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Proms special: 2000 years of music

The third in this week’s series of four Classical Mixtapes featuring music in this year's BBC Proms, including music by Messiaen, Hildegard of Bingen, Prokofiev, and Mahler.

A special Proms edition featuring music connected with the forthcoming 2026 season, curated by the Proms Director of Artistic Planning Hannah Donat. Her choices demonstrate the wide range of music that is presented at the Proms and recreate the excitement and sometimes surprising nature of the festival. Today's mix includes works by Messiaen, Hildegard of Bingen, Prokofiev, and Mahler.

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27 days left to listen

30 minutes

Last on

Wednesday 19:00
BBC Radio 3

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Proms special: orchestral favourites

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Proms special: love stories and peaceful endings

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Music Played

  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120 (1851 Version): II. Romanze. Ziemlich langsam

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic.
    • Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 7.

  • Olivier Messiaen

    L'Ascension, quatre méditations symphoniques : I. Majesté du Christ demandant sa

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Messiaen: L’Ascension, Le Tombeau resplendissant, Les Offrandes oubliées, Un sou.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 1.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Montagues and Capulets (Romeo and Juliet)

    Orchestra: St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yuri Temirkanov.
    • Prokofiev: Cinderella/Romeo & Juliet: St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Temir.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 9.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O Ecclesia, BN 64

    Lyricist: Hildegard von Bingen. Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
    • Fading: 9 Centuries of Choral Meditation & Reflection.
    • Hyperion.
    • 15.

  • Dinah Washington

    Our Love Is Here To Stay

    • The Imperious Dinah Washington.
    • El Records.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (Rückert-Lieder)

    Performer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Orchestra: North German Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Mahler & Zemlinsky: Lieder.
    • DG.
    • 15.

  • Frank Bridge

    Lament, H 117 (1915)

    Conductor: John Wilson. Orchestra: Sinfonia of London.
    • Chandos.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday 19:00
    BBC Radio 3

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