Product Review

This series, featuring André Previn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, tells the story of the symphony. In each program, Previn introduces a performance of a major symphonic work. He sets the music to be performed in the context of its composer's life and work, explains the way in which it contributed to the development of the symphonic form and illustrates his comments with the help of the orchestra, who play a variety of supporting extracts. The music featured in the series is Haydn's Symphony No. 87; Mozart's Symphony No. 39; Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 (excerpts) and Symphony No. 7; Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique; Brahms's Symphony No. 4; Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique); and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5.

Written, Produced and Directed by Herbert Chappell.

A BBC TV Production in association wth RM Arts