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Fear and Terror in the 18th Century

Hannah French and Dr Clive McClelland explore how 18th-century composers frightened their audiences, with scary music by Gluck, Cavalli, Rameau, Marais, Purcell, Locke and Haydn.

It’s that time of year isn’t it? Spooks and surprises lurking round every corner...In today’s Early Music Show, Hannah French is joined by Dr Clive McClelland of the University of Leeds to explore how 17th & 18th Century composers really frightened their audiences.

Hide behind the sofa and cover your eyes with a cushion to protect yourself from scary music by Gluck, Handel, Cavalli, Rameau, Marais, Purcell, Locke, Haydn and Mozart.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 31 Oct 2021 14:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Andante Staccato & Larghetto [Don Juan]

    Orchestra: Tafelmusik. Conductor: Bruno Weil.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Francesco Cavalli

    Dell'antro magico [Giasone]

    Ensemble: Cappella Mediterranea. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón.
    • RICERCAR.

  • Matthew Locke

    Curtain Tune [The Tempest]

    Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Director: Jordi Savall.
    • ALIA VOX.

  • Henry Purcell

    In guilty night [Saul and the Witch of Endor]

    Singer: Jennifer Smith. Singer: Paul Agnew. Singer: David Thomas. Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Marin Marais

    Tempête / Ciel! Ô Ciel, quel affreux Orage! [Alcyone]

    Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Director: Jordi Savall.
    • ALIA VOX.

  • George Frideric Handel

    He sent a thick darkness [Israel in Egypt]

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Les vents [Les Boréades]

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Conductor: Frans Brüggen.
    • Phillips.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Overture: L'Isola disabitata

    Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Bernhard Forck.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Interlude [Thamos, König in Ägypten]

    Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • ARCHIV.

Broadcast

  • Sun 31 Oct 2021 14:30
    BBC Radio 3

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