Lang Lang joins the Berlin Philharmonic to perform Ravel

Elizabeth Alker brings you an afternoon of outstanding music-making, including a focus on one of the finest orchestras in the world, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Today, they perform three works: Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, Ravel's sunny G major Piano Concerto with virtuosic pianist Lang Lang; and the 19th-Century Austrian composer Hans Rott's passionate First Symphony. Rott was a musician of extraordinary promise until his life was tragically cut short at the age of twenty-five from TB.
There is also chamber music recorded exclusively for Classical Live. Sir Antonio Pappano, Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, is joined by tenor Ian Bostridge to perform Britten's Winter Words at LSO St Luke's.
Also featured is an inaugural recital given by organist Olivier Latry recorded at St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge. Titular Organist at Notre-Dame de Paris, Olivier is one of the leading ambassadors for the organ. Today, he performs Jehan Alain's Litanies followed by an improvisation of his own.

Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
François-Xavier Roth (conductor)

Maurice Ravel
Piano Concerto in G
Lang Lang (piano)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Paavo Järvi (conductor)

Benjamin Britten
Winter Words, Op. 52
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
Sir Antonio Pappano (piano)

Jehan Alain
Litanies
Olivier Latry (organ)

Olivier Latry
Improvisation
Olivier Latry (organ)

Hans Rott
Symphony No. 1 in E major
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Paavo Järvi (conductor)

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