Francois-Xavier Roth conducts the BBC NOW in Philippe Manoury, Shostakovich and Debussy. 
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The Gambler
Petroc Trelawny visits rehearsals for a new Covent Garden production of Prokofiev’s opera based on Dostoevsky’s novel of the same name – an action-packed tale about the addictive nature of casino life. One of the least known of Sergei Prokofiev’s operas, its Russian premiere was thwarted by the Revolution of 1917; it was first performed in Brussels and not in Russia until 1974.
The director of the Royal Opera’s production, Richard Jones, and conductor Antonio Pappano, talk to Petroc about how the story and music connect with audiences today, and Prokofiev expert Christina Guillaumier tells the opera’s story. -
Sibelius: A Composer's Life
The 1917 Revoution may have delayed the premiere of The Gambler, but it meant freedom for the nation of Finland. Composer Jean Sibelius had already become synonymous with the culture and ideals of his homeland, but in a new book Glenda Dawn Goss, an American academic and teacher at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, argues that he was a reluctant nationalist.
Petroc talks to Goss and to Osmo Vanska who has just been conducting a Sibelius symphony cycle with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Nos. 4, 5 and Luonnotar are broadcast in Performance on 3 on 15 February). -
Theo & Nelly Van Doesburg
The year 1917 also saw the Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg form his movement ‘De Stijl’ (‘The Style’) with fellow artist Piet Mondrian. Music was central to the group’s work, and his pianist wife Nelly would often join him on stage for various Dadaist ‘happenings’, performing music by Satie, Schönberg and Poulenc.
Petroc visits a new exhibition of van Doesberg’s work at Tate Modern in London, and talks to its curator Michael White and musical consultant, the conductor Richard Bernas.
Scroll down to see some images from the exhibition. -
Mike and Kate Westbrook
As musicians, writers and composers Mike and Kate Westbrook have been performing and living together for 35 years. Their music covers a huge range of styles and forms, from intimate jazz and cabaret song to opera works and big band arrangements of Rossini.
Ahead of a duo tour around the UK, they talk to Petroc about the processes involved in working together, and about the importance of making music for the local community. -
Theo van Doesburg - Portrait of Pétro (Nelly van Doesburg) c.1922
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Theo van Doesburg - Final colour design for wall with gallery, Cinema-Dance Hall
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Theo van Doesburg - Poster Small Dada Soirée.
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Theo van Doesburg - Design for poster for The Little Review
Broadcasts
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BBC Radio 3Sat 6 Feb 2010 12:15 BBC Radio 3
Podcast
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Music Matters
The latest news on classical music. Interviews with key UK and international performers, composers,...
