Radio 3 in Concert: In Awe of Nature

The BBC Singers travel from the foothills of Peru to the open skies of Estonia and the unspecified blue hills of a significant world premiere in this concert under Chief Conductor Sofi Jeannin, which pivots on Messiaen's songs of love Cinq Rechants. The French composer was inspired by the vocalizations of the Peruvian Harawi in writing his piece, which alternates urgent calls with sensuous contemplation realized in a harmonic wash of sound. It is surrounded here by the natural world: Estonian Erkki-Sven Tuur's humbling song in awe of nature and Judith Weir's major new work for mixed choir and string quartet, blue hills beyond blue hills. Tuur: The Wanderer's Evening Song; Messiaen: Cinq Rechants. Interval. Judith Weir: Blue Hills Beyond Blue Hills (BBC commission, world premiere). BBC Singers, Ligeti String Quartet, Sofi Jeannin