The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform Mahler's First Symphony

Mark Forrest presents an afternoon of exclusive music-making, with recordings from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and vocal and chamber music from St. Magnus Festival on Orkney which this year marked its 50th season

At the centre of the programme, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vasily Petrenko, perform Mahler’s breakthrough work into the world of the symphony, a work suffused with the sounds and ideas of nature.

The piano duo of Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy perform The Rite of Spring from Kirkwall Cathedral on Orkney; and from the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, Roderick Williams performs his own orchestral arrangements of songs by Butterworth with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andrew Manze.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60
Ulster Orchestra
Sinéad Hayes (conductor)

St Magnus @ 50:
Johannes Lupi
Salve celeberrima virgo
Marian Consort

Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 1 in D Major
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko (conductor)

George Butterworth (arr. R. Williams)
6 Songs from ‘A Shropshire Lad’
Roderick Williams (baritone)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra Andrew Manze (conductor)

St Magnus @ 50
Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring
Pavel Kolesnikov/Samson Tsoy (piano duo)

To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live"