Michael Berkeley presents an evening of recordings from the BBC Archives, extracts from new biographies of Britten and Peter Pears, and, in Night Waves, a discussion on the art of the biographer, in anticipation of the publication next week of Humphrey Carpenter's biography of Britten.
7.35pm English Song
Peter Pears (tenor)
Benjamin Britten (piano)
The last public recital Pears and Britten gave together, recorded by the BBC at Snape Maltings 20 years ago today during the inaugural Masterclass course of the Britten-Pears School.
Purcell: A Morning Hymn; I attempt from love's sickness to fly; The Knotting Song
Haydn: She never told her love; Sailor's Song
Ireland: The Land of Lost Content; The Trellis
8.10 Richard Pasco reads from Christopher Headington's authorised biography of Peter Pears.
8.15
Britten: Winter Words
Grainger: Bold William Taylor; Six Dukes went a-fishin' arr Britten
The Miller of Dee; The Foggy Foggy Dew; The Plough Boy
9.00 Richard Pasco reads from Humphrey Carpenter's new biography of Benjamin Britten.
9.10pm Britten and the ECO
A concert from the BBC Archives reflecting Britten's long association with the English Chamber Orchestra, ensemble-in-residence at the Aldeburgh Festival during Britten's lifetime, here recorded at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, in 1964.
Peter Pears (tenor)
English Chamber Orchestra
Benjamin Britten
Purcell, arr Britten: Cliacony in G minor
Mozart: Per pieta, non ricercate (K 420); Symphony No 40 in G minor (K 550)
10.00 Richard Pasco reads from Humphrey Carpenter 's biography of Britten.
10.10
Britten: Nocturne, Op 60
10.45pm Night Waves
Tony Palmer explores the issues surrounding the booming biography industry in conversation with recent practitioners: Humphrey Carpenter (Benjamin Britten); Victoria Glendinning (Trollope); Hugh David (a 'portrait' of Stephen Spender) and Ian Hamilton (J.D. Salinger).
Producer Nigel Acheson
11.30pm Winterreise
Peter Pears (tenor), Benjamin Britten (piano)
A performance of Schubert's great song-cycle, recorded for the BBC in March 1962, introduced by Peter Pears.
Evening devised and produced by John Evans
12.55am News
