A viola player in his youth, Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 'Serenade for Strings' is a perfect example of the composer鈥檚 ability to interweave folk music, rich melodies and wistful melancholy. Although inspired by Tchaikovsky鈥檚 work of the same name, it鈥檚 full of Bohemian sunshine and shade and there鈥檚 more Czech patriotism from Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 pupil Josef Suk whose 'Meditation' is based on a hymn to the country鈥檚 patron saint. In between, we cross the border to visit Vienna and bid farewell to our former Principal Bassoon, Julian Roberts, who joins the orchestra in the operatic melody and elegant charm of a four-way concerto by鈥� well, possibly Mozart, though no-one really knows for sure.

Stella McCracken, oboe
Yann Ghiro, clarinet
Alberto Men茅ndez Escribano, horn
Julian Roberts, bassoon

Laura Samuel, violin/director

Live broadcast on 成人快手 Radio 3, presented by Jamie MacDougall.