大象传媒

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

In our final trip to last year鈥檚 Belfast International Arts Festival, the Z.E.N. Trio perform Shostakovich鈥檚 Piano Trio No. 2. Resident at the 2024 Festival, the Z.E.N. Trio brings together three of the finest players of their generation, who began collaborating while on the Radio 3's flagship New Generation Artists scheme: pianist Zhang Zuo, violinist Esther Yoo and cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan. Continuing the Belfast connection, we'll also hear a pair of songs written by Northern Irish composers and sung by mezzo soprano Niamh O'Sullivan, one of the current members of the 大象传媒's prestigious talent development scheme.

Plus, ahead of next Monday's 25th anniversary celebrations of Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme, Classical Live features an alumnus as the soloist in a concerto with a European orchestra. Today, German pianist Martin Helmchen joins the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 16..

In orchestral music, today we feature a pair of final symphonies from two of the greatest composers working in the form. In our Centrepiece at 2pm, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra performs the Fourth Symphony by Johannes Brahms. And to finish this week鈥檚 focus on the orchestral music of Sibelius, we end the programme today with the Ulster Orchestra performing the concise, super-concentrated Symphony No. 7.

1303
Gioachino Rossini
La Cenerentola (Overture)
Ulster Orchestra
Tom Fetherstonhaugh (conductor)

Jean Sibelius
6 Bagatelles, Op. 97 for piano
Paul Lewis (piano)

Joan Trimble
Green Rain
Niamh O鈥橲ullivan (mezzo)
Gary Beecher (piano)

Hamilton Harty
Sea Wrack
Niamh O鈥橲ullivan (mezzo)
Gary Beecher (piano)

Dmitri Shostakovich
Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67
Z.E.N. Trio

1400 - Centrepiece
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Collon (conductor)

Gra偶yna Bacewicz
Concerto for Strings
Ulster Orchestra
Michael Collins (conductor)

1500
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 16 in D, K451
Martin Helmchen (piano)
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
John Storg氓rds (conductor)

Jean Sibelius
Symphony No 7 in C major, Op. 105
Ulster Orchestra
Jac van Steen (conductor)

To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask 大象传媒 Sounds to play Classical Live".