Something for the weekend!

What they’ve said…

‘I don’t really think being a woman or a man is important – we’re all just musicians!’

Sofya Gulyak (right) reflects on becoming the first ever female winner of the prestigious Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.

On this day…

 …in 1918, British composer Ernest Farrar was killed at the battle of Epehy Ronssoy. One of a number of composers to lose their lives in World War I – including, most famously, George Butterworth – Farrar (b1885) wrote a number of orchestral, choral and organ works. Few are performed often today, though in 1996 the Philharmonia orchestra and pianist Howard Shelley recorded pieces such as The Forsaken Merman and English Pastoral Impressions for the Chandos label (right).

Questionable CD covers

Here’s a rarity (right): it’s a CD of music for Poodle and Orchestra by Saint-Saëns, Dukas and others, performed by Ben Jacks and the Queensland Orchestra! Splendid. Not quite sure why there’s a French horn on the cover, though.

On air

After sitting on some sunny Mediterranean terrace with a good book and a bottle of wine for the last couple of months, Building a Library returns from its summer break and back to the Radio 3 schedules tomorrow. Starting the new season off is Bach’s Cantata ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’, reviewed by Simon Heighes, beginning at 9.30am. Welcome back.

And finally… a chance to relive David Attenborough playing a floor polisher at this year's Last Night of the Proms:

 Happy weekend!