20. BBC Proms 2004

The transience of human life is the theme as the Orchestre de Paris and London Voices are conducted by Christoph Eschenbach with mezzo Yvonne Naef, tenor Anthony Dean Griffey and baritone Andreas Schmidt. Luciano Berio's last work, Stanze, is set to poetry, including verses by Alfred Brendel, and is scored for solo baritone, three men's choruses and orchestra. Gustav Mahler's symphonic piece, Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth), is also set to a series of poems, in this case ancient Chinese verse. It is one of the composer's most personal works, written after the death of his eldest daughter and in the midst of his own failing health. During the interval, Stephanie Hughes talks to guests and some of the musicians taking part.