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Press rewind on a century of the BBC with an epic eight-hour soundscape: seismic events, cultural landmarks, unforgettable voices and BBC history intertwined with classical music.

The 1990s. New Labour and Cool Britannia become buzzwords and Pavarotti and Górecki take the pop charts by storm. The United Kingdom loses a beloved princess, while South Africa gains a new president. There's hope in Northern Ireland on Good Friday, but horror in Kosovo. The UK hears new music by Adès, Birtwistle causes a rumpus at the BBC Proms and every Sunday night the country stops to spend time with Mr Darcy on the BBC.

For more information about what you’re hearing, visit bbc.co.uk/soundscapeofacentury

Archive:

1997 BBC news election results
1998 BBC news item on Brit Pop "https://bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01wvk3s
1999 Close Up: Mad Tracey From Margate (BBC) - Tracy Emin interview
1998 BBC Newsnight – Kirsty Wark on Kosovo
1997 BBC radio announcement of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
1997 BBC news report on Mother
1997 Tony Blair press call
1990 Statement from BBC news on Nelson Mandela’s release; interview with Desmond Tutu
1994 BBC news Nelson Mandela sworn in as President
1997 Blue Peter – interview with JK Rowling
1995 Points of View – Ann Robinson on complaints from BBC Proms
1992 Ghostwatch (BBC – Screen One)
1992 Points of View item on Ghostwatch
1995 Pride and Prejudice (BBC)
1990 BBC news report – unification of Germany
1998 BBC news / BBC NI reports on Good Friday agreement
1990 Grandstand introduction by Des Lynam
1990 BBC news item Bobby Charlton presents Pavarotti with a platinum disc

43 minutes

Last on

Sun 30 Oct 2022 16:21
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Dumisani Maraire

    Mai Nozipo [Mother Nozipo]

    Ensemble: Kronos Quartet.
    • Released 1985-1995 / Unreleased.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 1.

  • Michael Torke

    Javelin

    Orchestra: Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.
    • Summon the heros: Boston Pops Orchestra/Williams.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Anon.

    Procedentem sponsum

    Performer: Jan Garbarek. Ensemble: The Hilliard Ensemble.
    • ECM NEW SERIES.

  • Thomas Adès

    Arcadiana (O Albion)

    Ensemble: Danish String Quartet.
    • ECM New Series.

  • John Tavener

    Song for Athene

    Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: Martin Neary.
    • John Tavener: Innocence: Westminster Abbey Choir/English Chamber Orch/Neary.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 8.

  • Trad.

    Shosholoza

    Ensemble: Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
    • Wrasse Records.

  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony no.3 in C minor (2nd mvt)

    Composer: Anthony Payne. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • LSO Live.

  • James McMillan

    Veni Veni Emmanuel

    Performer: Colin Currie. Conductor: James McMillan. Orchestra: Radio Kamer Filharmonie.
    • CHALLENGE CLASSICS.

  • Meredith Monk

    Dawn (Book of Days, album version)

    Singer: Johanna Arnold. Singer: Joan Barber. Singer: Andrea Goodman. Singer: Naaz Hosseini. Singer: Meredith Monk. Singer: Robert Een. Singer: John Eppler. Singer: Ching Gonzalez. Singer: Nicky Paraiso. Singer: Timothy Sawyer. Performer: Nurit Tilles.
    • Book of Days.
    • ECM.
    • 3.

  • Melvyn Tan

    Main Theme for Pride and Prejudice

    • Carl Davis.

  • Henryk Mikołaj Górecki

    Symphony No 3, Op 36 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs' (2nd mvt)

    Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Orchestra: London Sinfonietta. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • Gorecki: Symphony No. 3: Dawn Upshaw.
    • Elektra Nonesuch.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Turandot - Nessun Dorma

    Performer: Luciano Pavarotti. Choir: The John Alldis Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Zubin Mehta.
    • Decca.

Broadcast

  • Sun 30 Oct 2022 16:21
    BBC Radio 3