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Contents

AUGUST 2024

August Radio 3

highlights

See p92

FEATURES 24 Cover: The Sixteen

The world-renowned choir is in great spirits at 45 years old, conductor Harry Christophers tells Andrew Stewart 34 Golden years For ageing musicians, added experience can of ten make

up for declining physical prowess, f inds Ariane Todes 38 Symphonies by the sea Andrew Green unfolds his deckchair as he investigates

the erstwhile phenomenon of British seaside orchestras 42 Harmonic progression Big, brash and of ten over-the-top: Prog Rock, classical

music’s pop cousin, is introduced by Meurig Bowen 46 Dicovering Donizetti Alexandra Wilson tells how devoted detective work

has uncovered a wealth of songs by the great Italian

EVERY MONTH 8 Letters 12 The Full Score

The latest news and interviews from the music world 23 Richard Morrison 30 The BBC Music Magazine Interview

Italian pianist Federico Colli talks to Michael Church 52 Musical Destinations

To m S t e w a r t enjoys buttery potatoes in Västra Karup, Sweden, home of legendary soprano Birgit Nilsson 54 Composer of the Month

Brought up in a church tower, Martinů’s long-range views would go on to shape his music, says Ste ve Wr ight 58 Building a Library

Rebecca Franks on Philip Glass’s Piano Etudes, works that do a lot more than their dry name might suggest 92 Radio & TV 96 Crossword and Quiz 98 Music that Changed Me

Actor and spaceman William Shatner

, G E T T Y, S A R A H F E R R A R A

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PA G E

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I L L A R

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C O V E R

24 The Sixteen

Subscriptions £64.87 (UK); £65 (Europe); £74 (Rest of World) ABC Reg No. 3122 EDITORIAL Plus our favourite Prog Rock song or album (see p42) Editor Charlotte Smith Pink Floyd’s ‘Dogs’ Deputy editor Jeremy Pound ELP’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ Reviews editor Michael Beek Mike Oldf ield’s Tubular Bells Multi-plantform content producer Ste ve Wr i g ht Genesis’s ‘Watcher of the Skies’ Cover CD editor A l ic e Pea r son Mike Oldf ield’s Tubular Bells

Art editor Dav Ludford Yes’s ‘Yours is No Disgrace’ Than k s to Jen ny P r ic e , Hanna h Nepi lov a , MARKETING Subscriptions director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct marketing manager Kel l ie La ne Subscriptions marketing coordinator Dennis Awdziejczyk ADVERTISING Advertisement manager Rebecca Janyshiwskyj +44 (0)117 300 8547 Commercial brand leads Rebecca Yirrell +44 (0)117 300 8811 Rebecca O’Connell +44 (0)117 300 8814 Client solutions manager Tom Houlden +44 (0)117 300 8203

4 BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE