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Episode details

Radio 3,01 May 2026,180 mins

Bach, Bernstein and Mahler from Leipzig

Classical Live

Available for 29 days

Linton Stephens brings you an afternoon of exclusive music-making, including a week-long focus on Leipzig, a pivotal centre in Western classical music. The MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig, perform Leopold Stokowski's arrangement of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra play Bernstein's jazzy Symphonic Dances from 'West Side Story' and, in contrast, Mahler's atmospheric First Symphony. Elsewhere in the programme, exclusively recorded music from our current BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists. Violinist Hana Chang performs Brahms, pianist Julius Asal plays Bartok, saxophonist Emma Rawicz brings a little jazz with her own original composition and cellist Sterling Elliott plays Kevin Day. And to end our week of music featuring the bassoon, today Fasch's Concerto in C minor is performed by the Italian bassoonist Sergio Azzolini. Johann Sebastian Bach (arr. Leopold Stokowski) Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV. 565 MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Keri-Lynn Wilson (conductor) Radio 3 New Generation Artists: Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata No.2 in A, Op. 100 Hana Chang (violin) Jonathan Ware (piano) Johann Friedrich Fasch Bassoon Concerto in C minor, FaWV. L:c2 Camerata Bern Sergio Azzolini (bassoon, conductor) Radio 3 New Generation Artists: Bela Bartok Suite, Op. 14 Julius Asal (piano) Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances, from 'West Side Story' Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra David Robertson (conductor) Radio 3 New Generation Artists: Emma Rawicz Maybe So Emma Rawicz (tenor sax) Rasmus Sørensen (piano) David Preston (electric guitar) Freddie Jensen (bass) Marc Michel (drums) Radio 3 New Generation Artists: Kevin Day Gymnopédie I (2018) Sterling Elliott (cello) Richard Uttley (piano) Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D ('Titan') Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Alan Gilbert (conductor) To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".

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Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
    Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  3. 2.
    Violin Sonata no. 2 in A major Op 100
    Violin Sonata no. 2 in A major Op 100
    Johannes Brahms
  4. 3.
    Concerto in C minor, FaWV L:c2
    Concerto in C minor, FaWV L:c2
    Johann Friedrich Fasch