29/06/2026

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

This week, Classical Live presents exclusive live recordings from some of the best youth orchestras in Europe; we’ll also hear performances by some of the brilliant young musicians currently enrolled in the BBC New Generation Artists scheme, in a recent season of lunchtime concerts at St George’s Bristol.

Today there’s music by the Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis courtesy of the Swiss National Youth Orchestra, and the Bavarian State Youth Orchestra plays Brahms. Also, young German pianist Julius Asal plays the last of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, No.32 Op.111.

At 1pm live from the Wigmore Hall, the Italian vocal ensemble La Venexiana is joined by soprano Emanuela Galli and harpist Chiara Granata, along with director & theorbo player Gabriele Palomba, for a programme of music by Giulio Caccini and his contemporaries.

LIVE from WIGMORE HALL
La Venexiana
Emanuela Galli (soprano)
Chiara Granata (harp)
Gabriele Palomba (theorbo/director)

GIULIO CACCINI
Le nuove musiche:
Dolcissimo sospiro
Belle rose porporine
Amarilli, mia bella

GIOVANNI DE MACQUE
Libro di Canzone Francese:
Prime Stravaganze

BENEDETTO FERRARI
Musiche varie a voce sola:
Amanti, io vi sò dire

SIGISMONDO D'INDIA
Le musiche da cantar solo (Libro Primo):
Intenerite voi, lagrime mie
Cruda Amarilli

GIOVANNI GIROLAMO KAPSBERGER
Libro IV:
Canario
Capona

MAURIZIO CAZZATI
Arie e Cantate a voce sola libro Primo Op. 11: Fierissime pene

TARQUINIO MERULA
Curtio Precipitato et altri Capricci a voce sola: Folle è ben che si crede

BARBARA STROZZI
L'Eraclito amoroso Op. 2 No. 14

GIOVANNI MARIA TRABACI
Toccata Seconda & Ligature per l'arpa

CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Voglio di vita uscir SV337

*****
With Elizabeth Alker

Johannes Brahms
Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77
Korbinian Altenberger, violin
Bavarian State Youth Orchestra
Ivan Fischer, conductor

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata in C minor, Op 111
Julius Asal, piano

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Miske ('In the Forest')
Swiss National Youth Orchestra
Modestas Pitrėnas, conductor