Shakespeare reaches people across the world with his insights into our shared humanity and his plays have inspired countless composers to write music – providing their own way for us to connect to Shakespeare, each other and ourselves. Tchaikovsky’s The Tempest overture gives us a torrential storm, a big love theme that beats Romeo & Juliet, and one of the most atmospheric, goose-bump-inducing beginning and end to any piece of music. And almost no one knows it at all!
Listening time 33 mins (podcast 9’, music, 24’)
Music here played quite brilliantly by the Orchestra of St Luke’s with conductor Pablo Heras-Casado:
or with pictures and the Flanders Philharmonic:
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You can buy a recording as a download here, but you have to buy a whole album to get the brilliant Spotify/Apple Orchestra of St Luke’s recording. A cheaper alternative is the equally assuredly brilliant Berlin Philharmonic and Claudio Abbado.
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