RADIO-LISTS: BBC RADIO 3
Unofficial Weekly Listings for BBC Radio 3 — supported by bbc.co.uk/programmes/
SATURDAY 06 DECEMBER 2025
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002mkd5)
BBC Proms 2025: Arvo Pärt at 90
Sound and silence, stillness and motion are woven together in the music of Arvo Pärt. Acclaimed interpreters of the Estonian composer's music Tõnu Kaljuste and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir celebrate his musical achievements at an atmospheric Late Night prom from the Royal Albert Hall. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Arvo Pärt (b.1935)
Da pacem Domine
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor)
12:35 AM
Arvo Pärt
Veni creator
Yena Choi (soprano), EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
12:38 AM
Arvo Pärt
Magnificat
Annika Lõhmus (soprano), EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
12:44 AM
Arvo Pärt
The Deer's Cry
EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
12:49 AM
Arvo Pärt
Für Jan van Eyck
Kadri Toomoja (organ), EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
12:52 AM
Galina Grigorjeva (b.1962)
Svyatki - Spring is Coming
Yena Choi (soprano), EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
12:56 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Excerpts from Vespers, All Night Vigil
EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
01:02 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, BWV Anh 159
EPCC, Kadri Toomoja (organ)
01:06 AM
Arvo Pärt
Peace upon you, Jerusalem
EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
01:12 AM
Arvo Pärt
De Profundis
EPCC, Kadri Toomoja (organ), Tõnu Kaljuste (tubular bell/bass drum)
01:19 AM
Veljo Tormis (1930-2017)
Curse Upon Iron
Toomas Tohert (tenor), Geir Luht (bass baritone), EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste
01:29 AM
Arvo Pärt
Vater unser
Yena Choi (soprano), EPCC, Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor), Kadri Toomoja (piano)
01:33 AM
Arvo Pärt
Estonian Lullaby (encore)
EPCC, Kadri Toomoja (piano), Tõnu Kaljuste
01:35 AM
Nicolaes a Kempis (1600-1675)
Symphonia No.1 a 5, Op 2
Concordia, Mark Levy (conductor)
01:41 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Symphony no 2 in E minor, Op 27
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin (conductor)
02:31 AM
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Piano Sonata in C minor
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
02:45 AM
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (c.1739-1799)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op 3 no 1
Linda Melsted (violin), Tafelmusik Orchestra, Jeanne Lamon (conductor)
03:06 AM
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Chichester psalms arranged for treble, chorus, organ, harp & percussion
Choeur de Radio France, Unknown (treble), Yves Castagnet (organ), Unknown (harp), Unknown (percussion), Vladislav Chernuchenko (conductor)
03:27 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Variations for flute and piano in E minor, D.802
Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Bruno Robilliard (piano)
03:42 AM
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
2 Pieces (Prelude and scherzo) for string octet or orchestra, Op 11
Korean Chamber Orchestra
03:52 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Horn Concerto no 1 in D major, K412
Premysl Vojta (horn), Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz (conductor)
04:01 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
"Si l'infida consorte" & "Confusa si miri"
Matthew White (counter tenor), Arte dei Suonatori, Eduardo Lopez Banzo (conductor)
04:06 AM
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
Die Eiserne Brigade (The Iron Brigade)
Esbjerg Ensemble, Jorgen Lauritsen (director)
04:13 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Symphonic dance no 2 (Allegro grazioso) Op 64 no 2
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ingar Bergby (conductor)
04:20 AM
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), arr. Manuel Barrueco
Cádiz, from Suite española, Op 47
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar)
04:25 AM
Chick Corea (1941-2021)
Got a Match
Sandu Sura (cimbalom), Django Club Trio
04:31 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
La forza del destino (Overture)
KBS Symphony Orchestra, Chi-Yong Chung (conductor)
04:39 AM
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734)
Qui habitat
Olga Pasiecznik (soprano), Piotr Lykowski (counter tenor), Wojciech Parchem (tenor), Mirosław Borczyński (bass)
04:44 AM
Ton Bruynèl (1934-1998)
Serene for flute solo
Harrie Starreveld (flute)
04:50 AM
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
Chamber Choir AVE, Andraž Hauptman (conductor)
04:56 AM
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)
Nocturne in B flat, Op.16 No.4
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (piano)
05:01 AM
Benjamin Godard (1849-1895)
Oh! Ne t'eveille pas encore (Jocelyn, Act 1)
Benjamin Butterfield (tenor), Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Richard Bradshaw (conductor)
05:06 AM
Hendrik Andriessen (1892-1981)
Premier Choral
Johan van Dommele (organ)
05:15 AM
John Field (1782-1837)
Aria; Nocturne & Chanson
Barry Douglas (piano), Camerata Ireland
05:23 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Sinfonia in E minor, Wq. 177; Poco Adagio for Flute
Arte dei Suonatori, Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
05:39 AM
Steve Reich (b.1936)
Eight Lines
Ricercata Ensemble, Ivan Siller (piano), Fero Király (piano), Ján Kruzliak (violin), Daniel Herich (violin), Peter Dvorský (viola), Branislav Beilik (cello)
05:56 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
String Quartet no 1 in C minor, Op 51 no 1
Casals Quartet
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002mw2g)
Rise and shine with classical music
Hannah French presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’.
