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Playing Cards

With music from Stravinsky, Puccini, Hildur Gu冒nad贸ttir and Mozart and readings about Conan Doyle's Sherlock, Dickens' spinster Miss Havisham and Lewis Carroll's Alice.

From the royal court made from cards in Alice in Wonderland, to the games of the heroines of novels by Charles Dickens and Toni Morrison, to the murder during a card game that only Sherlock Holmes can deduce, and the poker played in Paul Farley's poem. Composers have also been inspired by card characters and we'll hear from a harp concerto by Per Norgard called King, Queen and Ace and from Hildur Gu冒nad贸ttir's score for the film Joker, plus Stravinsky's Jeu de Cartes. Our readers are Sophie Thompson and James Cartwright.

Producer: Elizabeth Foster
Production Co-ordinator: Julie Downing

29 days left to listen

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Yesterday 18:00

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Igor Stravinsky

    Jeu de Cartes: First Deal

    Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Munch.
    • RCA.
    • CD73 TR8.
  • 00:01

    Igor Stravinsky

    Jeu de Cartes

    Performer: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Munch.
    • Charles Munch The Complete RCA Album.
    • RCA.
    • 8.
  • T S Eliot

    The Wasteland, read by Sophie Thompson

  • Paul Farley

    Poker, read by James Cartwright

  • 00:05

    Giacomo Puccini

    La Fanciulla del West: Act 1 - Jim, perch猫 piangi?/Andiam, ragazzi

    Performer: Jonathan Summers, John Dobson, Tom McDonnell, Paul Crook, Robin Leggate, William Elvin, Malcolm King, Malcolm Rivers, Sherrill Milnes, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Robin Stapleton, Zubin.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:05

    Giacomo Puccini

    La Fanciulla del West

    Performer: Chorus of the Royal Opera House. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Zubin Mehta.
    • Puccini La Fanciulla del West.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 4.
  • Anon

    The Queen of Hearts, read by Sophie Thompson

  • Christina Rossetti

    The Queen of Hearts, read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:08

    Evert Verhees

    Queen of Hearts

    Performer: Evert Verhees.
    • Pennybank Tunes Profiles.
    • Tr2.
  • 00:08

    Evert Verhees

    Queen of Hearts

    Performer: Evert Verhees.
    • Classical String Stories.
    • Pennybank Tunes Profiles.
    • 2.
  • 00:09

    Trad

    Queen of Hearts

    Performer: The Unthanks.
    • Rough Trade.
    • Tr1.
  • 00:09

    The Unthanks

    The Queen of Hearts

    Performer: 罢谤盲诲.
    • Last.
    • Rough Trade.
    • 1.
  • Joseph Coelho

    Cards Dealt, read by James Cartwright

  • 00:12

    Per N酶rg氓rd

    King, Queen and Ace: III. The Ace of Spades: Prelude and Waltz

    Performer: Tine Rehling. Ensemble: Esbjerg Ensemble. Conductor: Kaisa Roose.
    • Dacapo.
    • Tr3.
  • 00:13

    Per N酶rg氓rd

    King, Queen and Ace

    Performer: Tine Rehling. Performer: Esbjerg Ensemble.
    • Norgard, Works for Harp and Ensemble.
    • 3.
  • 00:14

    The Tierney Sutton Band & Ray Brinker

    Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

    • BFM Jazz.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:15

    Jule Styne

    Diamonds are a girl's best friend

    Composer: Leo Robin. Ensemble: The Tierney Sutton Band.
    • ScreenPlay Act 3.
    • BFM Jazz.
    • 4.
  • Alexander Pope

    The Rape Of The Lock, read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:16

    Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Gadfly - suite from the film music Op.97a: no.8; Romance

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.
    • Decca.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:17

    Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Gadfly

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Performer: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
    • The Silver Violin.
    • Decca.
    • 4.
  • Arthur Conan Doyle

