Alban Gerhardt at Wigmore Hall in London and Elgar’s Gerontius from Edinburgh

Linton Stephens showcases the best performances by BBC orchestras, choirs, ensembles and other great performing groups from Europe and around the globe.

We begin with a concert recorded yesterday at London’s Wigmore Hall, given by former BBC New Generation Artist, cellist Alban Gerhardt alongside pianist Alexei Volodin. They pair Prokofiev’s Cello Sonata with Franck’s Sonata in A major, originally written for violin but adapted by the composer for cello.

Throughout this week on Classical Live we focus on favourite British masterpieces and today there’s a chance to hear one of the most loved choral and orchestra works in the repertoire: Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius. Recorded just last month at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is joined by the Huddersfield Choral Society and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Chamber Choir, with soloists including tenor Brendan Gunnell as Gerontius.

Plus BBC Radio 3’s 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century – a series of brand new commissions celebrating and commemorating some of the biggest events of the 21st century so far. Today, Master of the King’s Music Errollyn Wallen remembers 2012 in a work for string quartet celebrating the London Olympics.

From Wigmore Hall, London.

Sergey Prokofiev
Sonata in C major for cello and piano, Op 119

César Franck
Sonata in A major for cello and piano

Alban Gerhardt (cello)
Alexei Volodin (piano)

***

Errollyn Wallen
Remembering 2012
Chaos Quartet

2.15pm
Edward Elgar
The Dream of Gerontius
Brenden Gunnell (tenor)
Beth Taylor (mezzo soprano)
Neal Davies (baritone)
Huddersfield Choral Society
RCS Chamber Choir
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth (conductor)

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