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Historian Bettany Hughes explores ancient worlds, through the sounds of antiquity and the influence that they have had on composers across time. Includes Beethoven and Handel.

As part of the BBC 2 and BBC Radio 3's Story of Music series, four prominent historians choose musical narratives inspired by different historical periods. From the myths of Ancient Greece and Egypt to scenes from the Bible, Ancient Worlds have caught the imagination of artists, musicians and poets throughout the ages. Historian Bettany Hughes explores these Ancient Worlds through the sounds of antiquity and the influence that they have had on composers across time. Including works by Beethoven, Debussy and Handel alongside recreations of Greek and Roman music.

2 hours

Last on

Sat 9 Feb 2013 15:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Coriolan - overture Op.62

    Conductor: Riccardo Chailly Performer: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

    • DECCA 4783492.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Phaeton - symphonic poem Op.39

    Conductor: Charles Dutoit Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra

    • LONDON 414 460-2.

  • John Blow

    JOHN BLOW: Sappho to the Goddess of Love

    Performer: Anthony Rooley Performer: Emma Kirkby

    • BIS CD173435.

  • Unknown

    "Mona" (Lyrics by Sappho) - reconstruction of Ancient Greek music

    Performer: Arianna Savall Performer: Conrad Steinmann Performer: Ensemble Melpomen

    • Harmonia Mundi HMC905263.

  • Esa‐Pekka Salonen

    5 Images after Sappho for soprano and ensemble - no.2; Without warning

    Conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen Performer: Dawn Upshaw Performer: London Sinfonietta

    • Sony Classical SK89158.

  • Claude Debussy

    6 Epigraphes antiques - no.5; Pour l'egyptienne

    Performer: Noriko Ogawa

    • BIS CD195556.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Egyptian nights - suite Op.61 - Night in Egypt; The Fall of Cleopatra; Roma militaris

    Conductor: Valery Polyansky Performer: Russian State Symphony Orchestra

    • Chandos CHAN10056.

  • Claude Debussy

    Khamma - legende dansee, orch. Debussy & Koechlin

    Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier Performer: Ulster Orchestra

    • Chandos Chan8903.

  • Unknown

    Isis

    Performer: Synaulia

    • Amiata Records ARNR 0302.

  • Karol Szymanowski

    Penthesilea Op.18 for soprano and orchestra

    Conductor: Antoni Wit Performer: Iwona Hossa Performer: Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Naxos.
    • 8570724.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in patria - opera in a prologue and 3 acts - Act 2; Sinfonia

    Conductor: Rene Jacobs Performer: Concerto Vocale

    • Harmonia Mundi HMC90142729.

  • Jacques Offenbach

    La Belle Helene - operetta in 3 acts - Finale

    Conductor: Michel Plasson Performer: Choir and Orchestra of the Capitole de Toulouse Performer: Jessye Norman

    • EMI CDS7471578.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Saul - oratorio in 3 acts - Lord, whose mercies numberless; Symphony

    Performer: Andreas Scholl Performer: Paul Mccreesh Performer: Gabrieli Consort

    • ARCHIVE ARCHIV-4745102.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Flos campi - suite for viola, small chorus and orchestra - movements I and II

    Performer: Northern Sinfonia Performer: Richard Hickox Orchestra

    • CHANDOS CHAN-9392.

  • Unknown

    Byzantine Kondakion (Canticle) "L'Ordre Mysterieux" from Akathistos Hymn

    Performer: Lycourgos Angelopoulos Performer: Greek Byzantine Choir

    • Playasound PS651189.

  • Guillaume Dufay

    O tres piteulx/Omnes amici - motet (Lamentatio sanctae matris ecclesiae Constantinopolitan

    Conductor: David Munrow Performer: Early Music Consort of London

    • Virgin Veritas VED5612842.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Zoroastre - tragedie en musique - Overture

    Performer: Christophe Rousset Performer: Les Talens Lyriques

    • Oiseua Lyre 4552932.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Coriolan - overture Op.62

    Conductor: Riccardo Chailly. Performer: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig.
    • DECCA : 4783492.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Phaeton - Symphonic poem Op.39

  • John Blow, Anonymous & Esa-Pekka Salonen

    Sappho to the Goddess of Love; "Mona" (Lyrics by Sappho); Without warning

  • Claude Debussy

    6 Epigraphes antiques - no.5; Pour l'egyptienne

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Egyptian nights Op.61 - Night in Egypt; The Fall of Cleopatra; Roma militaris

  • Claude Debussy

    Khamma - legende dansee, orch. Debussy & Koechlin

  • Unknown

    Isis

  • Karol Szymanowski

    Penthesilea Op.18 for soprano and orchestra

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in patria - opera in a prologue and 3 acts - Act 2; Sinfonia

  • Jacques Offenbach

    La Belle Helene - operetta in 3 acts - Finale

  • George Frideric Handel

    Saul - oratorio in 3 acts - Lord, whose mercies numberless; Symphony

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Flos campi - suite for viola, small chorus and orchestra - movements I and II

  • Unknown

    Byzantine Kondakion (Canticle) "L'Ordre Mysterieux" from Akathistos Hymn

  • Guillaume Dufay

    Lamentatio sanctae matris ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae) for 4 voices

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Zoroastre - tragedie en musique - Overture

Broadcast

  • Sat 9 Feb 2013 15:00
    BBC Radio 3

Podcast

  • Saturday Classics

    A view of classical music from a range of presenters; themed series and one-off programmes