Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde from the BBC Proms

Mark Forrest celebrates summer music-making in the UK and beyond.

All summer, we’re in residence at the Royal Albert Hall for highlights from the BBC Proms. Today, the sensational American mezzo soprano Jamie Barton and tenor Clay Hilley join the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for Mahler’s profound Das Lied von der Erde. From that same concert, Anja Bihlmaier conducts Haydn’s Farewell Symphony, and we’ll also hear renowned French organist Olivier Latry playing Bach on the Royal Albert Hall’s magnificent organ in a Prom recorded earlier in the season. Away from South Kensington, Classical Live is visiting other summer festivals across the UK and Europe, and this week we’re at Cheltenham Music Festival for music from our beloved Radio 3’s New Generation Artists. Today, clarinettist Oleg Shebeta-Dragan plays Beethoven and violinist Hana Chang performs Mozart.

From the BBC Proms 2026:
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor, ‘Farewell’
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier (conductor)

Johann Sebastian Bach
Chorale ‘Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter’, BWV 650
Olivier Latry (organ of the Royal Albert Hall)

Edward Thornton Jenkins arr. Tuffus Zimbabwe
Dance Suite
Chineke! Orchestra
Jonathon Heyward (conductor)

From Cheltenham Music Festival 2026:
Ludwig van Beethoven
Trio in B flat major for clarinet, cello and piano, ‘Gassenhauer’
Oleg Shebeta-Dragan (clarinet)
Dominic Degavino (piano)
Leo Popplewell (cello)

From the BBC Proms 2026:
Gustav Mahler
Das Lied von der Erde
Jamie Barton (mezzo soprano)
Clay Hilley (tenor)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier (conductor)

From Cheltenham Music Festival 2026:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Violin Sonata in E minor, K. 304
Hana Chang (violin)
Jonathan Ware (piano)

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