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In the primal darkness, there is a beam of light. A trumpet sounds, two chords blast forth - and in an instant, the whole universe is ablaze with colour. Richard Strauss wanted Also Sprach Zarathustra to tell the ‘entire story of humanity' - and there's no more stunning way to begin our 150th birthday tribute to the greatest storyteller in 20th century music.

Juanjo Mena conducts, and the world-famous Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski sings three of Strauss's songs, before cellist Steven Isserlis takes the title role in Strauss's warm-hearted re-telling of the comical adventures of Don Quixote.