It was a performance full of such orchestral atmospherics: the terrifying stopped horns, for instance, marking the descent into Florestan's dungeon. How often do you hear a performance of the opera where the urgency, the implied race against the clock, is maintained across even the slowest and quietest music? For Mackerras, the great Act I Quartet and the Prisoners' Chorus were frozen moments out of time. Sir Charles Mackerras began his 80th birthday celebrations as if in wilful defiance of them. He strode purposefully on to the Barbican platform and, with the dynamism of a 21-year-old, kick-started the Scottish Chamber Orchestra into an account of the overture to Beethoven's Fidelio that gave urgent notice of the performance to come. Pacing was imperative, rhythms tightly sprung, inner parts sang, timpani cracked home, and period trumpets lent a brassy determination. Yet because Mackerras - one of the great musical stylists - has learnt to hurry slowly, dynamism was tempered by a lifetime's wisdom. First We Take Manhattan by Leonard Cohen from I'm Your Man.9 That's All Right by Elvis Presley from The Sun Sessions.10 Delia's Gone by Johnny Cash from American Recordings..
Fit But You Know It by The Streets from A Grand Don't Come For Free.MARIANNE FAITHFULL'S ICONS An icon herself, Marianne Faithfull picks tracks by 10 iconic artists.1 One More Cup of Coffee by Bob Dylan from the album Desire.2 Pain in my Heart by Otis Redding.3 Redemption Song by Bob Marley from Uprising.4 Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin from Lady Soul.5 Fine & Mellow by Billie Holiday from The Sound of Jazz.6 Lust for Life by Iggy Pop from Lust for Life.7 Mother by John Lennon from Plastic Ono Band.8. Big Mouth Strikes Again by The Smiths from Big Mouth Strikes Again.9 Sorted for Es and Wizz by Pulp from Different Class.10. Mankunto by Mehr Ali and Sher Ali from Sacred Voices: Sufi Passion.CARL BARAT'S LIBERTINE RAVESCarl Barat, founder of The Libertines, is soon to release his first solo album Here's what he rates.1. Oh You Pretty Things by David Bowie from the album Hunky Dory.2 Hurricane by Bob Dylan from Desire.3 Personality Crisis by New York Dolls from New York Dolls.4 Remote Control by The Clash from The Clash.5 Eton Rifles by The Jam from Setting Sons.6 No More Heroes by The Stranglers from No More Heroes.7 Too Much Too Young by The Specials from The Specials.8. Eya Ka Jo by Jimmy Solanke and the Junkers from The Shrine Presents Afrobeat.8.
The Old Ark's a-Moverin' by Alphabetical Four from Complete Recorded Works 1938-1943.9 Shake Sugaree by Elizabeth Cotten from Shake Sugaree.10. Calypso Blues by Mona Baptiste from London is the Place for Me, Vol 2.5 Chocolate en C7 by Chocolate from Son Cubano.6 El Hob Keda by Oum Kalthoum from El Hob Keda.7. That's why we set up our own label [Honest Jon's], just to get some of it out there."1. Deni Kelenbe Koko (Lonely Girl by the Riverside) by the Lobi Traore Group from the album Lobi Traore Group.2 Omelebele by Dr Victor Olaiya from Lagos Chop Up.3. Professional Super Bantous by Super Negro Bantous from Lagos All-Routes.4. Bullitt: Main Title Theme by Lalo Shifrin from the Bullitt soundtrack.5.