Charles Mackerras at 100

Mark Forrest continues Radio 3’s day-long focus on the extraordinary musical legacy of Australian conductor Charles Mackerras, who was born 100 years ago today.

From what would be his final season performing at the BBC Proms in 2009, we hear Mackerras conducting the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Elgar’s Cockaigne Overture and Holst’s The Planets. Plus there’s music from a tribute concert to the great conductor (and Czech music champion) given by the BBC Concert Orchestra in Brno.

And as ever, the week begins with a live concert from London’s Wigmore Hall given by Meta4, the Finnish string quartet and former Radio 3 New Generation Artists. They perform quartets by Robert Schumann and Sally Beamish.

1pm
Live from Wigmore Hall, London. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Robert Schumann
String Quartet in A minor, Op. 41 No. 1

Sally Beamish
String Quartet No. 4, ‘Nine Fragments’

Meta4 (string quartet)

2pm
Edward Elgar
Cockaigne (In London Town) - Overture
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Charles Mackerras (conductor)

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat, Op. 27 No .1
Hisako Kawamura (piano)

Gustav Holst
The Planets
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Charles Mackerras (conductor)

William Walton
Portsmouth Point Overture
BBC Concert Orchestra
Anna-Maria Helsing (conductor)

To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".