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Episode details

Radio 3,09 May 2026,60 mins

Jess Gillam with... Laura Mvula

This Classical Life

Available for 29 days

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with singer-songwriter and composer Laura Mvula. Laura grew up in Birmingham and studied at Birmingham Conservatoire before releasing her Mercury Prize-nominated debut album 'Sing to the Moon'. Her 2016 album The Dreaming Room and her 2021 album Pink Noise both received critical acclaim. She has worked with Jules Buckley and the Metropole Orchestre, and performed at the BBC Proms in 2014. She has written a new score to Inua Ellam's show An Evening with an Immigrant, which will be performed by Chineke! Orchestra at the Southbank Centre on 26th April. Laura brings along music from Shostakovich, Rachmaninov, Jill Scott, and Minnie Riperton, whilst Jess's choices include pieces by Luise Adolpha Le Beau and Ravel, as well as a fun bluegrass track from Yo-Yo Ma. To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3”.

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Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Sonata in D major H.16.37 for piano I. Allegro con brio
    Sonata in D major H.16.37 for piano I. Allegro con brio
    Joseph Haydn
  3. 2.
    Sing to the Moon
    Sing to the Moon
    Laura Mvula
  4. 3.
    Sonatae unarum fidim: Sonata V
    Sonatae unarum fidim: Sonata V
    Johann Heinrich Schmelzer