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Composer of the Week

Andre Previn (1929-)

Episode 3: LSO Maestro, Mr Mia Farrow

Duration: 1 hour

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 3Latest broadcast: on BBC Radio 3

Donald Macleod talks exclusively to André Previn about his stratospheric rise to the post of Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra - and his life in the idyllic Dorset countryside with his third wife, actress Mia Farrow.

André Previn is one of our most iconic musical celebrities - a world-renowned conductor, a multi-award-winning jazz and classical pianist, and a household name to millions after his appearance as Morecambe and Wise's guest "Andrew Preview". With five former marriages, including to actress Mia Farrow and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, Previn's never been far from the arts - and the gossip - pages of the newspapers. And yet, his formidable talents as a composer have often been overlooked. This week, Donald Macleod explores André Previn's career as a movie, jazz and classical composer, exclusively in conversation Previn himself as they explore his remarkable musical life.

In the early 1960s, André Previn was one of the most celebrated movie composers in the world. And then he walked away from Hollywood forever - to take up a post as the young, charismatic Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. At this time he would also meet - and marry - one of the most famous women in the world: actress Mia Farrow. Previn talks to Donald Macleod about their marriage and life in the idyllic Dorset countryside, as well as his experiences directing the LSO. As well as a selection of his concert works from this time, we'll also hear from one of Previn's most famous recordings with the LSO - the complete Vaughan Williams symphony cycle. We end with one of this week's musical highlights, and perhaps Previn's greatest compositional achievement: the song cycle "Honey and Rue", to words by Toni Morrison, in which Previn draws on his love of jazz, popular and classical music. Show less

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