Once more with feeling

Martin Handley continues his four-part series which aims to demystify the role of the conductor - an activity that the late, great Bernard Haitink described as "arranging the air".

In this third episode, with the help of conductors Trevor Pinnock, Dalia Stasevska, Jakub Hrusa and Mark Wigglesworth, Martin explores the world of the rehearsal. He also hears the perspective from the other side of the podium from orchestral players - former London Symphony Orchestra principal clarinettist Andrew Marriner and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra horn player Sarah Willis.

Sir Thomas Beecham once famously said that he found rehearsals tedious, so are they really necessary? What makes a good rehearsal? And, as a conductor, what differences can you make to the sound of an orchestra, a choir or an opera production?

To that end, Martin spends time in the Swedish city of Norrköping, as the astonishing 99-year old conductor Herbert Blomstedt returns to the orchestra with which he had his first full-time job as music director, back in 1954. Together, Herbert and the orchestra work on a performance of Brahms symphonies, some of which you can hear at the end of the programme.

You can also hear acclaimed recordings of music by Carl Nielsen, Anton Bruckner, Anna Clyne, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Benjamin Britten, Vincenzo Bellini, Hugo Alfven and Igor Stravinsky.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Matters".