Afternoon on 3 - BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Musical Firsts - Episode 1

Penny Gore presents a week of programmes reflecting on musical firsts featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Penny opens with a concert given last month at BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, home of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the first of a season looking back on past premieres and BBC commissions. Principal Guest conductor Jac van Steen conducts two orchestral masterpieces from twentieth century Russia, and David Matthews joins Penny live in the studio to introduce his cello concerto, "Concerto in Azzurro". It was premiered by this orchestra in 2002, and here receives its first performance in Wales, with the exciting young soloist Guy Johnston, himself a past BBC Young Musician of the Year. David also talks to Penny about his 6th symphony, heard here for the first time in a brand new recording. The symphony was premiered at the Proms in 2007 to great critical acclaim, and takes its theme from Vaughan Williams hymn tune "Down Ampney" - often sung to the words "Come down, O love divine". The same hymn tune also underpins a new work from Australian composer Paul Stanhope, which received its UK premiere with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival in 2009. These two works from different sides of the world are joined together by a performance of Vaughan Williams own "Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis", given in the building for which it was written, Gloucester Cathedral. Stravinsky: Symphony in three movements BBC National Orchestra of Wales Jac van Steen (conductor) 2.25pm David Matthews: Concerto in Azzurro (Op.87) Guy Johnston (cello) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Jac van Steen (conductor) Prokofiev: Symphony no. 3 in C minor (Op. 44) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Jac van Steen (conductor) 3.35pm Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis for double string orchestra BBC National Orchestra of Wales Richard Hickox (conductor) 3.55pm David Matthews: Symphony no. 6 (Op.100) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Jac van Steen (conductor) Paul Stanhope: Fantasia on a theme of Vaughan Williams for orchestra BBC National Orchestra of Wales Andre de Ridder (conductor).