Sibelius' 2nd Symphony from the BBC Proms

Mark Forrest introduces a week of highlights from the BBC Proms, including a performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor Sakari Oramo. Together, they perform Sibelius' majestic 2nd Symphony alongside Britten's haunting and deeply expressive Cello Symphony, with soloist Guy Johnston.

There's also music from this year's Ryedale Festival, where pianist Lukas Sternath joins the Aris Quartet to perform one of the great chamber music works of the Romantic era, Dvořák's 2nd Piano Quintet.

Elsewhere, highlights from the International Sacred Music Festival in Fribourg featuring music by Bach and Vivaldi.

BBC Proms:
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 in D major
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)

International Sacred Music Festival, Fribourg:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantata - ‘Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit’, BWV. 106
Johanna Ihrig (soprano)
Herlinde van de Straete (mezzo-soprano)
Anders J. Dahlin (tenor)
Jonathon Adams (baritone)
BachPlus
Bart Naessens (conductor)

Ryedale Festival:
Antonín Dvořák
Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81
Aris Quartet
Lukas Sternath (piano)

International Sacred Music Festival, Fribourg:
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for Strings in D minor, RV. 127
Ghislieri Orchestra
Giulio Prandi (conductor)

BBC Proms:
Benjamin Britten
Cello Symphony
Guy Johnston (cello)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)

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