Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Bartok

Expires on Friday 9:45pm

The captivating and adventurous violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja is a 2025/26 LSO Artist Portrait. In tonight's concert, she joins the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Simon Rattle, to play Bartok's Second Violin Concerto, a work written in 1938 during a period of unrest in Hungary. Patricia Kopatchinskaja says that it has marvellous, beautiful fairy-tale visions and stories in it. Internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Rinat Shaham also joins the orchestra to sing Bartok's rarely performed Five Hungarian Folksongs, infused with tunes from his native country. The final work is Manuel de Falla's ballet music for The Three Cornered Hat, which is brimming with Spanish melodies and energetic dance rhythms. Recorded on 18th January at the Barbican in London, and presented by Ian Skelly. BELA BARTOK Violin Concerto No 2 8.15pm Interval BELA BARTOK Five Hungarian Folksongs for Voice and Orchestra MANUEL DE FALLA The Three Cornered Hat – Ballet Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin) Rinat Shaham (mezzo-soprano) London Symphony Orchestra Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".