SAT 09:00 Saturday Morning (m002mw2l)
Conductor Kellen Gray and toy piano master Margaret Leng Tan in conversation
Tom plays classical music to start your weekend.
American conductor Kellen Gray talks to Tom about his close relationship with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, where he’s Associate Artist, and the two albums of African-American composers he's made with them.
Tom also talks to Margaret Leng Tan, the toy piano master who turns 80 this week.
And we hear from composer and AI expert Ed Newton-Rex and the Ora Singers director Suzi Digby about Is This What We Want - a 'silent' protest album backed by over 1000 British musicians to highlight how musicians and composers can be protected in the age of AI.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002fk0k)
Jools with some of his most-loved recordings
Jools shares his lifelong passion for classical music and the beautiful connections with jazz and blues. With fascinating guests each week, who bring their own favourite music and occasionally perform live in Jools's studio.
Today, Jools's choices include music by Elgar and Matteis, with performances by the Hallé Orchestra and Nina Simone. His guest is the singer songwriter Hohnen Ford who introduces music she loves by Steve Reich, Francis Poulenc and Claude Debussy.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Earlier with Jools Holland".
SAT 13:00 Music Matters (m002mw2w)
In the Beginning
Sky and Air
James MacMillan explores how composers evoke atmosphere, spirituality, and nature’s vastness. Theologian Margarita Mooney-Clayton, composer Jay Capperauld, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams discuss musical and religious interpretations of the sky, from Debussy’s Nuages and Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s In the Light of Air to Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending. Through conversation with James, they connect orchestration, romantic symbolism, nature, and theological themes of divine presence in air and light. How have these elements been captured musically?
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002mw30)
Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande in Building a Library with Jeremy Sams and Andrew McGregor
Jeremy Sams' personal recommendation from recordings of Debussy's only completed opera in Building a Library.
Presented by Andrew McGregor.
2.00pm
Allyson Devenish's pick of new releases this week
3.00pm
Building a Library
Jeremy Sams talks to Andrew about a huge range of performances of Debussy's opera Pelleas et Melisande, culminating in a personal recommendation for the version to buy, download or stream.
Top choice:
Henri-Bertrand Etcheverry (baritone), Irène Joachim (soprano), Germaine Cernay (mezzo-soprano), Paul Cabanel (bass), Jacques Jansen (tenor), Emile Rousseau (bass), Leïla Ben Sedira (soprano), Armand Narçon (bass)
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Choeurs Yvonne Gouverné / Roger Désormière (cond.)
Warner 3457702 (1942 mono recording)
3.45pm
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best this week
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m002mw34)
Edith speaks to Nathan Johnson
Join Edith Bowman as she guides you through a handpicked collection of the greatest film scores and movie music- this week's show welcomes back composer Segun Akinola as he takes us through his choice on Harmonising Hollywood and the music of Dario Marianelli, and Scottish writer Ian Rankin selects his Pick of the Flicks. We'll also have tracks from the latest film score releases, as well as classic film scores.
SAT 17:00 This Classical Life (m002mw37)
Jess Gillam with... Anna Phoebe
Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the violinist, composer and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Add to Playlist, Anna Phoebe. Anna chooses tracks by Johann Sebastian Bach, Arooj Aftab, Verdi and fusion band, Shakti. Jess brings along music by Mark Giuliana, Gustav Holst and Dmitri Shostakovich.
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.
SAT 18:00 Opera on 3 (m002mw39)
Puccini's La bohème
Live from the New York Met, Puccini's ever-popular depiction of struggling artists' life and love in 1830s Paris. Artist Marcello, poet Rodolfo, philosopher Colline and musician Schaunard are behind with the rent in their Latin Quarter garret. While the others head to Café Momus, Rodolfo stays behind, meets neighbour Mimi, and falls instantly in love. Daniele Rustioni conducts a cast including Juliana Grigoryan as the fragile Mimi, and Stephen Costello as Rodolfo.
