Strauss's Ein Heldenleben from the BBC Proms

Linton Stephens introduces a week of music from some of Europe’s great summer festivals and the BBC Proms.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in two richly contrasting works by Richard Strauss: the sumptuous waltzes and elegant comedy of the Der Rosenkavalier Suite, and the heroic sweep of Ein Heldenleben. Elza van den Heever joins the orchestra for the electrifying final scene from Salome.

From Montpellier, pianist Bertrand Chamayou brings intimacy and lyricism to Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words, while in Beaune, Emmanuelle Haïm leads Le Concert d’Astrée in the sombre and dramatic Sinfonia funebre by Locatelli.
And from the Rocamadour Festival, Arvo Pärt’s haunting De profundis receives a performance from The Gesualdo Six and Ensemble La Sportelle, conducted by Owain Park.

BBC Proms:
Richard Strauss (arr. attrib. A. Rodziński)
Der Rosenkavalier – suite
The Met Orchestra
Yannick Nézet‐Séguin (conductor)

Montpellier Festival:
Felix Mendelssohn
Excerpts from 'Songs without Words'
Andante con moto, Op. 19/1
Andante espressivo, Op. 19/2
Agitato, Op. 38/5
Bertrand Chamayou (piano)

International Baroque Festival, Beaune:
Pietro Antonio Locatelli
Sinfonia funebre in F minor
Le Concert d'Astrée
Emmanuelle Haïm (conductor)

BBC Proms:
Richard Strauss
Ein Heldenleben
The Met Orchestra
Yannick Nézet‐Séguin (conductor)

Rocamadour Festival:
Arvo Pärt
De profundis
The Gesualdo Six
Ensemble La Sportelle
Owain Park (conductor)

BBC Proms:
Richard Strauss
Salome - final scene
Elza van den Heever (soprano)
The Met Orchestra
Yannick Nézet‐Séguin (conductor)

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