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Ian McEwan with the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Ian McEwan reads from his works, including Enduring Love, Saturday, Atonement, and The Child in Time, alongside music played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Adam Hickox.

Ian McEwan is one of the most admired storytellers of our time – an author whose novels lay bare the passions and the contradictions of modern Britain, exploring universal truths about relationships, society and the infinite complexity of the human condition. In this very special event, the author of Atonement, Chesil Beach and Enduring Love joins the BBC Symphony Orchestra to read from his own works, with music curated around his readings, and a special guest appearance by jazz singer Emma Smith.

Enjoy the full concert as recorded at the Barbican Hall, London on Friday March 31st 2023. A shortened version was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 8 April.

Grażyna Bacewicz: overture
Arvo Pärt: Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten
Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op 71 (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy)
Thelonious Monk: Round Midnight*
Mieczysław Weinberg: Aria
Philip Glass: Interlude to Act 1 Sc2 from The Voyage
Angela Morley: Final Struggle and Triumph (from music for the film Watership Down)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No 1 in C major fourth movement

Ian McEwan (Host and reader)
Emma Smith (Vocal Soloist)*
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Adam Hickox (conductor)

[Please note that some of the readings in this concert include themes of an adult nature and strong language.]

1 hour, 44 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 May 2023 19:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Grażyna Bacewicz

    Overture For Orchestra

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Arvo Pärt

    Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Prelude from the Holberg Suite

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Nutcracker (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Thelonious Monk

    'Round Midnight

    Music Arranger: Simon Nathan. Singer: Emma Smith. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Mieczyslaw Weinberg

    Aria Op.9

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Philip Glass

    Mechanical Ballet (from The Voyage)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Angela Morley

    Final Struggle and Triumph (from Watership Down)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No.1 in C Op.21 - Finale

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Hickox.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Bagatelle in E flat major, Op 33 No 1

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Beethoven: Bagatelles: Steven Osborne.
    • Hyperion.

Broadcast

  • Sun 14 May 2023 19:30
    BBC Radio 3