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De Falla's Three-Cornered Hat from the BBC Proms

Elizabeth Alker celebrates summer music-making in the UK and beyond, including the Spanish National Orchestra performing music from Manuel de Falla's ballet The Three-Cornered Hat.

Elizabeth Alker celebrates summer music-making in the UK and beyond.

Throughout the season, Classical Live features highlights from the BBC Proms, the world’s greatest classical music festival. Today, we hear from the players of the Spanish National Orchestra, whose debut Prom shone the spotlight on music inspired by their homeland, including the two orchestral suites Manuel de Falla made from his ballet score The Three-Cornered Hat. We return to the 2026 Schubertiade Schwarzenberg in Austria to hear Schubert from baritone Konstantin Krimmel as well as pianist Francesco Piemontesi playing Liszt. Also, every day this week, there's a Mozart String Quintet from the elegant rococo Leitheim Castle in Bavaria, with violist Violaine Despeyroux joining Quatuor Voce.

From the BBC Proms 2026:
Maurice Ravel
Alborada del gracioso
Spanish National Orchestra
David Afkham (conductor)

From the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg 2026:
Franz Liszt
Years of Pilgrimage (1st Year, Switzerland – Parts 1-5)
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)

From Leitheim Castle Concerts 2026:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
String Quintet No. 2 in C minor, K. 406
Quatuor Voce
Violaine Despeyroux (viola)

From the BBC Proms 2026:
Manuel de Falla
The Three-Cornered Hat (Suites 1 & 2)
Spanish National Orchestra
David Afkham (conductor)

From the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg 2026:
Franz Schubert
Der Zwerg, D. 771
Konstantin Krimmel (baritone)
Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano)

Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D417 ‘Tragic’
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Riccardo Muti (conductor)

From the First Night of the Proms 2026:
Gerald Finzi
For Saint Cecilia
Thomas Atkins (tenor)
BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Dalia Stasevska (conductor)

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Last on

Yesterday 13:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Maurice Ravel

    Alborada del gracioso

    Orchestra: Spanish National Orchestra. Conductor: David Afkham.
    • GBBBC.

  • Franz Liszt

    Years of Pilgrimage - First Year: Switzerland (Parts 1-5)

    Performer: Francesco Piemontesi.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quintet No. 2 in C minor, K. 406

    Performer: Violaine Despeyroux. Ensemble: Quatuor Voce.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.47 in G major H.1.47 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Alpha.

  • Manuel de Falla

    The Three-Cornered Hat (Suites Nos. 1 and 2)

    Orchestra: Spanish National Orchestra. Conductor: David Afkham.
    • GBBBC.

  • Heinrich Scheidemann

    Benedicam Dominum

    Performer: Johannes Lang.

  • Franz Schubert

    Der Zwerg, D. 771

    Performer: Ammiel Bushakevitz. Singer: Konstantin Krimmel.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D. 417 ('Tragic')

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.

  • Claude Debussy

    Feux d'artifices (Preludes, Book 2)

    Performer: Francesco Piemontesi.

  • Dorothy Howell

    Lamia

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Fantaisie, Op. 79

    Performer: Silvija Ščerbavičiūtė. Performer: Michael McHale.

  • Gerald Finzi

    For St Cecilia, Op. 30

    Singer: Thomas Atkins. Choir: BBC Singers. Choir: BBC Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
    • GBBBC.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday 13:00
    BBC Radio 3