Episode 1

Richard Strauss was at once a celebrated composer and conductor in the concert hall and at the opera house. This week of programmes marking the 150th anniversary of his birth includes some of Strauss's tone poems and concertos, as well as music by two of the other composers he loved and performed the most, Mozart and Wagner. Presented by John Shea.

Strauss: Festmusik der Stadt Wien
Locke Brass consortJames Stobart (conductor)

2.15pm
Strauss (arr. Franz Hasenöhrl): Till Eulenspiegel einmal anders!
Players of the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Wagner: Lohengrin (Prelude to Act I)
BBC Philharmonic
Sir Edward Downes (conductor)

2.35 pm
Mozart: Così fan tutte (Overture)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Stefan Solyom (conductor)

Strauss: Duett-Concertino
Sabine Meyer (clarinet)
Dag Jensen (bassoon)
BBC Philharmonic
Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

3.00 pm
Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E flat, K. 543
NDR Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Hengelbrock (conductor)

Strauss: Wind Serenade in E flat major, Op.7
Players of the BBC Philharmonic
John Storgårds (conductor)

3.45 pm
Strauss: Don Quixote
Timothy Hugh (cello)
Lawrence Power (viola)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
François-Xavier Roth (conductor).