Presented from the Met by Debra Lew Harder and Ira Siff
Puccini: La Boheme
Mimi ..... Juliana Grigoryan (soprano)
Musetta ..... Mané Galoyan (soprano)
Rodolfo .... Stephen Costello (tenor)
Marcello ..... David Bizic (baritone)
Schaunard ..... Iurii Samoilov (baritone)
Colline ..... Alexander Köpeczi (bass)
Benoit/Alcindoro ..... Donald Maxwell (baritone)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Daniele Rustioni (conductor)
SAT 21:30 Music Planet (m002mw3c)
Arsen Petrosyan, Mehdi Rostami and Adib Rostami in session
Kathryn Tickell curates an hour of global roots-based music from across the globe and presents a special live session of Armenian and Persian music featuring duduk master Arsen Petrosyan with Adib Rostami on kamancheh and Mehdi Rostami on setar. Arsen Petrosyan, who leads the trio, is a virtuoso of the Armenian duduk, a traditional double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood, the origins of which date back to the fifth century.
Produced by Silvia Malnati
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Planet.'
SAT 22:30 New Music Show (m002mw3f)
Claire Chase's Listen List
Kate Molleson with more recorded highlights from last month's Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival including a performance by featured artist Heiner Goebbels. And in the latest Listen List, the adventurous American flautist Claire Chase shares three tracks she thinks we should hear.
SUNDAY 07 DECEMBER 2025
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002mw3h)
Bartók and Brahms from Cologne
The WDR Symphony Orchestra and conductor Cristian Măcelaru are joined by pianist Rudolf Buchbinder in a performance of the Piano Concerto no 1 by Brahms. The programme concludes with Bartók's last orchestral work, his celebrated Concerto for Orchestra. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Piano Concerto no 1 in D minor, Op 15
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano), WDR Sinfonieorchester, Cristian Măcelaru (conductor)
01:15 AM
Alfred Grünfeld (1852-1924)
Soirée de Vienne, Op 56 for piano (Concert Paraphrase from Strauss Waltzes)
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)
01:20 AM
Béla Bartók (1881-1945)
Concerto for Orchestra, Sz 116
WDR Sinfonieorchester, Cristian Măcelaru (conductor)
01:58 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
4 Songs for women's voices, 2 horns and harp, Op 17
Danish National Radio Choir, Leif Lind (horn), Per McClelland Jacobsen (horn), Catriona Yeats (harp), Stefan Parkman (conductor)
02:13 AM
Béla Bartók (1881-1945), arr. Andre Gertler
Sonatina
Barnabas Kelemen (violin), Zóltan Kocsis (piano)
02:17 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Overture to 'William Tell'
Munich Chamber Orchestra, Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor)
02:31 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Kinderszenen for piano, Op 15
Eun-Soo Son (piano)
02:50 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Tapiola, Op 112
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Kolbjørn Holthe (conductor)
03:08 AM
Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674)
Dixit Dominus
Capella Regia Musicalis, Robert Hugo (organ/director)
03:22 AM
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739-1799)
Symphony (after Ovid's Metamorphoses) no 3 in G major
La Stagione Frankfurt, Michael Schneider (director)
03:41 AM
Ján Cikker (1911-1989)
Ten Lullabies on Texts of a Folksong
Eva Šušková (soprano), Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Adrián Kokoš (conductor)
03:54 AM
François Couperin (1668-1733)
Rondeau: Le Tic-toc-choc (or Les maillotins)
Colin Tilney (harpsichord)
03:57 AM
Bosse Nordin (b.1971)
Schottische
Young Danish String Quartet
04:00 AM
Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787)
Trio in F major for 2 flutes and continuo
Karl Kaiser (flute), Michael Schneider (flute), Rainer Zipperling (cello), Harald Hoeren (harpsichord)
04:09 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Symphony for string orchestra no 10 in B minor
Risør Festival Strings
04:20 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Two Nocturnes, Op 32 (no 1 in B major; no 2 in A flat major)
Kevin Kenner (piano)
04:31 AM
Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)
Ruslan i Lyudmila (overture)
KBS Symphony Orchestra, Hubert Soudant (conductor)
04:37 AM
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Stabat Mater
Camerata Silesia - Katowice City Singers, Anna Szostak (director)
04:47 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Sinfonia in F major, Wq.175
Arte dei Suonatori, Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
04:57 AM
John Wilbye (1574-1638)
Draw on, sweet night (the second set of madrigals)
Ensemble Daedalus, Roberto Festa (director)
05:01 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), Friedrich Rückert (author), arr. Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger
Du bist die Ruh (D.776), arr. Reger for voice and orchestra
Brigitte Fournier (soprano), National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Semkow (conductor)
05:06 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Trio in B flat major, K.502
Amatis Piano Trio
05:30 AM
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
The Sleeping Beauty suite, Op 66a
Radio Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, Ondrej Lenárd (conductor)
05:50 AM
Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)
Piano Sonata no 2 in E flat major, Op 13
Antonio Pompa-Baldi (piano)
06:11 AM
Marcin Leopolita (b.?-1589)
Missa Paschalis
Barbara Janowska (soprano), Wanda Laddy (soprano), Robert Lawaty (counter tenor), Cezary Szyfman (baritone), Michał Straszewski (bass), Il Canto
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002mw77)
Roll out of bed into classical music
Mark Forrest presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
SUN 09:00 Sunday Morning (m002mw79)
Three hours of classical sparkle
Today, Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain transports us to warmer climes, and there’s some glorious music by JS Bach arranged for brass band.
