George Benjamin (b 1960)

Donald Macleod is joined by Sir George Benjamin to discuss his musical influences

Composer of the Week marks the sixtieth birthday of the celebrated British composer Sir George Benjamin. This week, Benjamin joins Donald Macleod in the studio to provide listeners with personal insights into his music and distinguished career. They discuss the composer's musical connections, his inspirations, his interest in collaboration, the compositional process, and his work as a pianist, conductor and teacher.

Music Featured:

Viola, Viola Piano Sonata (Vivace) Palimpsests Written on Skin (XIV & XV The Protector of Agnès & The Boy / Angel 1) Panorama Tape A Mind of Winter Dance Figures Dream of the Song Piano Figures At First Light Written on Skin (VIII The Protector of Agnès) Upon Silence Ringed by the Flat Horizon Into the Little Hill (Scene VI & VII) Lessons in Love and Violence (Sc.3 Please everyone be seated) Sometime Voices Three Inventions for Chamber Orchestra Shadowlines Lessons in Love and Violence (Sc.1 Not when you grip my neck) Duet for Piano and Orchestra

Presented by Donald Mcleod Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales

Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for George Benjamin https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q36p

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z