Main content

Richard Thompson

Michael Berkeley's guest is the singer, songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson.

Richard Thompson began his career as a guitarist and a songwriter when he was still a teenager – and six decades on, his passion for making and sharing music is as strong as ever.

In the late 1960s he co-founded the pioneering folk-rock band Fairport Convention. In 1969 alone, they released three albums. All featured the voice of Sandy Denny, and one - Liege and Lief - was later acclaimed as the most influential folk album of all time. In the early 1970s, Richard left the band to form a decade-long musical partnership with his then wife Linda.

He’s now spent over 30 years as a solo artist, winning an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting, a Lifetime Achievement Award from ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 2 and countless plaudits for his guitar playing.

Richard's music choices include Beethoven, Purcell, Britten and Manuel de Falla.

Available now

48 minutes

Last on

Sun 7 Jul 2024 12:00

Music Played

  • Manuel de Falla

    Spanish Dance No.1 (La Vida Breve)

    Performer: Alexandre Lagoya. Performer: Ida Presti. Music Arranger: Alexandre Lagoya.
    • Ida Presti & Alexandre Lagoya Edition - Complete Philips recordings.
    • Universal Music Division Decca Records France.
    • 6.
  • Duke Ellington

    Caravan

    Composer: Irving Mills. Composer: Juan Tizol. Performer: Les Paul.
    • The New Sound.
    • Capitol Records.
    • 4.
  • Edward Elgar

    Where corals lie (Sea Pictures, Op 37)

    Singer: Janet Baker. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Barbirolli.
    • Elgar: Cello Concerto/Sea Pictures: Du Pre/Baker/LSO/Barbirolli.
    • EMI.
    • 8.
  • Trad.

    Brave Wolfe

    Ensemble: The Watersons.
    • Early Days.
    • Topic.
    • 9.
  • Claude Debussy

    Jeux

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • Debussy: Jeux, Preludes - Matthews: Postlude.
    • Halle Concerts Society.
    • 1.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes (Dawn)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Britten: Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra: Bergen P.O., Neeme Jarvi.
    • BIS.
    • 6.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11: I. Prelude

    Ensemble: Potsdam Chamber Academy.
    • Schostakowitsch: Kammersinfonien.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 10.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11: II. Scherzo

    Ensemble: Potsdam Chamber Academy.
    • Schostakowitsch: Kammersinfonien.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 11.
  • Alfredo Catalani

    Ebben? Ne andro lontano (La Wally)

    Singer: Maria Callas. Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • Maria Callas: The Voice of the Century.
    • EMI.
    • 12.
  • Henry Purcell

    Dido & Aeneas: Overture

    Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • OISEAU LYRE.
  • Richard Thompson

    Freeze

    • Ship to Shore.
    • New West Records.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in F major, Op 135 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Hagen Quartett.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Sun 7 Jul 2024 12:00

What makes Boogie-woogie piano legend Jools Holland tick?

What makes Boogie-woogie piano legend Jools Holland tick?

For Private Passions, Jools Holland revealed his piano history to Michael Berkeley.

11 things we learned from Harry Enfield’s Private Passions

11 things we learned from Harry Enfield’s Private Passions

Harry doesn't usually give interviews – but he couldn't say no to Michael Berkeley.

Archive Unlocked: Two Decades of Private Passions

Michael Berkeley introduces memorable interviews from Private Passions' archives.

Podcast