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Right chord

Noteworthy Francine Stock:‘The series provides a broad outline to the history of Western classical music’

BBC World News is presenting viewers with the second series of “Visionaries”, a seven-part popular arts programme which invites viewers to vote for the most visionary Western classical music composer. The programme, presented by Francine Stock focuses on different classical music eras from baroque to the present day. The musicians in contest are Bach and Handel, Mozart and Beethoven, Chopin and Verdi, Shostakovich and Takemitsu, and Philip Glass and Boulez.

Viewers were invited to vote for their favourite on www.visionaries.com which features a producer’s blog, discussion board, profiles of the visionaries, biographies of the advocates and a general knowledge quiz.

In an email interview, Francine Stock, who also presents “The Film Programme”, BBC Radio 4’s weekly programme on films, talks about “Visionaries” and Western classical music composers

What is the relevance of showcasing the history of Western classical music using popular media today in “Visionaries”?

“Visionaries” is a programme intended to have a broad appeal. If you’ve only occasionally heard music by these composers, it should give you an introduction to their work. If you know a little more, you may well find out things that surprise you. Or you might just have fun trying to define for yourself what ‘visionary’ qualities are.

What about the choice of classical musical composers?

The composers featured in this series each, in their way, broke new ground, opening up possibilities and changing the perception of music amongst their listeners. Of course, the competitive pairings — Bach vs. Handel, Philip Glass vs. Pierre Boulez and so on — are not entirely serious but they do encourage you to consider the different approach that each composer took.

What is the idea of opening the programme to viewers in terms of popularising the performing arts/ Western Classical musicians?

The series also provides a broad outline to the history of Western classical music although that definition increasingly refers to a style, not a geographical location. Eighty years ago Shostakovich might not have been seen as Western. More recently, the grouping can also be said to include Takemitsu, who is of course from Japan.

Although it is only one of many forms of music, Western classical music has found its way right around the world — and will continue to do so as part of the international exchange of global culture.

What has been the experience of putting together the programme?

Over several months, each of the advocates for the individual composers has travelled to places that might have inspired their favourite, researching evidence for the qualities that might mark their composer out as visionary.

What about your own personal interest in classical music?

I studied classical guitar at school, sang in various choirs at university and more recently began to learn the piano, very slowly. However, like many people, I listen to classical music a great deal at home.

“Visionaries” is aired on BBC World on Saturdays at 4 p.m. with the repeat episode on Sunday, 7 p.m.

AYESHA MATTHAN

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