There’s also time to sit back and enjoy the whole of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s shining violin concerto, and Angela Morley’s Snowride takes us to a whirling, waltzing festive scene.
Plus, today’s Choral Reflection might spark some Christmas nostalgia…
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002mw7d)
Chris Beardshaw
Chris Beardshaw is a garden and landscape designer who has won 15 Gold Medals from the Royal Horticultural Society, and has enjoyed great success at the Chelsea Flower Show.
He was first given some seeds at the age of four, and - under the 'no nonsense' eye of his grandmother - soon became fascinated by growing things. He’s written several books, including 100 Plants That Almost Changed the World, and he’s shared his knowledge on everything from his favourite 'bombproof' plants to dealing with slugs as a regular panellist on Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time for more than 25 years.
Chris's choices include music by Rodrigo, Max Richter, Karl Jenkins and Elgar.
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002mw7j)
Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores a journey to Bernstein's electrifying Symphonic Dances from his ground-breaking musical West Side Story. There are stops for Tchaikovsky's swooning star-crossed lovers, Saint-Saens's sinister Danse Macabre and for a global smash hit from Cuba. Along the way, Rameau gets percussive and there's a nod to Bradley Cooper's 2023 biopic Maestro too.
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Map.'
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002ml87)
Arundel Cathedral
Choral Vespers from Arundel Cathedral.
Prelude: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 (Bach)
Introit: O radiant dawn (James MacMillan)
Responses: Elizabeth Stratford
Office hymn: Who are these like stars appearing (All Saints)
Psalm 26 vv1-14 (Plainsong)
Canticle: Colossians 1 (Greg Murray)
Reading: Romans 13 vv8-14
Magnificat tertii toni (Bevan)
Anthem: How lovely are the messengers (Mendelssohn)
Hymn: Hail to the Lord’s anointed (Crüger)
Marian Antiphon: Alma redemptoris mater (Plainsong)
Voluntary: Second liturgical improvisation (Oldroyd)
Elizabeth Stratford (Organist and Master of the Choristers)
John Sharples, Alexander Eadon (Organists)
Recorded 13 November.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002mw7m)
Jack Bruce -Stan Kenton - Mildred Bailey
Alyn Shipton has listener requests featuring all styles of jazz including cuts from Stan Kenton, Jack Bruce, Lorna Reid and Mildred Bailey.
Get in touch: jrr@bbc.co.uk or use #jazzrecordrequests on social
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Jazz Record Requests'.
SUN 17:00 The Early Music Show (m002mw7p)
Esteban Salas - Christmas in Cuba
Hannah French explores the life and music of the 18th Century Cuban composer Esteban Salas y Castro, who is particularly famous for his Christmas music.
Born in Havana on Christmas Day 1725, of mixed Spanish and African heritage, Salas spent his entire life in Cuba, working as a priest, as a teacher and as a musician. The music conservatory in Santiago de Cuba is named in his honour.
To listen to this programme using most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play The Early Music Show'.
SUN 18:00 Words and Music (m002mw7r)
Jane Austen's world
Amanda Root and Crystal Clarke are our readers in a programme marking 250 years since Jane Austen's birth. Austen's father encouraged her to play the piano, at her home in Chawton she practiced every day before breakfast and the family collection of music books have been digitized by the University of Southampton. Our musical tapestry includes compositions by Händel and Haydn, recently recorded by the pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason for her album Jane Austen's Piano. The scores for numerous TV and film adaptations by composers including Isobel Waller-Bridge and the actor-musician Johnny Flynn breathe new life into Austen's works on screen. And in the novels themselves her characters meet at dances, in Emma the mystery of who has paid for a piano sets tongues wagging while in Sense and Sensibility the sensible Elinor Dashwood has no real interest in music but her rather more romantic sister Marianne loves playing the pianoforte and singing.
Amanda Root played Anne Elliot in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Persuasion and Crystal Clarke played Georgiana Lambe in the 2019- 2023 ITV adaptation/ continuation of Sanditon.
