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A viola player in his youth, Dvořák’s 'Serenade for Strings' is a perfect example of the composer’s ability to interweave folk music, rich melodies and wistful melancholy. Although inspired by Tchaikovsky’s work of the same name, it’s full of Bohemian sunshine and shade and there’s more Czech patriotism from Dvořák’s pupil Josef Suk whose 'Meditation' is based on a hymn to the country’s 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… well, possibly Mozart, though no-one really knows for sure.

Stella McCracken, oboe
Yann Ghiro, clarinet
Alberto Menéndez Escribano, horn
Julian Roberts, bassoon

Laura Samuel, violin/director

Live broadcast on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 3, presented by Jamie MacDougall.