Episode details

Radio 3,06 Aug 2026,180 mins
Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini from the BBC Proms
Classical LiveAvailable 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"
Programme WebsiteTracklist
- TrackArtist
- 1.Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniRhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniSergey Rachmaninov
- 2.O bone JesuO bone JesuJohann Kuhnau
- 3.Wesendonck LiederWesendonck LiederRichard Wagner