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Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Grace Williams’s Symphony No. 2

Elizabeth Alker showcases the best performances from the UK and beyond, including the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales playing Elgar’s enigmatic Variations on an original theme.

Elizabeth Alker showcases the best performances by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ orchestras, choirs, ensembles and other great performing groups from Europe and around the globe.

We round off our week of programmes featuring the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales with a performance of Elgar’s beloved ‘Enigma’ Variations, recorded last year in Newport. There’s also more music by the 20th-century Welsh composer Grace Williams, whose work the orchestra has and continues to champion – today, we hear the second of her two symphonies.

And we pay a further visit to Queen’s University, Belfast, home of the annual Belfast Music Society International Festival of Chamber Music, where Trio Gaspard performed music by Felix Mendelssohn and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

Plus a chance to hear a brand new piece by composer and sitar virtuoso Jasdeep Singh Degun, commissioned by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra and recorded by them at this year's PRS New Music Biennial in Bradford.

1pm
Edward Elgar
Enigma Variations, Op. 36
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales
Nil Venditti (conductor)

Felix Mendelssohn
Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66
Trio Gaspard

Jean Sibelius
Tapiola
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales
Ryan Bancorft (conductor)

Grace Williams
Symphony No. 2
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Trio Sonata in D major, Wq. 89 No. 6
Trio Gaspard

Jasdeep Singh Degun
Into the Night
Jasdeep Singh Degun (sitar)
Kirpal Panesar (esraj)
Kaviraj Singh (santoor)
Gurdain Rayatt (tabla)
Upneet Singh (tabla)
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra
Ellie Slorach (conductor)

To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sounds to play Classical Live".

2 hours, 56 minutes

Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    Variations on an Original Theme, Op 36, 'Enigma'

    Orchestra: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Nil Venditti.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for Strings in G minor, RV 156

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Cecilia Bernardini.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66

    Ensemble: Trio Gaspard.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Tapiola

    Orchestra: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Ryan Bancroft.
  • Silvio Rodríguez

    Oleo de mujer con sombrero

    Performer: Toby Carr. Singer: Nicholas Mulroy.
  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Sonata In D Major Wq.89 No.6

    Performer: Trio Gaspard.
  • Grace Williams

    Symphony No 2

    Orchestra: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sonata in C major, K 330 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Eric Lu.
  • Jasdeep Singh Degun

    Into the Night

    Performer: Kaviraj Singh. Performer: Kirpal Panesar. Performer: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ellie Slorach.

Broadcast

  • Fri 13 Jun 2025 13:00