Wrangling, Plunging

Beginning with Stockhausen on April 6, “20th Century Radicals” is a new 40-part series about the composers who shaped the previous century. Over the course of 40 weekly episodes, it covers Andriessen and Berio through to Xenakis and La Monte Young, via El-Dabh, Jolas, Murail and Takahashi, and many more. It’s the sort of series I really hope becomes appointment radio. A Sunday 9 p.m. slot means the average listener isn’t likely to stumble upon it, but ambitious, interesting programming that’s unusually consistent (it runs for much longer than other standalone radio series) is bound to gain momentum. If you’re a fan of VAN’s coverage of composing in the 20th century, chances are it’ll be up your street.

“This major new commission demonstrates Radio 3’s commitment to sharing the classical music stories that, quite simply, never get told elsewhere,” Radio 3 controller Sam Jackson said in a press release accompanying the series. This is in contrast to other new Radio 3 programming initiatives that are very much being done elsewhere. Over on Radio 3 Unwind, an online-only site launched in November which aims “to provide a relaxing classical music experience designed to help listeners unwind and escape daily pressures,” shows called Mindful Mix, Classical Unwind and Piano Focus bring to mind the sorts of Spotify playlists that Liz Pelly talks about in her searing new book Mood Machine; the sort that feature Perfect Fit Content, and that smudge the lines between ambient, neo-classical and muzak, active and passive listening, artistry and AI.

Where Unwind feels like an attempt to capitalize on the large numbers of people tuning in to tune out, other sections of Radio 3 output show the confidence to lean into the station’s unique position in the audio market and the live music space. Sunday was Boulez Day, a whole day of programming dedicated to the man and his art. (It wasn’t wall-to-wall composition; alongside features and interviews with his collaborators, a fair amount of the radio schedule was dedicated to Boulez conducting other people’s music.) The Total Immersion day at London’s Barbican Centre on Sunday was well-attended and well-received, featuring Tamara Stefanovich tearing through the Second Piano Sonata, Anna Dennis on excellent form in a rare performance of “Pli selon Pli,” and two clarinetists from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Lily Payne and Beñat Erro Diaz, in stylish, assured performances of “Domaines” and “Dialogue de l’ombre double” respectively.

Boulez is one of the featured composers in “20th Century Radicals”; the triple centenary of Boulez, Berio, and Berberian (the real three Bs) was one of the reasons that Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore, the two presenters of the program, were keen to pursue the project now. Earlier this week, I spoke with Molleson about her approach to constructing the series, the composers Iannis Xenakis and Halim El-Dabh, and the joy of wrangling.