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Clive Myrie talks with people of colour about their experiences of being classical musicians. How were they first attracted to classical music and how did their careers begin?

Clive Myrie is talking with people of colour about their experiences of being classical musicians. He’s interviewed a range of people and of course they have a range of experiences. He’s been saddened and shocked by some of their stories but also heartened and inspired by some of the thoughts they’ve shared.

In this first programme, he talks with musicians of colour about how they were attracted to classical music, which was often not part of their heritage and how they got into their chosen career. The musicians are Willard White, Danielle de Niese, Reginald Mobley, Linton Stephens and Leon Bosch.

The programme includes music by Wagner, J S Bach, Handel, Bottesini, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Stewart Goodyear and Gershwin.

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Must Try Softer Production

28 days left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Yesterday15:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Richard Wagner

    The Flying Dutchman: Overture

    Orchestra: Berlin Staatskapelle. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.

  • Richard Wagner

    Geliebter, Komm! Sieh dort die Grotte! (Tannhauser)

    Singer: Grace Bumbry. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto no.6 (3rd mvt: Allegro)

    Orchestra: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Mio crudel martoro (Ariodante)

    Singer: Danielle de Niese. Orchestra: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: William Christie.

  • Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou

    Mother's Love

    Performer: Maria Thompson Corley.

  • Giovanni Bottesini

    Quintet in C minor, Op.99 (4th mvt: Allegro con brio)

    Performer: Leon Bosch. Ensemble: I Musicanti.

  • Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson

    Sinfonietta No. 2 (Generations)(2nd mvt: Alla sarabande)

    Ensemble: Sphinx Virtuosi.

  • Stewart Goodyear

    Callaloo - Caribbean suite

    Performer: Wayne Marshall. Orchestra: Chineke! Orchestra.

  • George Gershwin

    Bess, you is my woman now (Porgy and Bess)

    Singer: Sir Willard White. Singer: Cynthia Haymon. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday15:00
    BBC Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Music Matters

    The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters