Antonio Pappano: Behind the Symphony - Copland

Ignite your passion for music with conductor Sir Antonio Pappano. In this exclusive Marquee TV series, Pappano explores the history and artistry of four iconic symphonies, revealing the secrets that make them so extraordinary. In this episode, Pappano turns his attention to Aaron Copland, the Brooklyn-born composer who captured the soul of America like no one else, and his monumental Symphony No. 3. Commissioned in 1944 at the height of World War II, Copland's Third Symphony was written to lift the spirits of a nation. From the melancholic opening movement to the exhilarating finale built on his iconic Fanfare for the Common Man, Pappano unpacks the genius of Copland's sprawling, cinematic vision: its vast open landscapes, its Broadway swagger, its industrial power, and its quiet moments of stillness and poetry. Along the way, musicians from the orchestra share what it takes to play this thrilling, demanding work, offering a unique window into one of American classical music's greatest achievements.