Classic Arts

Michael Berkeley's guest on Sunday 29/11/2009 was Bill Bailey

Today Michael Berkeley meets the stand-up comedian, musician and actor Bill Bailey, star of the Channel 4 sitcom `Black Books’, as well as TV shows such as `Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ and `QI’, who is currently touring his latest show, `Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra’. A talented musician, who plays several different instruments including keyboards, guitar and clarinet, Bill’s amusing and highly idiosyncratic introductions to orchestral instruments and deconstructions of musical genres from classical to TV themes and jazz have delighted audiences around the country.

The music played was:

1: Intermezzo (from Karelia Suite, Op.11) by Sibelius

Gothenburg SO/Neeme Järvi

CD/Record number:Bis CD 610

2: Praise ye the god of gold (from Belshazzar’s Feast) by Walton

Donald Bell (baritone), Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra/William Walton

CD/Record number:EMI 5650041

3: Piano Concerto in D, K.537 – Coronation (opening of 1st mvt - Allegro) by Mozart

Clifford Curzon (piano), LSO/István Kertész

CD/Record number:Decca 4684912

4: Arabesque No.1 by Debussy

Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

CD/Record number:Decca 4520222

5: Dies Irae (from Requiem, K.626) by Mozart

Swedish Radio Choir, Berlin PO/Claudio Abbado

CD/Record number:DG 4631812

6: Piano Sonata in C minor, Op.10/1 (1st mvt – Allegro molto e con brio) by Beethoven

Alfred Brendel (piano)

CD/Record number:Philips 4469092

7: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16 (opening of 1st mvt – Allegro molto moderato) by Grieg

Stephen Kovacevich (piano), BBC SO/Colin Davis

CD/Record number:Philips 4129232

8: Prelude and Fugue in B flat, BWV 866 (from The Well-tempered Clavier, Book I) by Bach

András Schiff (piano)

CD/Record number:Decca 4143882