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A Meteoric Rise

Donald Macleod talks to Thomas Adès about the music that first propelled him to stardom, while still in his twenties, the composer’s first opera, Powder Her Face.

Donald Macleod talks to Thomas Adès about the music that first propelled him to stardom, while still in his twenties - the composer’s first opera, Powder Her Face.

They also discuss Adès's early years and the influence of his parents on his his creative path, and Thomas recalls the emotional impact of his very first encounter with opera in the music of Bizet’s Carmen.

Hotel Suite from Powder Her Face (Overture)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Collon, conductor

Gefriolsae Me, Op 3B
Choir of King’s College Cambridge
Robert Quinney, organ
Stephen Cleobury, director

Arcadiana (excerpt)
Calder Quartet

Chamber Symphony
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Thomas Adès, conductor

…but all shall be well
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Adès, conductor

Powder Her Face (Act 1, excerpt)
Valdine Anderson (Waitress), soprano
Almeida Ensemble
Thomas Adès, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock

26 days left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Monday16:00

Music Played

  • Thomas Adès

    Hotel Suite from Powder Her Face (Overture)

    Conductor: Nicholas Collon. Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • ONDINE : ODE-14112.
    • ONDINE.
    • 1.
  • Thomas Adès

    Gefriolsae Me, Op.3b

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • EMI : 5 72-271-2.
    • EMI.
    • 24.
  • Thomas Adès

    Arcadiana (5th & 6th mvts)

    Performer: Calder Quartet.
    • The Twenty-Fifth Hour: Chamber Music of Thomas Adès.
    • Signum.
    • 12.
  • Thomas Adès

    Chamber Symphony

    Orchestra: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Conductor: Thomas Adès.
    • WARNER : 0885602.
    • WARNER.
    • 1.
  • Thomas Adès

    ...but all shall be well

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Adès.
    • WARNER : 9029676251.
    • WARNER.
    • 2.
  • Thomas Adès

    Powder Her Face, Act 1, Sc 3: Fancy Aria & Interlude

    Ensemble: Almeida Ensemble. Conductor: Thomas Adès. Singer: Valdine Anderson.
    • EMI : 5-56649 2.
    • EMI.
    • 10.

Broadcast

  • Monday16:00

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