    The Adventure Of The Devil鈥檚 Foot, read by James Cartwright

  • 00:20

    Henry Wood

    Fantasia on British Sea Songs (Arr. for Orchestra by Henry Wood): V. Jack's The Lad

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: Royal Philharmonic Chorus. Conductor: Carl Davis.
    • East Props Music - OMiP.
    • Tr5.
  • 00:20

    罢谤盲诲

    Fantasia on British Sea Songs

    Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Henry Wood.
    • Celebrating Lord Nelson.
    • East Props Music.
    • 5.
  • 00:22

    Joby Talbot

    Alice's Adventures In Wonderland Suite: The Queen Of Hearts' Tango

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Austin.
    • Signum Classics.
    • Tr6.
  • 00:23

    Joby Talbot

    The Queen of Hearts Tango

    Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Christopher Austin.
    • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Suite.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 6.
  • 00:24

    Sammy Fain

    March Of The Cards

    Performer: Tutti Camarata Ensemble & Chorus. Performer: Tutti Camarata Ensemble & Chorus.
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • Tr12.
  • Lewis Carroll

    Alice鈥檚 Adventures In Wonderland, read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:25

    Unknown

    March of the cards

    Orchestra: Camarata Chorus and Orchestra.
    • Alice in Wonderland Music from the score.
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 12.
  • 00:26

    Paul Rissmann

    Wonderland Suite: IX. The Queen of Hearts and Finale

    Performer: Lee Reynolds (conductor), London Symphony Orchestra, Emily Dickens, Joanna Harries, Richard Pinkstone, Neil Balfour.
    • LSO Live.
    • Tr9.
  • 00:26

    Paul Rissman

    The Queen of Hearts and Finale

    Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Lee Reynolds.
    • The Queen of Hearts and Finale.
    • LSO Live.
    • 9.
  • Samuel Rowlands

    The Four Knaves, read by James Cartwright

  • 00:30

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, Act I: "Se vuol ballare"

    Orchestra: Sofia Philharmonic. Conductor: Emil Tabakov.
    • Cobra Entertainment.
    • Tr75.
  • 00:30

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Se Vuol ballare

    Performer: Sofia Philharmonic. Conductor: Emil Tabako.
    • The Marriage of Figaro.
    • Cobra Entertainment.
    • 75.
  • Charles Dickens

    Great Expectations, read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:35

    Trad

    The Game Of Cards

    Performer: Maddy Prior & June Tabor.
    • Chrysalis Records.
    • Tr1.
  • 00:35

    罢谤盲诲

    The Game of Cards

    Performer: Maddy Prior. Performer: June Tabor.
    • Silly Sisters.
    • Chrysalis Records.
    • 1.
  • Dante Gabriel Rossetti

    The Card Dealer, read by James Cartwright

  • 00:39

    John Adams

    Nixon in China, Act III: "You Won at Poker"

    Singer: Carolann Page. Singer: James Maddalena. Singer: James Maddalena. Orchestra: Orchestra of St. Luke鈥檚. Orchestra: Orchestra of St. Luke鈥檚. Conductor: Edo de Waart. Conductor: Edo de Waart. Conductor: Edo de Waart.
    • Nonesuch.
    • Tr12.
  • 00:39

    John Adams

    You won at Poker

    Conductor: Edo de Waart. Orchestra: Orchestra of St. Luke鈥檚.
    • Nixon in China.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 12.
  • Ian Fleming

    Casino Royale, read by James Cartwright

  • 00:41

    Burt Bacharach

    Casino Royale Theme

    Performer: The Hollywood Studio Orchestra and Chorus.
    • Custom Records.
    • Tr1.
  • 00:42

    Unknown

    Casino Royale Theme Tune

    Orchestra: Ed Starink.
    • Casino Royale.
    • Custom Records.
    • 1.
  • 00:43

