Episode 1

Yesterday the BBC's seven performing groups all gave live concerts on Radio 3. In this week's Afternoon on 3 Penny Gore picks up the baton to celebrate all seven performing groups with a concert each - from right across the UK and Europe. She begins today with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in the beautiful acoustic of Aberdeen's Music Hall with their Scots Chief Conductor Donald Runnicles in his first season at the helm, and the BBC Philharmonic with a smoky programme of Rachmaninov given at the Italian festival of which their Italian Chief Conductor is Artistic Director - at Stresa by Lake Maggiore in the foothills of the Italian Alps.

Beethoven: Prometheus Overture
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Donald Runnicles, conductor

Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Julian Rachlin, violin
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Donald Runnicles, conductor

2.40pm
Elgar: Symphony no.1 in A flat
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Donald Runnicles, conductor

3.30pm
Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead
BBC Philharmonic
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor

3.50pm
Rachmaninov: Aleko
Aleko...............................Sergey Murzaev
Young Gypsy.....................Evgeny Akimov
Old Gypsy...............Gennadi Bezzubenkov
Zemfira............................Svetla Vassilieva
Old Gypsy woman..... Nadezhda Vassilieva
Chorus of Teatro Regio, Turin
BBC Philharmonic
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor.