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Episode details

Radio 3,21 Jan 2026,117 mins

Rachmaninov’s Paganini Rhapsody

Classical Live

Available for 29 days

Linton Stephens showcases the best performances by BBC orchestras, choirs, ensembles and other great performing groups from Europe and around the globe. Throughout the week, we are spending time in the spectacular Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, with a series of recordings made in the eye-catching 2017 concert hall by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. Today, pianist Kirill Gerstein joins the orchestra to perform Rachmaninov’s virtuosic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Janine Jansen is the violin soloist in Britta Byström’s concerto Shortening Days. In the wake of their live recital from London’s Wigmore Hall on Monday, we continue our focus on the brilliant Belgium Baroque ensemble Vox Luminis. From their concert at this year’s Salzburg Festival, we’ll hear them in Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s piece The Denial of St Peter. And we return to Wigmore Hall for more highlights from the Classical Live Monday lunchtime concerts given there last year. A trio of former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists – violinist Johan Dalene, cellist Andreas Brantelid and pianist Christian Ihle Hadland – perform Ravel’s Piano Trio, recorded on the hallowed stage last July. 1pm Maurice Ravel Piano Trio in A minor Johan Dalene (violin) Andreas Brantelid (cello) Christian Ihle Hadland (piano) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Serenata Notturna in D major, K. 239 Lausanne Chamber Orchestra Ton Koopman (conductor) Marc-Antoine Charpentier The Denial of St Peter Vox Luminis Lionel Meunier (conductor) Sergei Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Kirill Gerstein (piano) NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra Alan Gilbert (conductor) Britta Byström Shortening Days [world premiere] Janine Jansen (violin) NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra Sakari Oramo (conductor) To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live'.

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Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Piano Trio
    Piano Trio
    Maurice Ravel
  3. 2.
    Serenata notturna in D, K. 239
    Serenata notturna in D, K. 239
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  4. 3.
    The Denial of St Peter
    The Denial of St Peter
    Marc‐Antoine Charpentier
  5. 4.
    Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
    Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
    Sergey Rachmaninov
  6. 5.
    Shortening Days
    Shortening Days
    Britta Byström
  7. 6.
    5 Bagatelles, Op 23 arr Ashmore (Prelude)
    5 Bagatelles, Op 23 arr Ashmore (Prelude)
    Gerald Finzi