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Richard Stokes

Michael Berkeley's guest is Richard Stokes, one of the world's leading authorities on German art songs or lieder. He has also translated many songs and operas.

Richard Stokes has been passionate about song since he was a teenager ā€“ although, as he readily admits, heā€™s not a great singer. Instead, heā€™s become one of the worldā€™s leading authorities on German art songs ā€“ or lieder ā€“ and has also co-written books on English, French and Spanish songs.

His work as a translator includes the complete Bach cantatas and the complete songs of Hugo Wolf, as well as operas by Wagner and Berg. He also collaborated with the pianist Alfred Brendel on translations of his poetry. Since 2006 heā€™s coached young singers at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where heā€™s Professor of Lieder.

His choices include music by Bach, Mahler and Stravinsky.

Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Graham Rogers

12 days left to listen

1 hour, 26 minutes

Last on

Sun 8 Feb 202612:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    What is life? (Orfeo ed Euridice)

    Singer: Kathleen Ferrier. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Sargent.
    • The World of Kathleen Ferrier.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 9.

  • Franz Schubert

    Der Neugierige (Die schƶne MĆ¼llerin)

    Performer: Gerald Moore. Singer: Dietrich Fischerā€Dieskau.
    • Schubert: Die schƶne MĆ¼llerin, D. 795.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 7.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Petrushka, Part 1

    Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Ernest Ansermet.
    • Decca.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet In B flat, Op. 130 (Cavatina)

    Ensemble: Amadeus Quartet.
    • Beethoven: The Last String Quartets.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 25.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata in A, D959 (2nd mvt: Andantino)

    Performer: Alfred Brendel.
    • Schubert: Piano Sonata in A, D.959/No.20; Hungarian Melody; 16 German Dances etc.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 2.

  • Ilse Weber

    Ich wandre durch Theresienstadt

    Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Performer: Bengt Forsberg. Performer: Bebe Risenfors.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Alban Berg

    Wozzeck (Act 3, Sc 2)

    Singer: Evelyn Lear. Singer: Dietrich Fischerā€Dieskau. Orchestra: Orchestra of the German Opera, Berlin. Conductor: Karl Bohm.
    • Berg: Lulu & Wozzeck.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 2 in C minor (4th mvt)

    Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Benjamin Zander.
    • Linn.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sinfonia (Cantata No 29, 'Wir danken dir Gott, wir danken dir')

    Performer: Herman Stinders. Choir: Collegium Vocale Gent. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Carl Loewe

    An meinem Herzen, an meiner Brust (Frauenliebe)

    Performer: Cord Garben. Singer: Brigitte Fassbaender.
    • Loewe: Lieder (Selection); Frauenliebe, Op. 60.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 22.

Broadcast

  • Sun 8 Feb 202612:00
    BBC Radio 3

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