Masterworks Unwrapped
Masterworks Unwrapped was a series of online Zoom sessions
delving into some great works of classical music - recordings are still available!
These sessions painted a picture of the background to the music - including, as appropriate, looking into the composer's life and the social context of the day - and delved into the music itself to see what makes it tick. Excerpts were played for illustratration, plus the music under scrutiny was played in its entirety (where relevant and where possible).
Online content to complement recordings (pictures, music examples etc) is available here
Here is a list of my recommended recordings (for sessions on specific works)
Recordings
If you would like audio recordings of any sessions please purchase below.
Enter into the box brief details of which recording(s) you want. Click the link 'List of available recordings' below for a full list.
List of available recordings
Bach Brandenburg Concertos
Bach Cantata 'Wachet auf'
Amy Beach 'Gaelic Symphony'
Beethoven and nature (Pastoral Symphony)
Beethoven Symphony No.9
Lili Boulanger 'D'un matin de printemps'/'D'un soir triste'
Britten Sinfonia da Requiem
Debussy La Mer
Debussy piano preludes book 1
Elgar 'Cello concerto
Elgar Variations on an Original Theme ('Enigma')
Environmentalism
Louise Farrenc Symphony No.3
Ruth Gipps
Gorecki 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs'
Grieg Piano Concerto
Handel Messiah
Charles Ives
Mahler 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen'
Mahler Symphony No.1
Mahler Symphony No.4
Fanny Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 ('Italian')
Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Messiaen 'L'Ascension'
Mozart Requiem
Mussorgsky 'Pictures at an Exhibition'
Purcell 'Dido and Aeneas'
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto 2
Clara Schumann
Shostakovich Symphony No.7 (Leningrad)
Shostakovich Symphony No.15
Ethel Smyth 'The Wreckers'
Vaughan Williams Tallis Fantasia
Vivaldi '4 Seasons'