BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Michael Sanderling - Britten: Spring Symphony / Walton: Gloria / Coates: Dambusters March - BBC Music Magazine May 2025 vol.33 no.8 (2025)

For Composer of the Month, Stephen Johnson examines how a lifestyle featuring cigars, women and booze nonetheless resulted in some heavenly music from the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. And this month's Building a Library choice is Vaughan Williams's Dona Nobis Pacem. Rebecca Franks explores a composer’s choral plea for peace, written as the dark cloud of fascism moved ominously over a nervous Europe. Last but definitely not least, presenter and psychologist Sian Williams selects the six pieces of music that have had a lasting impact on her.

Here's a look at our cover CD this month, featuring Benjamin Britten's Spring Symphony, plus works by Walton, Eric Coates, and the great American composer Aaron Copland, in wonderful performances from the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. Click here or on the image to see the track details for this month's cover CD.