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Episode details

Radio 3,06 Aug 2026,180 mins

Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini from the BBC Proms

Classical Live

Available for 28 days

Mark Forrest introduces a week of highlights from the BBC Proms, featuring some of the festival's standout performances. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Søndergård, is joined by pianist Kirill Gerstein for Rachmaninov's dazzling Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. The programme also includes Knussen's vibrant Flourish with Fireworks and Shostakovich's commemorative 11th Symphony. Elsewhere, there's chamber music from this year's Ryedale Festival from some of Yorkshire stunning rural venues, where BBC New Generation Artists come together for an exceptional late-Romantic collaboration. The programme also includes highlights from the International Sacred Music Festival in Fribourg, featuring works by Johann Kuhnau. BBC Proms: Sergey Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Kirill Gerstein (piano) Royal Scottish National Orchestra Thomas Søndergård (conductor) International Sacred Music Festival, Fribourg: Johann Kuhnau O bone Jesu BachPlus Bart Naessens (conductor) Ryedale Festival: Richard Wagner (arr. Alain Bonardi) Wesendonck Lieder Erika Baikoff (soprano) Aris Quartet Zee Zee (piano) Ryedale Festival: Franz Schubert Sonata in G major, D.894 Lukas Sternath (piano) BBC Proms: Oliver Knussen Flourish with Fireworks Royal Scottish National Orchestra Thomas Søndergård (conductor) BBC Proms: Dmitry Shostakovich Symphony No. 11 in G minor, ‘The Year 1905’ Royal Scottish National Orchestra Thomas Søndergård (conductor) To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live"

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Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
    Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
    Sergey Rachmaninov
  3. 2.
    O bone Jesu
    O bone Jesu
    Johann Kuhnau
  4. 3.
    Wesendonck Lieder
    Wesendonck Lieder
    Richard Wagner