Producer: Kirsty McQuire
READINGS:
An extract from Edward Austen-Leigh’s Memoir of Jane Austen, quoting her niece Caroline
Northanger Abbey
Emma
Sense and Sensibility
An extract from Austen's Sanditon fragment
Mansfield Park
An extract from Heiresses by Miranda Kaufmann
Sanditon by Kate Riordan
Mansfield Park
Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Persuasion
Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James
SUN 19:15 Between the Ears (m002mw7t)
A Hymn to Water
From its origins in Mallerstang, Cumbria, the River Eden snakes through limestone gorge and the busy city of Carlisle to the Solway Firth and the sea.
Growing up near it, Jacob Polley's poetic sensibilities were shaped by its gentle trickle, its white-noise roar and the lapping of water along its banks.
In this Between the Ears, Jacob wanders from the source to the sea, listening, observing and composing as he goes, attempting to discover why water has played such a role in his life and work.
Along the way, he meets the View from the River swimmers Julia Aglionby, Jenny Prosser and Kit Hollings, who have their own unusual perspective - looking out from water as opposed to our usual gaze toward it.
Reading from a new work at key staging posts along the river, bought to life by musician Kathryn Williams, Jacob offers an examination of his own thoughts and feelings about water and its shaping of his soul.
With contributions from Hugh Edan; Matt Staniek; Mike Harpur, project manager with the Environment Agency; Kit Hollings, Jenny Prosser and Julia Aglionby from View from the River.
Presented by Jacob Polley
Music and sound design by Strijbos & Van Rijswijk
Produced by Kev Core and Sue Roberts
SUN 19:45 Sunday Feature (m002mw7w)
Taped letters
From mix tapes to voice notes: New Generation Thinker, Linguist at Newcastle University, and child of the military Rebecca Woods looks at how cassette tapes provided connection and community across the seas in the late 20th Century. On cassettes passed hand to hand, the Dinka people of South Sudan share stories of luck and loss through narrative song cycles. Sewn into cloth bags, taped letters from Manchester to Pakistan help love blossom – or carry curses bound for meddling mothers-in-law. Tucked into suitcases, recordings of reluctant small children and Christmas songs keep British military personnel in touch with their families.
Joined by academic ethno-musicologist Angela Impey, founder of the Tape Letters archive Wajid Yaseen, and RAF veteran nurse Patsy Curtis, Rebecca shares these stories with you through the modern technologies that have replaced taped letters and musical mixtapes, from Zoom to music sharing platforms to the increasingly ubiquitous WhatsApp voice note.
Producer: Julian Siddle
SUN 20:00 Record Review (m002mw7y)
Debussy: Pelléas and Mélisande
A chance to hear more of yesterday's Building a Library recommendation, as well as other new releases from the week.
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002mw80)
Tristan Murail: the birth and death of sounds
Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present BBC Radio 3's series exploring the pivotal 'modern' musical works of the 20th century, the groundbreaking composers who created them, and the radical cultural and artistic movements which gave rise to them. In this episode, Gillian explores the music of Tristan Murail, including a full listen to his piece Désintégrations. We will pay a visit to the studios at IRCAM in the 1980s, find out how French artists in the 1970s led to the development of a new modernist musical genre, and revel in the life cycle of a sound.
Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers just say, 'ask BBC Sounds to play 20th Century Radicals'.
SUN 22:00 Compline (m002mw82)
Advent 2
A reflective service of night prayer from the Chapel of Keble College, Oxford. With words and music for the end of the day.
Introit: A tender shoot (Kerensa Briggs)
Preces: Plainsong
Hymn: Te Lucis ante terminum (Richard Pantcheff)
Psalm 91 vv1-12 (Plainsong)
Reading: Malachi 3 v1
Responsory: Into thy hands, O Lord (Plainsong)
Canticle: Nunc dimittis (Otto Olsson)
Marian Antiphon: Alma redemptoris Mater (Cecilia McDowall)
Christian Wilson (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Compline'.
SUN 22:30 Night Tracks (m002mw84)
Immersive music for moonlight
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002mw86)
Mary Lattimore’s Listening Chair
Elizabeth Alker welcomes the American harpist and composer Mary Lattimore into the Unclassified Listening Chair to share a track that transports her elsewhere. Mary uses her harp alongside perfectly-placed effects to conjure impressionistic musical worlds forged out of memory and movement - one critic suggested she has, 'the uncanny ability to pluck a string in a way that will instantly make someone remember the taste of their fifth birthday cake.' Committed to the creativity that comes from both improvisation and collaboration, Mary has worked with artists including Thurston Moore, Sharon Van Etten and Jarvis Cocker on albums such as ’Hundreds of Days,’ ‘Silver Ladders’ and ’Goodbye, Hotel Arkada’. Elsewhere in the programme, Elizabeth selects fresh music from genre-defying artists who take us on a journey through landscapes of ambient and experimental sounds.