    Charles Aznavour/Pierre Roche

    Poker

    Performer: Charles Aznavour.
    • Warner (France).
    • Tr10.
  • 00:43

    Charles Aznavour

    Poker

    Composer: Pierre Roche. Performer: Charles Aznavour.
    • Jezebel.
    • Warner (France).
    • 10.
  • 00:45

    Giovanni Paisiello

    Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) - Act I - Cavatina

    Singer: D茅nes Guly谩s. Orchestra: The Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: 脕d谩m Fischer.
    • Hungaraton.
    • CD1 Tr14.
  • 00:45

    Giovanni Paisiello

    The Barber of Seville

    Performer: D茅nes Guly谩s. Orchestra: Hungarian State Orchestra.
    • Paisiello.
    • Hungaraton.
    • 14.
  • Mary Wollstonecraft

    Thoughts On The Education Of Daughters, read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:48

    Georges Bizet

    Carmen / Act 3 - "M锚lons! Coupons!"

    Singer: Ghyslaine Raphanel. Singer: Neil Shicoff. Singer: Jessye Norman. Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.
    • Decca Music Group.
    • Tr40.
  • 00:48

    Georges Bizet

    Melons Coupons

    Performer: Jessye Norman.
    • Bizet: Carmen.
    • Decca Music Group.
    • 40.
  • 00:51

    Hildur Gu冒nad贸ttir

    Call Me Joker

    Performer: Hildur Gu冒nad贸ttir.
    • WaterTower Music.
    • Tr1.
  • 00:51

    Hildur Guonadottir

    Call me Joker

    Performer: Hildur Guonadottir.
    • Joker.
    • Water Tower Music.
    • 1.
  • Jostein Gaarder

    The Solitaire Mystery, read by James Cartwright

  • 00:54

    Franz von Supp茅

    Pique Dame: Overture

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georg Solti. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • Decca.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:54

    Franz von Supp茅

    Suppe

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • Ouverturen.
    • Decca.
    • 4.
  • Toni Morrison

    91热爆, read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:59

    Lalo Schifrin

    The Cincinnati Kid

    Ensemble: David Lloyd and His London Orchestra. Ensemble: David Lloyd and His London Orchestra.
    • Everest Records.
    • Tr2.
  • 00:59

    Dorcas Cochran

    The Cincinatti Kid

    Composer: Lalo Schifrin. Performer: David Lloyd.
    • Film Hits.
    • Everest Records.
    • 2.
  • Erich Maria Remarque

    All Quiet On The Western Front, read by James Cartwright

  • 01:02

    Trad

    Jack Of Diamonds

    Performer: Ramblin鈥 Jack Elliott.
    • HighTone Records.
    • Tr1.
  • 01:02

    罢谤盲诲

    Jack of Diamonds

    Performer: Ramblin鈥 Jack Elliott.
    • The Lost Topic Tapes.
    • High Tone Records.
    • 1.
  • 01:05

    Sergey Prokofiev

    Pikovaya dama (the Queen of Spades), Op. 70: Hermann geht ein zweites Mal in den Spielsalon [Zweiter Gewinn] [arr. M. Jurowski]

    Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Michail Jurowski.
    • Capriccio.
    • Tr19.
  • 01:06

    Sergey Prokofiev

    Eugene Onegin

    Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin.
    • Eugene Onegin.
    • Capricco.
    • 19.
  • 01:08

    Lady Gaga

    Poker Face

    Singer: Simone Kermes. Ensemble: Amici Veneziani.
    • Sony Classical.
    • Tr1.
  • 01:08

    Lady Gaga

    Poker Face

    Performer: Simone Kermes.
    • Inferno e Paradiso.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.
  • Jeanette Winterson

    The Passion, read by Sophie Thompson

  • 01:10

    Malcolm Arnold

    Solitaire: Sarabande

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold.
    • Warner Classics.
    • Tr1.
  • 01:10

    Malcolm Arnold

    Sarabande

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold.
    • Arnold conducts Arnold.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

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