Radio 3

Elizabeth Alker reflects on some recent highlights from the BBC orchestras and choirs, as they begin their new 2026/7 seasons. Today, the BBC Philharmonic perform selections from ballets by Jean-Philippe Rameau, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - together with soloist Alessio Bax - take on Sergey Rachmaninov’s famous Second Piano Concerto. Plus, more music from this year’s roster of BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Hana Chang and the NOVO Quartet. Our featured artist this week is the Verità Baroque ensemble, who are on a mission to contextualise baroque chamber music in the 21st Century. BBC New Generation Artist: Bedrich Smetana String Quartet No. 1 in E minor (‘From my life’) NOVO Quartet Artist Feature: Johann Sebastian Bach Badinerie, from ‘Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV. 1067 Taya König-Tarasevich (traverso) Veritá Baroque Artist Feature: Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV. 1050 Taya König-Tarasevich (traverso) Veritá Baroque BBC Orchestra: Sergey Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Alessio Bax (piano) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Gemma New (conductor) BBC New Generation Artist: Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 100 Hana Chang (violin) Jonathan Ware (piano) Artist Feature: Georg Philipp Telemann Concerto in A for Flute, Violin, Cello, Strings, and Continuo, TWV. 53:A2, Tafelmusik, Part 1 Taya König-Tarasevich (traverso) Veritá Baroque BBC Orchestra: Jean-Philippe Rameau Selections from Les Indes, Naïs, Hippolyte, and Dardanus BBC Philharmonic Orchestra To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".