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The Apprentice Conductor

Music Matters Arranging the Air

Martin Handley continues his four-part series aiming to demystify the role of the conductor. Today, he finds out how young conductors learn the trade and how they learn a score.

Martin Handley continues his four-part series attempting to demystify the role of the conductor - an activity that the late, great Bernard Haitink described as "arranging the air".

In this second episode, with the help of conductors Mark Wigglesworth, Sofi Jeannin, Jakub Hrusa, Dalia Stasevska, Harry Christophers, Trevor Pinnock, and the indomitable 99-year old Herbert Blomstedt, Martin investigates how one learns to become a conductor - including a visit to one of Professor Sian Edwards' conducting classes at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Martin also asks how conductors actually get to grips with a musical score, including Dalia Stasevska's approach to the world premiere of Josephine Stephenson's new work "That the sunrise not leave us unmoved" for this year's First Night of the Proms. And he also discovers some of the pitfalls conductors encounter early in their careers.

Including top recordings of music by Johannes Brahms, Igor Stravinsky, Jean Sibelius, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Dmitri Shostakovich, Josephine Stephenson, Bohuslav Martinu and Franz Schubert.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask 麻豆社 Sounds to play Music Matters".

20 days left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Sep 2026 15:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johannes Brahms

    Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen [Ein Deutches Requiem]

    Choir: San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.
    • Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (Wolfgang Holzmair 鈥� The Philips Recitals, Vol. 13.
    • Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd..
    • 4.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rite of Spring: The Sacrifice (excerpt)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Igor Markevitch.
    • Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring.
    • Sunday Club Records.
    • 2.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Karelia Suite, Op.11 (Intermezzo)

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leif Segerstam.
    • Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Karelia Suite & Belshazzar's Feast.
    • Ondine.
    • 4.

  • Tom谩s Luis de Victoria

    Super flumina Babylonis

    Conductor: Harry Christophers. Choir: The Sixteen.
    • The Flowering of Genius.
    • Coro.
    • 7.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No.10 in E minor, Op.93 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Mark Wigglesworth. Orchestra: 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales.
    • BIS.

  • Josephine Stephenson

    That the sunrise not leave us unmoved

    Choir: 麻豆社 Singers. Choir: 麻豆社 Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.

  • Bohuslav Martin暖

    Symphony No.2 (3rd mvt: Poco allegro)

    Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jakub Hr暖拧a.
    • Martin暖: The Symphonies.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 7.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No.4 in C minor, D.417 "Tragic" (3rd mvt: Menuetto)

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS.

Broadcast

  • Sun 13 Sep 2026 15:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Music Matters

    The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters