ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

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

We return to the Z.E.N. Trio’s residency at last year’s Belfast International Arts Festival for a performance of Armenian composer Arno Babadjanian’s beautiful Piano Trio – a passionate piece that deserves to be better known. There’s also music by Tchaikovsky performed by two of the trio – pianist Zhang Zuo and violinist Esther Yoo – who met while members of Radio 3’s New Generation Artists Scheme and went on to form the Z.E.N. Trio with cellist and fellow New Generation Artist Narek Hakhnazaryan.

We stay in Belfast for our centrepiece at 3pm, with the Ulster Orchestra performing the Symphony No. 5 by Sibelius, whose music we are focusing on throughout the week.

Ahead of next Monday's 25th anniversary celebrations of Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme, each day this week Classical Live features an alumnus of the flagship talent development scheme as the soloist in a concerto with a European orchestra. Today, pianist Pavel Kolesnikov joins the Danish National Symphony Orchestra for Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Waltz-Scherzo, Op. 34
Esther Yoo (violin)
Zhang Zuo (piano)

Arno Babadjanian
Piano Trio in F sharp minor
Z.E.N. Trio

Claude Debussy
Prelude a l’apres-midi d’une faune
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales
Gergely Madaras (conductor)

Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
Pavel Kolesnikov (piano)
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck (conductor)

Einojuhani Rautavaara
Cantus Arcticus – Concerto for Birds and Orchestra
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Pekka Kuusisto (conductor)

Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 82
Ulster Orchestra
Chloé van Soeterstède (conductor)

Barbara Strozzi
Lagrime Mie
Helen Charlston (mezzo)
Toby Carr (theorbo)

Aram Khachaturian
Sabre Dance (from Gayane)
Z.E.N. Trio

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