The Silent Musician

Original version

BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Music: Classical: Orchestral

Conductor Ben Gernon unlocks the traditions and sound worlds of our best orchestras.

Conductor Ben Gernon unlocks the traditions and sound worlds of our best orchestras, opening our ears to a fascinating and unusual profession.

When conductor Ben Gernon tells people what he does, he's almost always met with the same response "oh how fascinating... now tell me, what do you actually do?" 

Beneath the surface lies a fascinating and unusual profession. The conductor's job spec includes refining colour, manipulating sound and balance, interpretation and philosophy. They think deeply about music, culture, history and performance practice and they need to inspire 70 or so - sometimes rebellious - musicians. But how does that all come together to create a distinctive performance?

In The Silent Musician, Ben charts a sonically rich and provocative ride through the conducting jungle, opening our ears to the possibilities in performance that different conductors create. He unlocks the traditions and sound worlds of our best orchestras (and their concert halls), and explores what happens to the music making when there is no conductor.

The Silent Musician: An Orchestra's True Colours

An Orchestra's True Colours

BBC Radio 3 - The Silent Musician, An Orchestra's True Colours

Ben Gernon examines the unique musical characteristics of the world’s best orchestras.

Conductor Ben Gernon explores how the different sounds, skills and histories of the world’s best orchestras make each one a unique challenge for the conductor.

Conductor Ben Gernon knows that every orchestra is unique, and his playlist illustrates the different types of magic that each ensemble possesses. In The Silent Musician, Ben explores how conductors work with layers of tradition, teaching, and culture to create their own sounds. 

Produced by Freya Hellier 
An Overcoat Media production

Dvorak: Symphony no 5 F major, Op. 75 B54 IV
Czech Philharmonic, Libor Pešek (conductor)

Debussy: La Mer: III Dialogue du vent et de la mer
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Georg Solti (conductor)

Louise Farrenc: Symphony no 1 in C minor op 32: 3rd movement 
Insula Orchestra, Laurence Equilbey (conductor)

John Williams: Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter 
LA Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel (conductor)

Nina Simone / Arr. Jochen Neuffer: My baby just cares for me
Ledisi, Metropole Orkest, Jules Buckley (conductor)

Johann Strauss II: Tausend und eine Nacht, Op. 346  
Vienna Philharmonic, Carlos Kleiber (conductor)

Poulenc: Gloria 1st and 2nd movements 
Luba Orgonasova (soprano), Concertgebouw Orchestra, Maris Jansons (conductor)

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Act 2- Divertissements: 12b Coffee, Arabian Dance / 12c Tea, Chinese Dance / 12f Mother Gigogne and the Clowns
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor)

Stravinsky: Firebird - Infernal Dance 
Les Siècles, François- Xavier Roth (conductor)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Silent Musician

An Orchestra's True Colours

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3