Charles Mackerras at 100
Mark Forrest with a selection of exclusive recordings as Radio 3 marks the centenary of conductor Charles Mackerras, plus the Meta4 string quartet live from Wigmore Hall.
Mark Forrest continues Radio 3’s day-long focus on the extraordinary musical legacy of Australian conductor Charles Mackerras, who was born 100 years ago today.
From what would be his final season performing at the Âé¶¹Éç Proms in 2009, we hear Mackerras conducting the Âé¶¹Éç Philharmonic Orchestra in Elgar’s Cockaigne Overture and Holst’s The Planets. Plus there’s music from a tribute concert to the great conductor (and Czech music champion) given by the Âé¶¹Éç Concert Orchestra in Brno.
And as ever, the week begins with a live concert from London’s Wigmore Hall given by Meta4, the Finnish string quartet and former Radio 3 New Generation Artists. They perform quartets by Robert Schumann and Sally Beamish.
1pm
Live from Wigmore Hall, London. Presented by Andrew McGregor.
Robert Schumann
String Quartet in A minor, Op. 41 No. 1
Sally Beamish
String Quartet No. 4, ‘Nine Fragments’
Meta4 (string quartet)
2pm
Edward Elgar
Cockaigne (In London Town) - Overture
Âé¶¹Éç Philharmonic Orchestra
Charles Mackerras (conductor)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat, Op. 27 No .1
Hisako Kawamura (piano)
Gustav Holst
The Planets
Âé¶¹Éç Philharmonic Orchestra
Charles Mackerras (conductor)
William Walton
Portsmouth Point Overture
Âé¶¹Éç Concert Orchestra
Anna-Maria Helsing (conductor)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask Âé¶¹Éç Sounds to play Classical Live".
Last on
More episodes
Music Played
-
Robert Schumann
String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 41 No. 1
Ensemble: Meta4. -
Sally Beamish
Nine Fragments - String Quartet No. 4
Ensemble: Meta4. -
Edward Elgar
Cockaigne (In London Town) - Overture
Orchestra: Âé¶¹Éç Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras. -
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No.13 in E flat, Op.27 No.1
Performer: Hisako Kawamura. -
Antonio Vivaldi
Violin Concerto in D, RV 234 ('L'Inquietudine')
Performer: Elisa Citterio. Ensemble: Zefiro Ensemble. Director: Elisa Citterio. -
Gustav Holst
The Planets
Orchestra: Âé¶¹Éç Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: Âé¶¹Éç Singers. Conductor: Charles Mackerras. -
Georg Philipp Telemann
Trio Sonata TWV 42:a4
Ensemble: Forma Antiqva. -
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Linden Lea
Performer: Simon Lepper. Singer: James Atkinson. -
William Walton
Portsmouth Point - Overture
Orchestra: Âé¶¹Éç Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Anna-Maria Helsing.
Broadcast
- Mon 17 Nov 2025 13:00Âé¶¹Éç Radio 3