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

Penny Gore presents a week of programmes reflecting on musical firsts featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Today Elin Manahan Thomas presents a live Afternoon on 3 concert from BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff. The orchestra is joined by conductor Martyn Brabbins to travel three contrasting musical landscapes. Anthony Powers talks with Elin, looking back on his 1993 commission for the orchestra. They're joined by BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Mahan Esfahani for Poulenc's "countryside" concerto for harpsichord, inspired by the eighteenth century entertainment of the French court at Versailles. Copland's 1940s ballet score remains one of the quintessential American works of the twentieth century, with its perfect evocation of the pioneer spirit and the wide open spaces of the great outdoors. Anthony Powers: Terrain BBC National Orchestra of Wales Martyn Brabbins (conductor) 2.30pm Poulenc: Concert champetre for harpsichord (or piano) and orchestra Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Martyn Brabbins (conductor) Arthur Honegger: Concerto for cello and orchestra Alban Gerhardt (cello) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Thierry Fischer (conductor) 3.20pm Copland: Appalachian spring - ballet version for orchestra [1945] BBC National Orchestra of Wales Martyn Brabbins (conductor).