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

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"