Product Overview
In October 2016, the award-winning comedian and writer John Clarke –a regular on Australian television and a household name thanks to his satirical interview series Clarke and Daweand the mockumentary TV series The Games–made his debut appearance as guest presenter on ABC Classic FM’s Saturday Morning program. Clarke relished the opportunity to turn his comic genius and brilliant wit to music he adored: orchestral favourites by Vaughan Williams and DvoÙák, piano classics by Liszt, Satie and Beethoven, and iconic opera moments such as ‘O miobabbinocaro’,the Habanera from Carmen, the Flower Duet from Lakmé, and the Pearl Fishers Duet. Audiences loved the show and were eagerly asking for the next instalment. Sadly, there were to be no more, as John Clarke passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in April 2017. When the first show was re-aired on Classic FM as a tribute, the audience response was again extraordinary, and the ABC was inundated with requests for a CD release of the program. Thanks to this public outpouring, and to the enthusiasm of John’s own family, the full program is presented here as a tribute to this brilliant, beloved Australian icon: three hours of glorious music and classic Clarke commentary. TRACKLISTING: CD1 LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 BIZET Carmen: Habanera SATIE GymnopédieNo. 1 GLUCK What is Life? VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending BEETHOVEN Moonlight Sonata: First movement BIZET The Pearl Fishers: Duet SCHUBERT Hungarian Melody CD2 HILL Trumpet Concerto PUCCINI O miobabbinocaro BACH Goldberg Variations: Aria VERDI Va’, pensiero DVOØÁK New World Symphony CD3 SCHUBERT Ave Maria WAGNER Siegfried Idyll DELIBES Lakmé: Flower Duet BRAHMS Hungarian Dance No. 5 WIDOR Toccata Plus John Clarke’s original commentary interspersed throughout each CD.
