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Brahms from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Elizabeth Alker showcases the best performances from the UK and beyond, including a double helping of Brahms from Cardiff.

Elizabeth Alker showcases the best performances by BBC orchestras, choirs, ensembles and other great performing groups from Europe and around the globe.

Continuing our focus this week on the music of Brahms performed by our BBC Orchestras, today we've a double helping from Cardiff, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales playing his Variations on a Theme of Haydn as well as the 2nd Serenade. And we’ll stay in Wales for music on a smaller scale, with visits to recent festivals at Cowbridge and Hay, where Radio 3 microphones captured some of the UK’s finest musicians in intimate chamber concerts. Today, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective play Mozart, and there's Schubert and Liszt from pianist Charles Owen.

Also, we’ll be hearing music by Vivaldi and Telemann from our Ensemble in Focus, the superb Italian Baroque group Accademia Bizantina.

1pm
Johannes Brahms
Variations on a Theme of Haydn, Op. 56
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Jaime Martín (conductor)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Quartet No. 2 in E flat major, K493
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective

Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in A minor for Two Violins, RV522
Alessandro Tampieri (violin)
Gabriele Pro (violin)
Accademia Bizantina
Ottavio Dantone (harpsichord and director)

Franz Schubert
Impromptu in B flat major, Op. 142 No. 3
Charles Owen (piano)

Johannes Brahms
Serenade No. 2 in A major, Op. 16
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Ryan Bancroft (conductor)

Germaine Tailleferre
Piano Trio
Mithras Trio

Georg Philipp Telemann
Concerto in E minor for flute and violin, TWV 52:e3
Marcello Gatti (flute)
Alessandro Tampieri (violin)
Accademia Bizantina
Ottavio Dantone (harpsichord and director)

Franz Liszt
The Fountains of the Villa d'Este
Charles Owen (piano)

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

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3 hours

Last on

Tue 12 May 2026 13:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johannes Brahms

    Variations on a theme by Haydn, Op. 56a

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jaime Martín.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Quartet No 2 in E flat Major, K 493

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.

  • Louiguy

    La vie en rose

    Ensemble: The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic.
    • Die 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker - Recordings 1978-2010.
    • Warner.
    • 9.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for 2 violins in A minor, RV 522

    Performer: Alessandro Tampieri. Performer: Gabriele Pro. Orchestra: Accademia Bizantina. Conductor: Ottavio Dantone.

  • Franz Schubert

    Impromptu in B flat major, Op. 142, No. 3

    Performer: Charles Owen.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Serenade No. 2 in A major, Op. 16

    Conductor: Ryan Bancroft. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

  • Claudin de Sermisy

    Jouyssance vous donneray (basse danse)

    Music Arranger: Thoinot Arbeau. Music Arranger: David Munrow. Ensemble: Early Music Consort of London. Director: David Munrow.
    • Testament.

  • Claude Debussy

    Children's Corner (arr. for orchestra)

    Music Arranger: Hans Abrahamsen. Orchestra: Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Piano Trio

    Ensemble: Mithras Trio.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Concerto in E minor for Flute and Violin, TWV 52:e3

    Performer: Marcello Gatti. Performer: Alessandro Tampieri. Orchestra: Accademia Bizantina. Director: Ottavio Dantone.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    Alma Redemptoris Mater

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Franz Liszt

    The Fountains of the Villa d'Este (Years of Pilgrimage, 3rd Year, No. 4)

    Performer: Charles Owen.

Broadcast

  • Tue 12 May 2026 13:00
    BBC Radio 3

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