Category: Radio 3; Factual & Arts TV
Date: 06.09.2006
Printable version
A winter celebration of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, one of the most
popular figures of western classical music, will be broadcast across BBC Television and on BBC Radio 3.
In this most comprehensive season of Tchaikovsky's works ever to be broadcast,
BBC ONE, BBC TWO and BBC FOUR launch the season in January 2007.
The
following month, Radio 3 will clear the schedules for one week (10-16
February 2007) to broadcast Tchaikovsky's complete works alongside those of
another great Russian composer, Igor Stravinsky.
Highlights of television coverage will include Swan Lake from the Mariinsky
Theatre in St Petersburg introduced by Darcey Bussell (BBC ONE), the Royal
Ballet's new production of Sleeping Beauty (BBC TWO) and The Queen of Spades from the Mariinsky Theatre (BBC FOUR).
Both Swan Lake and The Queen of Spades
will be conducted by Valery Gergiev.
Charles Hazlewood will present a two-part
drama-documentary about Tchaikovsky's life and music (BBC TWO) and these programmes will be
followed by Discovering Tchaikovsky (BBC FOUR), in which Charles works with the
BBC Philharmonic on Romeo and Juliet and Symphony No 6, Pathétique.
Adam Kemp, Commissioner, Arts, Performance and Religion, BBC Television, says: "The Tchaikovsky season across BBC Television is a first, both in terms of its
extraordinary scale - 11 originated programmes across three channels - and
its variety.
"BBC ONE, TWO and FOUR celebrate the composer's passionate life and
work, ranging from BBC TWO's biographical documentary series and BBC ONE's
documentary on the magic of Swan Lake, to classic performances of Sleeping
Beauty, Queen of Spades and Swan Lake and ballet master classes and musical
workshops on BBC FOUR.
"This is a rare treat for music fans."
Radio 3 will take an in-depth look at Tchaikovsky's complete works in tandem
with those of his 20th century compatriot, Igor Stravinsky.
The station will
broadcast the entire output of both composers including live performances,
legendary historic recordings and more recent interpretations.
Following their
award-winning cycle of complete Beethoven symphonies, Gianandrea Noseda and the
BBC Philharmonic will give a concert series of Tchaikovsky symphonies.
Musicians who will guide listeners through the works of these Russian composers
include notable exponents of their music such as Pierre Boulez, Valery Gergiev,
Vladimir Ashkenazy and Robert Craft.
Choreographer Matthew Bourne, theatre
director Nicholas Hytner and poet Craig Raine are among the many eclectic voices
sharing their personal reflections upon the enduring appeal of both composers.
They will be joined by familiar Radio 3 presenters for what will be a vibrant
and revealing journey through this immensely varied body of works.
There will be an extensive interactive presence in conjunction with this
Tchaikovky season across the BBC offering a full audio-on-demand service and
ambitious new material.
Roger Wright, Controller, Radio 3, says: "Listeners have responded to BBC
Radio 3's unique Beethoven and Bach seasons with great enthusiasm.
"We hope that
by presenting the complete works of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky alongside each
other, it will enable a more comprehensive exploration of both composers'
outputs, providing both insight and unexpected delights."
Radio 3 Publicity
