Robert Schumann's Second Symphony

Elizabeth Alker showcases the best performances by BBC orchestras, choirs, ensembles and other great performing groups from Europe and around the globe.

Throughout the week we’ll be hearing works composed in Leipzig by the many composers who lived and visited there at the time Robert and Clara Schumann got married in the 1840s; they all visited the Schumann house (which still exists today as a school and museum). Today we’ll hear two works by Danish composer Niels Gade that were premiered in Leipzig during that time, plus an exclusive live recording of Schumann’s 2nd Symphony.

Elizabeth has exclusive live performances from this year’s Norfolk and Norwich festival by current BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists including music by Liszt from the brand new release by pianist Lukas Sternarth.

Niels Gade
Echoes of Ossian
St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra
Modestas Pitrėnas (conductor)

Franz Liszt
Petrarch Sonnet No 104
Petrarch Sonnet No 123
(Book 2 - Italy, Years of Pilgrimage)
Lukas Sternath, piano

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Trio in G major, K496
Ensemble 360

Robert Schumann
Symphony No 2 in C major
Suzhou Symphony Orchestra
Zhongshan Xun (conductor)

Nicolò Paganini
Caprice No 13 in B flat
Liviu Prunaru (violin)

Francis Poulenc
Sonata for flute and piano
Elizaveta Ivanova (flute)
Sanja Bizjak (piano)

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Five Mystical Songs
Andrew Hamilton (baritone)
Kleio Quartet
Berniya Hamie (piano)

Niels Gade
Symphony No 1, 'On Sjølund’s Beautiful Plains'
St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra
Modestas Pitrėnas (conductor)