Hear and Now - 11/07/2009

Sara Mohr-Pietsch heads to Suffolk for the 2009 Aldeburgh Festival. She speaks with new artistic director Pierre-Laurent Aimard as he presents his first festival, and introduces a selection of musical highlights. Centenarian American composer Elliott Carter's Fifth String Quartet is performed by the Quatour Diotima, and Carter is recorded in conversation with Laurent-Aimard, who premieres two short piano works. Semper Dowland, semper Dolens - the first of two premieres from this year's other featured composer, Harrison Birtwistle - is a reflection on the work of John Dowland, sung by tenor Mark Padmore. Oliver Knussen: Coursing (5:15) Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Oliver Knussen (conductor) Elliott Carter: String Quartet No 5 (18:22) Quatour Diotima Carter: Fratribute (2:54) and Sistribute (1:01) Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Birtwistle: Semper Dowland, semper dolens (45:16) Mark Padmore (tenor) London Sinfonietta Ryan Wigglesworth (conductor).