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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



hour 1

  • Carl Nielsen
    Second movement from Symphony No. 2
    The Swedish Radio Symphony with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen
  • Anonymous
    "Hors Oires une Chanson"
    Piffaro
    Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
  • Johannes de Stockem
    "Brunette"
    Piffaro
    Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Symphony No. 5 in D
    The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra with conductor Daniel Harding
    Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Sweden

hour 2

  • Niccolo Paganini
    Sonata No. 4 in A Minor for Violin and Guitar
    Violinist Gil Shaham and guitarist Goran Sollscher
  • Fritz Kreisler
    "Syncopation"
    Violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou and pianist Elaine Hou
    Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Florida
  • Gabriel Faure
    "Clair de Lune"
    Violinist Gil Shaham and pianist Orli Shaham
    Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia
  • Antonio Vivaldi
    Largo from "Winter," from "The Four Seasons"
    Violinist and conductor Ingrid Matthews with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra
    Benaroya Hall, Seattle
  • Bruce Adolphe
    "Wannamaker," from "Let Freedom Sing"
    Mezzo-soprano Brandy Lynn Hawkins and pianist Bruce Adolphe
  • Johannes Brahms
    "Von Ewiger Liebe"
    Contralto Marian Anderson with the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Eugene Ormandy
  • 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
  • Robert Schumann
    Posthumous Variation No. 5 from Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13
    Pianist Stephen Hough
    Old Opera, Frankfurt, Germany
Program Archive



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