 | | BBC RADIO 3 Friday 19 December 2008 | |
Composer Of The Week –
The Neapolitan Golden AgeEp 5/5
Monday 15 to Friday 19 December
12.00-1.00pm BBC RADIO 3 |
Donald Macleod's final postcard from Naples goes back to the carnival season of 1786, with music provided by Domenico Cimarosa. His is a turbulent story: he lost his father to a building accident, which resulted in poverty for the family, but he later became established as a leading opera composer of the century. His final years were equally turbulent, as a change in the political scene left him hiding under the floorboards of a Neapolitan opera house in fear of his life, and ultimately in Venetian exile. Presenter/Donald Macleod, Producer/Michael Surcombe BBC Radio 3 Publicity Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert – Love Brahms?Ep 4/4
Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 December
1.00-2.00pm BBC RADIO 3 | |
BBC Radio 3's Lunchtime concerts, devoted almost entirely to the work of Brahms, and by leading British-based performers, conclude with Radio 3 New Generation viola player Maxim Rysanov. He is accompanied by pianist Katya Apekisheva (with whom he has made acclaimed recordings of Brahms chamber music for viola) in the first of Brahms's two Viola Sonatas, and a transcription of the First Violin Sonatas,
Op 78. Mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill also joins them for the
2 Songs, Op 91, for voice, viola and piano. Presenter/Penny Gore, Producer/Lindsay Kemp BBC Radio 3 Publicity Performance On 3 –
Elliott Carter Centenary Concert
Friday 19 December
7.00-9.15pm BBC RADIO 3 | | | | |
Marking the 100th birthday of leading American composer Elliott Carter, Oliver Knussen conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the climax of BBC Radio 3's Carter celebrations this week. Carter was initially encouraged to become a composer by Charles Ives, who had sold insurance to his parents, and since the Forties, his influence as composer, writer and teacher has spanned the globe. He is still writing now, and has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with tonight's conductor, Oliver Knussen, and with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, who staged a weekend devoted to his music in 2006. Remarkably, considering the composer's age, the concert features the world première of a new piece, Wind Rose, as well as the UK premières of works written in the past three years – Sound Fields (a work for strings composed in the past year) and his vocal sextet Mad Regales. Also on the programme are his Cello and Horn Concertos, which explore the wide possibilities available to those instruments, and his Boston Concerto, first performed in the UK by this orchestra and conductor at the BBC Proms in 2003. Presenter/Suzy Klein, Producer/TBC BBC Radio 3 Publicity World On 3
Friday 19 December
11.15pm-1.00am BBC RADIO 3 | | | | |
In his debut BBC session, Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti – or Seun Kuti for short – the youngest son of Fela Kuti, who singlehandedly created a new style of African music which became internationally known as Afrobeat, performs sounds from around the globe. Seun first played with his father's band, Egypt 80, when he was eight years old. When Fela died in 1997, Seun was 15, and despite his young age, the band looked to him to carry on where his father left off. Eleven years on, Seun is fronting the band as singer, saxophone player and lead dancer in the way his father used to, and he and the band are now making international appearances. Their first album, Many Things, has just been released, and it's clear that Seun also shares his father's desire to use his music to speak out on political issues such as corruption, and what he sees as the exploitation of developing countries by large corporations. Presenter/Mary Ann Kennedy, Producer/Roger Short BBC Radio 3 Publicity | | BBC RADIO 4 Friday 19 December 2008 | |
Wah! Wah! Wah! Waaaaa! The Comedy Scores
Friday 19 December
11.00-11.30am BBC RADIO 4 | |
Huw Williams explores the traditions, clichés and customs of writing music for comedy, from Chaplin to Carry On, and from I Love Lucy to Friends. Ever since composer Ron Goodwin set the scene of Margaret Rutherford's portrayal of Miss Marple, musician Huw Williams has been fascinated by the way in which music is used to complement comedy. In this programme, Williams is on the trail of the techniques and skills involved. Pianist and composer Neil Brand has been at the forefront of the silent film revival, accompanying many showings of the classics. He talks Williams through the techniques needed to add to the audience experience without taking attention away from the images. Other contributors to the programme include Willie Dowling, who's worked on Green Wing and with Armstrong and Miller, and who offers contemporary advice on the genre. At Kingston University, students studying for an MA in composing for films and television offer Huw lessons in how to get it right. Presenter/Huw Williams, Producer/Geoff Ballinger BBC Radio 4 Publicity Afternoon Play – The Switch
Friday 19 December
