Radio 3

Donald Macleod with biographer Paul Spicer delve into Bliss’s music during WWII and after, including his appointment as Master of the Queen’s Music. This was a time when Bliss was at the height of his fame, including collaborating with the Alfredo Campoli on a violin concerto. It was also a period when Bliss experienced a major disaster, in the composing and premier of his opera, The Olympians. Miracle in the Gorbals (The Young Lovers) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Michael Seal, conductor String Quartet No 1 (Allegretto grazioso) Maggini Quartet Miracle in the Gorbals (The Killing of the Stranger) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Michael Seal, conductor Adam Zero (Approach of Autumn) English Northern Philharmonia David Lloyd-Jones, conductor Piano Sonata (excerpt) Eric Parkin, piano Welcome the Queen BBC Philharmonic Rumon Gamba, conductor Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (Vivo – Tranquillo) Lydia Mordkovich, violin BBC National Orchestra of Wales Richard Hickox, conductor Produced by Luke Whitlock