Speaker icon LISTEN
Show more Show less
30/05/2012

Through the Night The National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich.

ON NEXT : 06:30 Breakfast

Sunday Feature

From Ecstasy to Infinity

Episode image for From Ecstasy to Infinity

Duration: 45 minutes

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

    Palazzo Zucchari

    A fresco at the Palazzo Zucchari, Rome.

  • Dome of St Paul's

    Dome of St Paul's

    The dome of St Paul's Cathedral

  • Sant' Andrea al Quirinale

    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

    The dome at Sant Andrea al Quirinale

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

  • Versailles

    Versailles

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

  • Versailles - Grand Canal

    Versailles - Grand Canal

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

  • Versailles - Le Bosquet des Trois Fontaines

    Versailles - Le Bosquet des Trois Fontaines

    Marcus at Le Bosquet des Trois Fontaines, Versailles.

  • The dome of Sant'Ignazio

    The dome of Sant'Ignazio

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

  • The ceiling of Sant'Ignazio

    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 San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

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

  • The cloisters of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

    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

    The dome of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

Broadcasts

Podcast

  1. Podcast artwork for The Radio 3 Documentary

    The Radio 3 Documentary

    In-depth documentaries which each week explore a different aspect of history, science, philosophy,...

More …

BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.