2.15-3.00pm BBC RADIO 4 | | | | |
The Switch is a sequence of songs telling the story of George who, in 1960 and accompanied by his French bride, Sidonie, heads for a small town in the Scottish Highlands and establishes a successful business. Forty years later, their daughter, Genevieve, on a train journey from London back to Scotland to visit her now-widowed father, reflects on her parents' lives, the rise and fall of the electricity shop and her own childhood. Nick Farr sings and plays the part of George, Lucy Patterson is Sidonie and Gabriel Quigley is Genevieve. The Chorus of Townspeople and all other parts are performed by James Bryce, Richard Conlon, Monica Gibb, Dougal Lee, Joanna Tope and Anita Vettesse. The Switch has been written by award-winning novelist Ali Smith. Producer/David Jackson Young BBC Radio 4 Publicity Friday Play – When The Bough Breaks
Friday 19 December
9.00-10.00pm BBC RADIO 4 | | | | |
When The Bough Breaks is a dramatisation based on opera director Julia Hollander's memoir of the same name. The story tells of a dilemma over whether or not to put a badly brain-damaged child up for adoption in order to keep the rest of the family together. This play tells the story of Dan and Clare. Framed by an interview with a bullish radio chat-show host, Clare describes life since baby Katie's traumatic arrival. Through a series of flashbacks, listeners hear Clare and Dan trying their best to feed and comfort a poorly, screaming baby; the awkward, back-footed reactions of visitors, and older sister Annie's increasing anxiety and introversion. The diagnosis finally given is that Katie has severe cerebral palsy; she is doubly incontinent and will never walk or talk. From this moment, the family spirals towards breaking point. And for Dan – now there's no hope that Katie will get better – it's crunch time. In the drive home from the hospital, Dan tells Clare to choose between life with him and Annie, or with Katie. Cast details will be confirmed closer to transmission. Producer/Peter Leslie Wild BBC Radio 4 Publicity | | BBC RADIO 5 LIVE Friday 19 December 2008 | |
5 Live Sport
Friday 19 December
7.00-10.00pm BBC RADIO 5 LIVE | | | | |
Mark Pougatch previews the weekend's sporting action, including the Barclays Premier League games between Hull and Sunderland, Newcastle and Tottenham and Arsenal and Liverpool. From 9pm, the programme takes a look ahead to the rest of the weekend's sport, including rugby union Guinness Premiership matches and the second Test between India and England in Mumbai. Presenter/Mark Pougatch, Producer/TBC BBC Radio 5 Live Publicity | | BBC 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA Friday 19 December 2008 | |
Test Match Special
Friday 19 December
3.50-11.30am BBC 5 LIVE SPORTS EXTRA | | | |  |
The Test Match Special team brings uninterrupted commentary on the opening day's play of the second Test between India and England, live from Mumbai. Producer/Jen McAllister BBC 5 Live Sports Extra Publicity | | BBC 6 MUSIC Friday 19 December 2008 | |
Bruce Dickinson's Rock Show
Friday 19 December
10.00pm-12.00midnight BBC 6 MUSIC | | | | |
Two of metal's biggest stars, Corey Taylor (Slipknot) and Robb Flynn (Machine Head) enter the realms of the Rock Show tonight. Though formed back in '92, Machine Head's latest album confirmed their position as one of the hottest bands around and secured them a whole army of new fans. Meanwhile, Slipknot have just returned with a new album and are now embarking on a massive world tour, supported by Machine Head and Children Of Bodom. Currently on the road together, Corey and Robb take some time out from performing and try their hand at presenting instead. They team up for an hour of the show and select some of their favourite tracks to play. Presenters/Corey Taylor and Robb Flynn, Producer/Ian Callaghan BBC 6 Music Publicity | | BBC ASIAN NETWORK Friday 19 December 2008 | |
Vinnie asks Arun to help with music for the panto rehearsal as Aidan isn't pulling his weight, as the Asian drama continues. Elsewhere, Roopa and Aidan are arguing about his drug-taking again. Later, Roopa puts her foot in it when Aidan tries to make amends. Bina isn't impressed when Vinnie asks Arun to play Aladdin now that Krishan has dropped out. Arun improvises the script and starts rapping. The cast and crew love this alternative style, but what will Vinnie think? Vinnie is played by Saikat Ahamed, Arun by Naithan Ariane, Aidan by Arkie Reece, Roopa by Rakhee Thakrar and Bina by Sana Raja. BBC Asian Network Publicity | | BBC WORLD SERVICE Friday 19 December 2008 | |
Timeline
Friday 19 December
9.05-9.30am BBC WORLD SERVICE | | | | |
George Arney and his guests look at some key moments and events in recent world history in the last of the current series of Timeline, BBC World Service's reflective history programme. In a lively discussion, people who have witnessed key historical events at first hand, together with present-day commentators and analysts, investigate some of the contemporary issues and dilemmas facing the world. Presenter/George Arney, Producer/TBC BBC World Service Publicity | 
