Conductor Ben Gernon and baroque recorder player Heidi Fardell open the new series alongside Jeffrey Boakye and Anna Phoebe as they add the first five tracks, taking us from a steamy New York summer to a celebrated Bach composition that violinist Joshua Bell has described as 'not just one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, but one of the greatest achievements of any man in history'. Throw in Gershwin, Louis XIV and a very serious musical accident, and you've got a cornucopia of an opening episode.

Producer Jerome Weatherald

Presented with musical direction by Jeffrey Boakye and Anna Phoebe

The five tracks in this week's playlist:

Summer in the City by The Lovin’ Spoonful

An American in Paris by George Gershwin Overture to Phaëton by Jean-Baptiste LullyAin’t It Strange by Patti Smith Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor (the Chaconne) by J.S. Bach

Other music in this episode:

Batman Theme by Neil Hefti & his Orchestra

12 Sonatas Op. 11 'Parensi': No 7 in A Minor: II. Allegro by Robert Valentine, performed by Heidi FardellBecause The Night by Patti Smith