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Jess Gillam with... Pavel Kolesnikov

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the pianist Pavel Kolesnikov, including tracks by Stravinsky, Nina Simone, Brahms and Zemfira.

Jess Gillam hosts a listening party with the pianist Pavel Kolesnikov. Born in Siberia, he's performed on the world's most prestigious stages. A former BBC New Generation Artist, in 2025 David Hockney invited Pavel and his partner and fellow pianist Samson Tsoi to curate a series of concerts inspired by the artist's life and work.

Pavel's musical picks include Stravinsky's opera The Rake's Progress, a song by Nina Simone, Brahms arranged for piano by Busoni, and the Russian singer Zemfira.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play BBC Radio 3".

28 days left to listen

1 hour

Last on

Saturday 17:00
BBC Radio 3

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Jess Gillam with... Catrin Finch

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25/07/2026

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Music Played

  • Florence Price

    Symphony No 1 in E minor (3rd mvt, Juba Dance)

    Orchestra: Fort Smith Symphony. Conductor: John Jeter.
    • Naxos.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Goldberg variations BWV 988: Aria

    Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov.
    • Hyperion.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rake's Progress: Act III, Epilogue: "Good People, Just a Moment"

    Singer: Deborah York. Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Singer: Ian Bostridge. Singer: Bryn Terfel. Singer: Martin Robson. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Philipp Friedrich Boeddecker

    Sonata sopra 'La Monica' (Sacra partitura)

    Performer: Bram van Sambeek. Performer: Maria-Paula Majoor. Performer: Izhar Elias. Performer: Rick Stotijn.
    • Brilliant Classics.

  • Nina Simone

    I'll Look Around

    • Colpix Records.

  • Maurice Ravel

    The Fairy Garden (Mother Goose Suite, M 60)

    Orchestra: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Leonid Desyatnikov

    Trompe-l'œil (excerpt)

    Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov. Performer: Samson Tsoy.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • SSIEGE

    Virgo Oscura

    Performer: SSIEGE.
    • Knekelhuis.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Herzlich tut mich verlangen & Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

    Performer: Samson Tsoy. Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni.
    • Linn.

  • Zemfira

    To live in your head

    Performer: Zemfira.
    • Navigator Records.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.39 in E flat major K.543 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Potsdam Chamber Academy. Conductor: Antonello Manacorda.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Philip Glass

    String Quartet No 3 'Mishima' (6th mvt)

    Ensemble: Carducci String Quartet.
    • Naxos.

Broadcast

  • Saturday 17:00
    BBC Radio 3

Why are more young people listening to classical music?

Why are more young people listening to classical music?

20yo classical musician and presenter Jess Gillam is here to improve your playlist game.

Podcast

  • This Classical Life

    Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.