From its gripping depiction of war in Mars to the serene beauty of Venus, The Planets is a piece of immense profundity and unforgettable melody – and it is followed by composer Colin Matthews's dazzling Pluto, written in 2000 to complement Holst's existing suite.

Beforehand, Runnicles and the BBC SSO perform Britten's moving Sinfonia da Requiem, a deeply felt pacifi st work that prefi gures his famous War Requiem (performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra on Thursday 14 August) by more than two decades. Berg's opulent Seven Early Songs show the influence of Richard Strauss, Wagner and even Debussy, and are performed by German soprano Michaela Kaune.