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Episode details

Radio 3,04 Apr 2026,60 mins

Jess Gillam with... David Arnold

This Classical Life

Available for 29 days

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with film composer David Arnold, the mind behind scores for films including Narnia, Hot Fuzz, Independence Day, and James Bond. David's picks include the joyful Waltz from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, Ennio Morricone's genre-defining score to The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Queen's ambitious March of the Black Queen, and Mozart's Clarinet Quintet - reminding him of learning clarinet as a child. Jess brought along the iconic Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss, the timeless Stabat Mater by Poulenc, Luis Bacalov's score from Il Postino, and a track from jazz saxophonist and composer Emma Rawicz. David spoke about his approach to writing music for film, his upbringing, favourite collaborations and - of course - his work on 007. 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.
    Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op 9 No 2 (1st mvt, Allegro e non presto)
    Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op 9 No 2 (1st mvt, Allegro e non presto)
    Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni
  3. 2.
    City of Lovers (from 'Casino Royale')
    City of Lovers (from 'Casino Royale')
    David Arnold
  4. 3.
    The Sleeping Beauty (Act 1, Waltz)
    The Sleeping Beauty (Act 1, Waltz)
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky