Richard Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration from the BBC Proms

Linton Stephens introduces highlights from this year's BBC Proms, including Strauss’ tone-poem Death and Transfiguration and music by John Adams from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Ryan Bancroft; plus song inspired by 'The Swan of Avon' and other bards, from Nicky Spence and Julius Drake at the Aldeburgh Festival. Also in today's programme, a rare chance to catch a short choral work from French prodigy Lili Boulanger, a setting of a Buddhist "prayer for the whole universe".

BBC Proms:
Richard Strauss
Death and Transfiguration
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Ryan Bancroft (conductor)

BBC Proms:
Christian Forshaw
My Soul There Is A Country
Jess Gillam (saxophone)
BBC Singers
Sofi Jeannin (conductor)

Aldeburgh Festival:
Sergei Prokofiev
3 Pensées for piano, Op. 62
Julius Asal (piano)

Aldeburgh Festival:
‘The Bards’
Franz Schubert
An Silvia, D. 891
Maurice Ravel
Chants populaire – No. 5 Chanson écossaise
Robert Schumann
Myrthen Op. 25 No. 13 - Hochländers Abschied
Benjamin Britten
O can ye sew cushions?
Fancy
Francis Poulenc
Fancie
John Dankworth
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Dunsinane blues
Nicky Spence (tenor)
Julius Drake (piano)

BBC Proms:
John Adams
Harmonium
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)

BBC Proms:
Lili Boulanger
Vieille prière bouddhique
James Way (tenor)
BBC National Chorus of Wales
London Philharmonic Choir
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Ryan Bancroft (conductor)

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