Adagio in G minor
Virginia McKenna explores the lasting impact of Albinoni's adagio, while Andrew Gant maintains it is wrongly attributed to him. From 2014.
Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor, is one of the most popular and moving pieces of music.
But, as academic and composer Andrew Gant explains, it wasn't written by Albinoni and is now attributed to 20th century Italian composer, Giazotto.
Award-winning veteran ѿý foreign correspondent, Malcolm Brabant recalls the ' cellist of Sarajevo', Vedran Smailovic, playing it everyday for weeks amidst the wreckage of the beautiful city, as Serbian gunfire raged around.
Actress Virginia McKenna explains its importance to her and her late husband, actor Bill Travers, who died in 1994. The piece was played at the beginning and end of his memorial service.
And TV producer, Gareth Gwenlan reveals why it was chosen as the theme for the character played by Wendy Craig, in the ѿý’s 1970s TV sitcom, Butterflies.
Producer: Lucy Lunt
First broadcast on ѿý Radio 4 in April 2014.
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“I play for my dead friends”
Duration: 05:33
Virginia Mckenna speaks of her great love for Albinoni's Adagio

Broadcasts
- Tue 29 Apr 2014 11:30ѿý Radio 4
- Sun 24 Aug 2014 13:30ѿý Radio 4
- Fri 11 Aug 2017 18:30ѿý Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 12 Aug 2017 00:30ѿý Radio 4 Extra
- Tue 18 Jan 2022 18:30ѿý Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 19 Jan 2022 00:30ѿý Radio 4 Extra
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Soul Music
Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact