Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue from the BBC Proms

Available for 29 days

Linton Stephens 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, we hear highlights from conductor Marin Alsop’s America-themed Prom with the Philharmonia Orchestra, including Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue. And there’s more from the Proms: Britten’s Simple Symphony performed by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra playing Stravinsky’s Symphony of Winds. Away from the Royal Albert Hall, we visit the Mozart Festival Würzburg, where pianist Severin von Eckardstein plays music by Prokofiev, and we return to this year’s Cheltenham Music Festival to hear more from our Radio 3 New Generation Artists. Today, the clarinettist Oleg Shebeta-Dragan is joined by two former members of the scheme – pianist Dominic Degavino and cellist Leo Popplewell – in the Clarinet Trio by Brahms. From the BBC Proms 2026: Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Philharmonia Orchestra Marin Alsop (conductor) From Cheltenham Music Festival 2026: Johannes Brahms Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114 Oleg Shebeta-Dragan (clarinet) Dominic Degavino (piano) Leo Popplewell (cello) From the BBC Proms 2026: Joan Tower Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman Philharmonia Orchestra Marin Alsop (conductor) George Gershwin orch. Grofé Rhapsody in Blue Marcus Roberts Trio Philharmonia Orchestra Marin Alsop (conductor) From Cheltenham Music Festival 2026: Max Bruch 4 Pieces for Clarinet, Cello and Piano (Op. 83, Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7) Oleg Shebeta-Dragan (clarinet) Dominic Degavino (piano) Leo Popplewell (cello) From the BBC Proms 2026: Benjamin Britten Simple Symphony, Op. 4 Academy of St Martin in the Fields Benjamin Marquise Gilmore (director) From the 2026 Mozart Festival Würzburg: Sergei Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75 (excerpts) Severin von Eckardstein (piano) From the BBC Proms 2026: Igor Stravinsky Symphony of Wind Instruments BBC Symphony Orchestra Alain Altinoglu (conductor) To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".