books on mathematics.

Marcus du Sautoy plays the trumpet and football. Born in 1965, he lives in London with his wife, three children and cat Freddie Ljungberg.

Contributors

Allan Chapman, Scientist & Historian

Laurent Choffe, Chief Botanist at France's historic monuments commission, Versailles

Richard Egarr, Harpsichordist

Martin Kemp, Art Historian

Elizabeth Kieven, Art Historian, Bibliotheca Hertziana, Rome

Nigel Llewellyn, Curator of the V&A Exhibition 'Baroque: Style in the Age of Magnificence' www.vam.ac.uk/baroque

David Mayernick, Architect & Painter

Andrew Parrott, Conductor

Ferrucio Romanin, Jesuit Rector of Sant Ignazio, Rome

Benjamin Wardhaugh, Mathematician

Featured Music

Vivaldi: Anch’il mar par che sommerga (from Il Tamerlano)
Cecilia Bartoli
Decca 4665692 Track 12

Bach: Canonic variations on von Himmel hoch BWV 769
Variation 5
Helmut Walcha (organ)
Archive 4637122 Track 15

Bach: Magnificat
Tavener Players
Andrew Parrott
EMI CDC7499592 Track 1

Castello: Sonata quindicesima
L’Europa Galante
Opus OPS3062 Track 10

Blow: I was glad when they said unto me
Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral
The Parley of Instruments
John Scott
Hyperion CDA67009 Track 16

Delalande: Symphonies pour les soupers du Roy
Deuxieme Air
Orchestre de Chamber Jean-Francois Paillard
Erato 4509924042 Track 3

Lully: Divertissement III Passacaille d’Armide
Capriccio Stravagante directed by Skip Sempe
Harmonia Mundi RC 77218 Track 15

Purcell: Ode on St Cecilia’s Day Thou tune’st this world below
Taverner Consort and Choir
Andrew Parott
EMI CD7474902 Track 6

Featured Music

JS Bach: Art of Fugue: Contrapunctus 12
Helmut Walcha (organ)
ARCHIV 4637122
CD 12 Track 13

JS Bach: Brandenburg Concerto no 3 BWV1048
Concerto Alessandrini directed by Rinaldo Alessandrini
Naïve OP30412
CD 1 Track 14

JS Bach: Well-tempered Clavier Fugue no 12 BWV857
Pierre Hantai (harpsichord)
Mirare MIR9930 Track 24

Monteverdi: L’Orfeo
Le Concert d’Astree
Emmanuelle Haim
Ian Bostridge (Orfeo)
Sinfonia and Possente Spirto
Track 5 and 6

Carissimi: Gloria from Mass
Consortium Carissimi
Vittorio Zanon
Naxos 8.555075 Track 2

Dominico Scarlatti: Credo from Missa Breve “ La stella”
The Sixteen
Harry Christopher
Coro Cor16003 Track 5

Couperin: Pavanne in f sharp minor
Richard Egarr (harpsichord)
Globe Glo5148 Track 13

Featured Music

Lully: Second Air “ Que pour jamais un noeud charmant nous lie” from Roland
Les Talens Lyriques,
Opera Chorus of Lausanne,
Christophe Rousset
Ambrosie AMB9949 Track 10

Biber: Mystery Sonata The Resurrection
John Holloway (violin)
Davitt Moroney (harpsichord)
Virgin 7908382 CD 2 Track 1

JS Bach: Canon a 2, Per motum contrarium from Musical Offering BWV 1079
Concentus musicus Wien
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
TELDEC 2292427482 Track 5

Biber: Mystery Sonata: The Descent of the Holy Ghost
John Holloway (violin)
Davitt Moroney (harpsichord)
Virgin 7908382 CD 2 Track 9

JS Bach: Magnificat BWV 243 – Gloria Patri
Taverner Players
Andrew Parrott
EMI 7499592 Track 12

Palazzo Zucchari

A fresco at the Palazzo Zucchari, Rome.

Dome of St Paul's

The dome of St Paul's Cathedral

Sant' Andrea al Quirinale

Marcus and architect David Mayernik look upwards to the dome of Sant' Andrea al Quirinale. The light from the hidden lantern of the dome illuminates the painting of the Martyrdom of St Andrew, and highlights the gilt angels which adorn it.

The dome at Sant Andrea al Quirinale

Rays of light from Bernini's dome in Sant' Andrea al Quirinale.

Versailles

Marcus and botanist Laurent Choffé explore the work of André Le Notre in the gardens of Versailles.

Versailles - Grand Canal

Marcus investigates the illusion of accelerated perspective at the Grand Canal, Versailles.

Versailles - Le Bosquet des Trois Fontaines

Marcus at Le Bosquet des Trois Fontaines, Versailles.

The dome of Sant'Ignazio

Andrea Pozzo's artificial dome at Sant' Ignazio, Rome.
(Photo by Anthony Majanlahti)

The ceiling of Sant'Ignazio

The colourful and illusionistic ceiling of Sant' Ignazio, Rome.
(Photo by Anthony Majanlahti)

The façade of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

The Façade of Borromini's San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Rome.

The cloisters of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

Marcus and David Mayernik discover the arcs and curves of the cloisters at San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

The dome of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

The dome of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

Broadcasts

  1. Sun 15 Mar 2009
    21:30
    BBC Radio 3
  2. Fri 4 Sep 2009
    21:30
    BBC Radio 3

More details

A programme from

  1. Sunday Feature

Duration

45 minutes

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