Gerald Barry, Mark Simpson

Ivan Hewett presents recent recordings by the BBC Philharmonic, including the world premiere of Mark Simpson's occult-inspired oratorio The Immortal, performed at the Manchester International Festival last week. The work explores the obsession with death that lies at the heart of the human experience and is inspired by John Gray's book, The Immortalization Commission. We hear a concert of works by the Irish composer Gerald Barry, a musical maverick whose witty compositions both surprise and delight. And in Modern Muses, Harrison Birtwistle and bass John Tomlinson talk about the creation of Tomlinson's roles in Birtwistle's landmark operas, 'Gawain' and 'The Minotaur'.

Gerald Barry: La jalousie taciturne; Wiener Blut; Kitty Lie Over Across From the Wall; Day; From The Intelligence Park
Nicolas Hodges (piano)
BBC Philharmonic
Clark Rundell (conductor)
Recorded at MediaCityUK, Salford, in January

Mark Simpson: The Immortal (world premiere)
Mark Stone (baritone)
EXAUDI
Manchester Chamber Choir
BBC Philharmonic
Juanjo Mena (conductor)
Recorded at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, last week.