Produced by Geoff Bird
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
MONDAY 08 DECEMBER 2025
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002mw88)
Francesco Piemontesi plays piano sonatas by Schubert and Liszt
Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi performs Liszt's B minor sonata and Schubert's Sonata in D, D.850 at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg in Austria. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Piano Sonata no 17 in D major, D.850
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
01:11 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
01:43 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Au lac de Wallenstadt, from 'Années de pèlerinage: première année: Suisse S.160'
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
01:47 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Allegretto, no 6 from 'Six Moments musicaux, D.780'
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
01:53 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), Friedrich Schiller (author)
Die Gotter Griechenlands, D.677b
Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Andreas Staier (pianoforte)
01:58 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Cello Sonata no 2 in F major, Op 99
Leonard Elschenbroich (cello), Alexei Grynyuk (piano)
02:31 AM
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
The Planets - suite Op 32
NFM Chorus, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, José Maria Florêncio (conductor)
03:28 AM
Dario Castello (1602-1631)
Sonata XVII in ecco
Musica Fiata Köln
03:35 AM
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Un Soir de neige - Cantata for 6 Voices
BBC Singers, Yan Pascal Tortelier (conductor)
03:42 AM
Hilda Sehested (1858-1936)
Tre Fantasistykker (3 Fantasy pieces)
Nina Reintoft (cello), Malene Thastum (piano)
03:53 AM
Eugen Suchoň (1908-1993)
Ballade for Horn and Orchestra
Peter Sivanic (horn), Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mário Košik (conductor)
04:03 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata no 24 in F sharp major, Op 78
Cédric Tiberghien (piano)
04:11 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Song to the Moon from Rusalka, Op 114
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kamirski (conductor)
04:18 AM
Traditional, arr. Eldbjørg Hemsing
Traditional Homecoming
Eldbjørg Hemsing (violin)
04:22 AM
John Foulds (1880-1939)
Keltic Overture, Op 28
BBC Concert Orchestra, Ronald Corp (conductor)
04:31 AM
Giuseppe Torelli (1658-1709)
Sonata in D for Trumpet, Strings and Basso Continuo
Sebastian Philpott (trumpet), European Union Baroque Orchestra, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
04:38 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
The Swan of Tuonela (Lemminkainen suite, Op 22)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thomas Søndergård (conductor)
04:49 AM
György Ligeti (1923-2006)
Studies for piano (selection)
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
04:55 AM
Walter Piston (1894-1976)
Prelude and Allegro (for organ and orchestra)
David Schrader (organ), Grant Park Orchestra, Carlos Kalmar (conductor)
05:06 AM
Jocelyn Pook (b.1960), Andrew Motion (author)
Mobile
King's Singers
05:10 AM
Dinu Lipatti (1917-1950)
Piano Concertino, 'en style ancien', Op 3
Horia Mihail (piano), Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Horia Andreescu (conductor)
05:27 AM
César Franck (1822-1890), arr. Jean Pierre Rampal
Sonata for flute and piano (orig. violin and piano)
Carlos Bruneel (flute), Levente Kende (piano)
05:53 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), orch. Henri Büsser
Printemps – symphonic suite
Ukrainian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Volodymyr Sirenko (conductor)
06:09 AM
Hyacinthe Jadin (1776-1800)
Trio no 4 in E flat major, Op 2 no 1
Trio AnPaPié
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002mw3p)
Breakfast with the best classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
MON 09:30 Essential Classics (m002mw3r)
A classical soundtrack for your morning
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
MON 13:00 Classical Live (m002mw3t)
Flautist Elizaveta Ivanova live from Wigmore Hall
Linton Stephens introduces an afternoon of specially recorded music including performances from current and recent Radio 3 New Generation Artists.
Also this week Linton features performances from all of the BBC orchestras with a focus on music associated with the sea. Today, the BBC Philharmonic plays Grace Williams' Sea Sketches.
But we begin the week with a live concert from Wigmore Hall. Current Radio 3 New Generation Artist, flautist Elizavbeta Ivanova and pianist Sanja Bizjak perform pieces by Dvorak, Schubert and Schumann. Inventor and composer Thomas Böhm did much to improve the flute during the 1840s. Elizaveta Ivanova, winner of the 2024 Geneva International Music Competition makes her Wigmore Hall debut which a programme that includes some of Böhm's transcriptions of peerless songs by Schubert.
