The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #173703 Message #4215346
Posted By: Rain Dog
15-Jan-25 - 07:21 AM
Thread Name: BBC Radio This week 2025
Subject: RE: BBC Radio This week 2025
Fifty years after Keith Jarrett performed the Koln Concert to a sellout crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the enduring appeal of the biggest selling solo piano record of all time, and unpicks a new musical language born out of adversity.
That night in January 1975 is full of stories - of Keith Jarrett's long journey, no food, poor sleep and arriving at the Cologne Opera House to find a broken piano. The concert was almost cancelled and the legendary recording beloved by millions nearly never happened. Yet could these problems be at the heart of the album's bewitching new sound world?
Multi Grammy award winner, Jacob Collier, sits at the piano to unpick Jarrett's evocative harmonies that have captured millions of hearts far beyond the jazz world. Writer Geoff Dyer applauds Jarrett's gorgeous lyricism and discusses the momentous achievement of improvising live for over an hour, not knowing what the first note would be. British jazz pianists Nikki Yeoh and Django Bates reflect on Jarrett's influence and tell stories of gigs where limitations lead to magic. And pianist Maki Namekawa, who now performs a transcription of The Koln Concert, shares peoples' stories of why they love to listen in some unique circumstances.
And in testament to the album's blockbuster success, we hear from a few of the many guests who have picked the Koln Concert on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.
Presenter: Kevin le Gendre Producer: Erika Wright Sound Mixing: Richard Courtice Production Coordinator: Elisabeth Tuohy Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar A TellTale Industries production for BBC Radio 4"
Alistair McGowan travels to Dublin to explore the sensational life of his musical hero - the 19th century Irish pianist and composer John Field.
Born in Dublin in 1782, Field was a child prodigy who left Ireland at an early age to become apprentice to the great Italian composer and piano maker Clementi.
Clementi took Field on a tour of Europe and Russia, demonstrating his considerable talents and showcasing Clementi's pianos.
Field was to live in Russia for the rest of his life and Russia welcomed Field with open arms - he became the darling of high society, as well as one of the most celebrated and influential pianists of his day.
His playing and his invention of a new kind of piano piece, the nocturne, were to influence Chopin, Liszt, Schumann and Mendelssohn.
Interviewees include pianists John O'Conor, Finnuala Moynihan, Finghin Collins and architectural historian Finola O'Kane.
Alistair McGowan stars in his own drama about the prodigiously gifted - and prodigiously partying - John Field.
John was the Irish composer and pianist who invented the nocturne.
It's May 1832: John leaves his Moscow home to begin his first - and last - tour of Europe.
He takes with him, the illegitimate teenage son he barely knows.
John Field/Male Nurse ...... Alistair McGowan Leonov ...... Kieran Hodgson Mlle Charpentier/ Countess Shumova ...... Charlotte Page Oleg/ Italian doctor ...... Ewan Bailey Percherette/ Vera ...... Scarlett Brookes Count Shumov/ Highwayman 1 ...... Brian Protheroe Chopin/ Polish Concert Promoter ...... Rafael Ferenc Grace Field ...... Susan Jameson Clementi/ Mister Rikov ...... Sean Baker Highwayman 2/ French Theatre manager ...... Sargon Yelda Madame Rikov/ Mary ...... Adie Allen oncert Promoter ...... Nick Underwood