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Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali on bringing Nordic landscapes to the concert hall

Tom Service meets the dynamic Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali and talks to neuroscientist Elizabeth Margulis about a new book that explores the science of Musical Daydreams.

Tom Service with guests, stories and the perfect classical soundtrack for the weekend!

Tom meets the dynamic Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali who leads London's Philharmonia Orchestra. Equally at home in Sibelius symphonies, foraging in the wild in his native Finland or bringing heavy metal to the classical music stage - Santtu is one of the world's most exciting musicians. He and Tom talk about his life in music and nature.

Tom also talks to the neuroscientist Elizabeth Margulis about musical daydreams. Elizabeth's new book uses cutting edge research to explore the vivid, and emotionally charged images, stories, and memories we lapse into while listening to music.

And our focus on Creators continues with the flautist and Creative Director of Aurora Orchestra, Jane Mitchell. Aurora's breathtaking 'by heart' concerts - where they perform a great work from memory - are always a highlight of the classical music year. Tom meets Jane at rehearsals for Mozart's Jupiter Symphony 'by heart' to talk about how she goes about creating new ways to present music.

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Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    The Marriage of Figaro: Overture

    Orchestra: Concerto Köln. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cello suite No 6 in D major, BWV 1012 (Sarabande)

    Performer: Abel Selaocoe. Music Arranger: Fred Thomas. Ensemble: Manchester Collective.
    • Bach, JS: Cello Suite No. 6, BWV 1012: IV. Sarabande.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude in D major, Op.23 no.4

    Performer: Alessio Bax.
    • Rachmaninov: Preludes & Melodies: Bax.
    • Signum.
    • 4.

  • Vincent d’Indy

    Clarinet Trio in B flat, Op.29 - 2nd mvt Divertissement

    Performer: Daniel Ottensamer. Performer: Stephan Koncz. Performer: Christoph Traxler.
    • The Clarinet Trio Anthology.
    • Universal Music GmbH.
    • 41.

  • George Gershwin

    Piano Concerto in F - 3rd mvt Allegro agitato

    Performer: Lucas Debargue. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Elim Chan.
    • Piano Concerto in F/III. Allegro agitato.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Galina Grigorjeva

    In paradisum

    Choir: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
    • Meditatio II - Music for Mixed Choir.
    • BIS.
    • 103.

  • Feliks Janiewicz

    Violin Concerto No. 5 in E minor - 3rd mvt

    Performer: Chouchane Siranossian. Orchestra: oh! Orkiestra. Conductor: Martyna Pastuszka.
    • Fryderick Chopin Institute.

  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No.3 in E flat, Op.97 "Rhenish" - 2nd mvt Scherzo

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Robin Ticciati.
    • Schumann: The Symphonies.
    • Linn Records.
    • 10.

  • James Oswald

    The Thistle - II. (Brilliante - Amoroso - Brilliante)

    • Colin's Kisses: the music of James Oswald.
    • Concerto Caledonia.

  • John Adams

    Grand Pianola Music (On the dominant divide)

    Performer: Orli Shaham. Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin. Ensemble: Synergy Vocals. Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • John Adams: Absolute Jest / Grand Pianola Music.
    • San Francisco Symphony.
    • 9.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Guitar Quartet no. 15 in A minor - 2nd mvt Minuet

    Performer: Carlotta Dalia. Ensemble: Goldmund Quartet.
    • Berlin Classics.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Suite from Moscow, Cheryomushki, Op. 105 - a spin through Moscow

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu‐Matias Rouvali.
    • Signum.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104 - 2nd mvt

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu‐Matias Rouvali.
    • Alpha.

  • Richard Strauss

    Alpine Symphony

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu‐Matias Rouvali.
    • Signum.

  • Michael Torke

    Bloom 1: morning

    Conductor: Michael Torke.
    • BLOOM.
    • Ecstatic Records.
    • 1.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in G Minor RV.315 'Summer' (1st mvt)

    Performer: Pekka Kuusisto. Orchestra: Virtuosi di Kuhmo.
    • Ondine.

  • Erik Satie

    Je te veux

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Lyricist: Henry Pacory. Singer: Louise Alder.
    • Chère Nuit.
    • Chandos.
    • 23.

  • Christopher Simpson

    Divisions for Two Viols in G Major, VdGS 28

    Performer: Robert Smith. Performer: Paolo Pandolfo.
    • The Excellency of Hand: English Viola da Gamba Duos.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 1.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    Ma Vlast, JB1:112: II. Vltava

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • Smetana: Ma Vlast.
    • Pentatone.
    • 2.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Carnival of the Animals (Aquarium)

    Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Philips.

  • Ryan Gosling

    Epilogue - La La Land OST

    • Interscope.

  • Richard Wagner

    Prelude to Act 1 of Die Walkure

    Performer: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • BR Klassik.

  • John Harle

    The Interpretation of Dreams

    Singer: Sarah Leonard. Performer: John Harle. Ensemble: Doric String Quartet.
    • Sospiro Noir.

  • Charles Villiers Stanford

    The Blue Bird, Op. 119 No. 3

    Lyricist: Mary Coleridge. Choir: The Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • Wishing Tree.
    • Hyperion.
    • 13.

  • Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie

    Scottish Concerto, Op. 55: III. Allegro vivace

    Performer: Steven Osborne. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Mackenzie & Tovey: Piano Concertos (Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto 19).
    • Hyperion.

  • Claude Debussy

    La plus que lente, CD 128

    Performer: María Dueñas. Performer: Itamar Golan.
    • Debussy: La plus que lente, CD 128 (Arr. Roques for Violin & Piano).
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 1.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Serenade no. 2 in A major Op.16 - 4th mvt 'Quasi Menuetto'

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • DG.

  • Nico Muhly

    Roads and Paths

    • David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller and further away).
    • Bedroom Community.

Broadcast

  • Today 09:00
    BBC Radio 3