Charles Ives Symphony No. 2

Elizbaeth Alker introduces an afternoon of great music-making including exclusive recordings of American music. Today the BBC Symphony Orchestra perform the Second Symphony of Charles Ives, a work which imaginatively and very effectively draws on well-known American tunes of Ives's day, including 'America the Beautiful' and the 'Campdown Races'. Also in today's programme an orchestral suite from a composer who did much to shape the direction of American classical music, Antonin Dvorak, plus performances of items from George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim and Edward MacDowell. And Elizabeth continues her look back on highlights from our weekly Wigmore Hall recitals
Including:

Antonin Dvorak
American Suite, Op. 98b
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
James Gaffigan (conductor)

Edward MacDowell
Lamia
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Wilson (conductor)

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata in C# minor, Op. 27 No. 2, 'Moonlight'
Angela Hewitt (piano)

Charles Ives
Symphony No. 2
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Nuno Coelho (conductor)

George Gershwin
Three Preludes (arr. Yo- Yo Ma/.Jascha Heifetz for cello & piano)
Santiago Canon Valencia (cello)
Naoko Sonoda (piano)

Stephen Sondheim
Send in the Clowns ('A Little Night Music')
Jerome Kern (arr. Beecher)
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man ('Show Boat')
Niamh O'Sullivan (mezzo)
Gary Beecher ( piano)

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