Wigmore Hall Live
introduced by Hannah French
Franz Schubert arr. Theobald Böhm: Der Lindenbaum [Winterreise, D. 911]
Antonin Dvorak: Sonatina in G, Op.100
Franz Schubert arr. Theobald Böhm: Das Fischermädchen [Schwanengesang, D. 957]
Robert Schumann arr. Theobald Böhm: Violin Sonata No.1 in A minor, Op. 105
Franz Schubert arr. Theobald Böhm: Die Taubenpost [Schwanengesang, D. 957]
***
From
2pm
Grace Williams: Sea Sketches
BBC Philharmonic
John Andrews (conductor)
Georg Phillip Telemann: Trio Sonata in D minor, TWV.42:d10
Ensemble Augelletti
Edward Elgar: String Quartet in E minor
Kleio Quartet
Oyvind Torvund: Among the Clouds
BBC Symphony Orchestra & BBC Singers
Gabriella Teichenné (conductor)
Fanny Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Op. 8
Giorgi Gigashvili (piano)
Igor Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
James Ehnes (violin)
BBC Philharmonic
Andrew Davis (conductor)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live'.
MON 16:00 Composer of the Week (m001svql)
A Medieval Christmas
Blowe, Northerne Wynd
Mediaeval carols and the story of St. Nicholas, with Donald Macleod.
Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during medieval times. Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered. Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our mediaeval ancestors.
Today, Donald and William introduce carols from Finland and Winter songs in Old English. Plus we discover the original story of St. Nicholas, before he became the Santa Claus figure we know today.
Anon. Gaudete
Steeleye Span
Anon. Personent hodie; Gaudete; Omnis mundus jucundetur
Retrover Ensemble, directed by Markus Tapio
Perotin: Alleluia Nativitas
The Hilliard Ensemble, directed by Paul Hillier
Miri it is while sumer ilast
Blowe, Northerne Wynd (arr. William Lyons)
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective
Seint Nicholas was borne in the citee of Patras; Cantu mirro, summa laude; Sainte nicholaes; Salve cleri speculum - Salve iubar presulum
Anonymous 4
Dufay: Ce jour de l'an
Alta Bellezza
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002mw3x)
Live music from Apollo5
Vocal ensemble Apollo5 joins Petroc Trelawny live in studio to perform ahead of their appearance at the 'LIVE from London' seasonal online festival. Acclaimed viola player Antoine Tamestit - is also in Broadcasting House to discuss his upcoming concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra , as well as his latest album The Viola In My Life.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002mw3z)
The perfect classical half hour
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music. To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Mixtape'.
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002mw41)
Shostakovich from Manchester
Premiered nine months after the death of Stalin, Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony is a visceral response to the tyranny and brutality of Stalin's years of terror, his music now able to openly express seething anger and deep grief. The second movement Scherzo is some of his best known music; its brevity adding power to unspeakably terrifying rage. The extrovert power of the music is accompanied, though, by a deeply personal theme throughout the symphony; he uses his own initials as the basis of a recurring tune which desperately permeates the piece.
Personal tragedy is at the heart of Dvořák's richly lyrical Cello Concerto; the slow movement is dedicated to his sister-in-law Josefina who died as he completed the piece. Anastasia Kobekina, who first worked with the BBC Philharmonic as a Radio 3 New Generation Artist, and with whom they have formed a lasting relationship, joins the orchestra to bring her trademark warmth and passion to the music.
The programme opens with Shostakovich's Festive Overture. Written at break-neck speed to a last minute commission, its extrovert fun ticked all the boxes at its premiere and its virtuosic exuberance is undeniable.
Recorded at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall on 15 November and presented by Tom McKinney.
Shostakovich: Festive Overture
Dvořák: Cello Concerto
Music Interval
Shostakovich: Symphony No.10
Anastasia Kobekina (cello)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
MON 21:45 The Essay (m002mw43)
Scotland in Song
Robert Carver
Music knows many different forms in Scotland, as a result of her radically different traditions: the Lowland Scots one, the Gaelic Highland one, and that one represented by the north-east, greatly influenced by ancient links with Norway. Poet Kenneth Steven chooses to explore the stories of five composers, almost seeking to weave a piece of tweed from the journeys of their lives as musicians.
The Scottish Renaissance: Robert Carver
There’s much we don’t know about Robert Carver (if that even was his surname): where and when precisely he was born or the family he came from. Even less is known of all the other Scottish composers of his time; it’s simply that he stands out as the shining light of his time.
The great musicologist and composer John Purser writes of Carver in his wonderful weaving of the whole journey of Scotland’s Music. These are his words about one piece, Gaude Flore Virginali:
‘It is a subtle, well-balanced piece of great purity. Feminine in principle, its restrained modesty uses the full five parts only in the outer verses. In the fifth verse which speaks of the suffering of Mary, Carver employs three and then two voices only, while exploring dark harmonies that few, if any, of his contemporaries had tried. But within this smaller ensemble Carver uses much variety – the higher voices, plaintive for the Mother of Sorrows and, in a beautiful and joyful passage with the parts weaving in and out, he depicts the blissful throne of heaven.’
