Sir Simon Rattle - LEAVING HOME: Orchestral Music in the 20th Century - Episode 4/7 - Three Journeys Through Dark Landscapes (English)

About this event
Written and presented by Sir Simon Rattle, the foremost British conductor of our day, this series forms a fascinating introduction to, and overview of, the music of the twentieth century. Sir Simon Rattle leads viewers on an exhilarating journey through the music of our time, explaining the chief musical developments from Mahler to the present day.
Each programme is illustrated with evocative imagery, archive film and photographs and the featured music is set within the broader context of artistic and social change.
Why “Leaving Home”? The story of twentieth-century music is one of leave-taking in many ways. As a wealth of talented composers searched for new creative responses to the world around them, many made departures from the solid ‘home’ foundations of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century music – tonal harmony, melody, regular rhythm and metre. Many had to literally leave home, displaced by political upheavals. A remarkable diversity of expression developed – not all of the difficult or discordant variety commonly associated with modern music. The range is wide and this series samples the work of over thirty composers, discovering new and challenging sounds as well as some unexpectedly familiar music. It presents an extraordinary kaleidoscope of orchestral images, full of contrasts and surprises.
Episode 4/7 - Three Journeys Through Dark Landscapes
Three Journeys Through Dark Landscapes examines the effect of fundamental political upheaval on the music of Béla Bartók, Dmitri Shostakovich and Witold Lutoslawski. All three composers actively embraced the climate of change in Eastern Europe and, despite adverse pressures, found a way to develop their own musical language in works of triumphant originality and power.
With excerpts from:
Béla Bartók: Duke Bluebeard's Castle op. 11 BB 62 Sz. 48 (1918)
Béla Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta BB 114 Sz. 106 (1936)
Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra BB 123 Sz. 116 (1942-1943, rev. 1945)
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C minor op. 43
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D minor op. 47
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 op. 135 (1964-1969)
Witold Lutosławski: Concerto for Orchestra
Witold Lutosławski: Jeux vénitiens for Chamber Orchestra (1960-1961)
Witold Lutosławski: Symphony No. 3 (1983)
Duration: approx. 51 minutes.
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