River of Music: John Tavener's The Protecting Veil

This work for solo cello and orchestra was commissioned by the cellist Steven Isserlis in 1988 and premiered at the BBC Proms the following year. It has subsequently proved to be one of the festival's most popular and enduring commissions. Like many of Tavener's works, it has a deeply devotional flavour.

Tavener, The Protecting Veil: opening movement. Steven Isserlis (cello), London Symphony Orchestra, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky (conductor), 1992.

Stream or download all 12 hours of River of Music via the Radio 3 website throughout November 2016.