Sergey Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2

Elizabeth Alker reflects on some recent highlights from the BBC orchestras and choirs, as they begin their new 2026/7 seasons. Today, the BBC Philharmonic perform selections from ballets by Jean-Philippe Rameau, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - together with soloist Alessio Bax - take on Sergey Rachmaninov’s famous Second Piano Concerto.

Plus, more music from this year’s roster of BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Hana Chang and the NOVO Quartet.

Our featured artist this week is the Verità Baroque ensemble, who are on a mission to contextualise baroque chamber music in the 21st Century.

BBC New Generation Artist:
Bedrich Smetana
String Quartet No. 1 in E minor (‘From my life’)
NOVO Quartet

Artist Feature:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Badinerie, from ‘Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV. 1067
Taya König-Tarasevich (traverso)
Veritá Baroque

Artist Feature:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV. 1050
Taya König-Tarasevich (traverso)
Veritá Baroque

BBC Orchestra:
Sergey Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
Alessio Bax (piano)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Gemma New (conductor)

BBC New Generation Artist:
Johannes Brahms
Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 100
Hana Chang (violin)
Jonathan Ware (piano)

Artist Feature:
Georg Philipp Telemann
Concerto in A for Flute, Violin, Cello, Strings, and Continuo, TWV. 53:A2, Tafelmusik, Part 1
Taya König-Tarasevich (traverso)
Veritá Baroque

BBC Orchestra:
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Selections from Les Indes, Naïs, Hippolyte, and Dardanus
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".