March 19, 2009
Optimism in time of war
The 1943 premiere of Ralph Vaughan Williams' fifth symphony had to be held in the afternoon, because German bombs often fell at night. The symphony represents the search for tranquility, peace, and happiness. It was an immediate favorite at its premiere, and has been ever since. On today's show, we'll hear a performance of the fifth symphony by the Swedish Radio Symphony and conductor Daniel Harding.
Today's Playlist
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Carl Nielsen
Second movement from Symphony No. 2
The Swedish Radio Symphony with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen
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Anonymous
"Hors Oires une Chanson"
Piffaro
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
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Johannes de Stockem
"Brunette"
Piffaro
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
Symphony No. 5 in D
The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra with conductor Daniel Harding
Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Sweden
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Niccolo Paganini
Sonata No. 4 in A Minor for Violin and Guitar
Violinist Gil Shaham and guitarist Goran Sollscher
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Fritz Kreisler
"Syncopation"
Violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou and pianist Elaine Hou
Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Florida
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Gabriel Faure
"Clair de Lune"
Violinist Gil Shaham and pianist Orli Shaham
Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia
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Antonio Vivaldi
Largo from "Winter," from "The Four Seasons"
Violinist and conductor Ingrid Matthews with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra
Benaroya Hall, Seattle
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Bruce Adolphe
"Wannamaker," from "Let Freedom Sing"
Mezzo-soprano Brandy Lynn Hawkins and pianist Bruce Adolphe
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Johannes Brahms
"Von Ewiger Liebe"
Contralto Marian Anderson with the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Eugene Ormandy
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Felix Mendelssohn
Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25
Pianist Stephen Hough with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Hugh Wolff
Old Opera, Frankfurt, Germany
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Robert Schumann
Posthumous Variation No. 5 from Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13
Pianist Stephen Hough
Old Opera, Frankfurt, Germany