Presenter Kenneth Steven
Producer Mark Rickards
A Whistledown Scotland Production for BBC Radio 3
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002mw46)
Music for the still of night
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
MON 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002mw48)
Tina Edwards sits in
This week DJ, broadcaster, curator and music journalist, Tina Edwards, known for championing rising jazz artists from the UK and beyond, returns for a second time to sit in for Soweto all this week.
From Monday to Thursday, Tina's guest for Flowers is London based French-Senegalese singer-songwriter anaiis. She is celebrated for her silken vocals and fortitude as songwriter, drawing listeners into her musical world. anaiis' mini-album with her Grupo Cosmo, featured leading artists from Brazil including Sessa, and she has just released her latest album “Devotion and the Black Divine”.
To begin her week on Flowers, anaiis chooses to give her first bouquet to an innovative UK saxophonist, flautist and composer.
Plus, there's music from Billy Strayhorn, SwanNek, and Amanda Whiting.
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight'.
TUESDAY 09 DECEMBER 2025
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002mw4b)
Rachmaninov and Mahler at the 2023 BBC Proms
Sir Stephen Hough plays Rachmaninov's First Piano Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Mark Wigglesworth, alongside Mahler's First Symphony 'Titan' and the world premiere of a new work by Grace Evangeline Mason. Danielle Jalowiecka presents.
12:31 AM
Grace-Evangeline Mason (b.1994)
ABLAZE THE MOON
BBC Philharmonic, Mark Wigglesworth (conductor)
12:37 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto no 1 in F sharp minor, Op 1
Stephen Hough (piano), BBC Philharmonic, Mark Wigglesworth (conductor)
01:04 AM
Anton Grigoryevich Rubinstein (1829-1894)
Melody in F major
Stephen Hough (piano)
01:08 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Symphony no 1 in D major, 'Titan'
BBC Philharmonic, Mark Wigglesworth (conductor)
02:00 AM
Augusta Holmès (1847-1903)
La vision de la reine
BBC Singers Women's Voices, Morwenna Del Mar (cello), Alison Martin (harp), Annabel Thwaite (piano), Hilary Campbell (conductor)
02:18 AM
Leoš Janáček (1854-1928)
Pohadka (Fairy tale)
Jonathan Slaatto (cello), Martin Qvist Hansen (piano)
02:31 AM
Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758)
13 pieces from 'Drottningholmsmusiquen' (for the Swedish Royal Wedding of 1744)
Concerto Köln
02:52 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
12 Studies Op 10 for piano
Lukas Geniušas (piano)
03:23 AM
Cornelius Canis (1515-1561)
Tota pulchra es
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul Van Nevel (conductor)
03:28 AM
Blagoje Bersa (1873-1934)
Idila Op 25b (1902)
Croatian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mladen Tarbuk (conductor)
03:36 AM
Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)
2 Arias: 'Wie nahte mir der Schlummer' and 'Leise, Leise, fromme Weise'
Joanne Kolomyjec (soprano), Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
03:45 AM
John Stanley (1712-1786)
Concerto for organ in C minor
John Toll (organ), London Baroque
03:56 AM
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Gnossienne no 1 for piano
Håvard Gimse (piano)
04:01 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Rondo in D major (KAnh.184) arranged for flute and piano
Carina Jandl (flute), Svetlana Sokolova (piano)
04:07 AM
Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960)
Symphonic Minutes, Op 36
West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Jorge Mester (conductor)
04:20 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Piano Trio in E flat major, D.897 'Notturno'
Vadim Repin (violin), Jan-Erik Gustafsson (cello), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
04:31 AM
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Overture from Beatrice et Benedict
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
04:39 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Legende no 1: St. Francois d'Assise prechant aux oiseaux (S.175)
Bernhard Stavenhagen (piano)
04:49 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
String Quartet in D major, Op 64 no 5 'Lark'
Tilev String Quartet, Gueorgui Tilev (violin), Svetoslav Marinov (violin), Ogunian Stantchev (viola), Yontcho Bayrov (cello)
05:07 AM
Henri Sauguet (1901-1989)
La Nuit (1929)
CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Daniel Swift (conductor)
05:19 AM
György Orbán (b.1947)
Cor mundum
Tallinn Music High School Chamber Choir, Evi Eespere (director)
05:26 AM
Josef Suk (1949-2011), Gabrielle Brunner (20th C)
4 Pieces for violin and piano 'post-composed' for violin and string ensemble
Antje Weithaas (violin), Camerata Bern, Antje Weithaas (director)
05:45 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Lascia ch'io pianga (from Act 2 Sc 2 of 'Rinaldo' HWV.7)
Marita Kvarving Sølberg (soprano), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ketil Haugsand (conductor)
05:50 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata no 4 in E flat, K 282
André Laplante (piano)
06:07 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt - from 'Götterdämmerung'
Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Lovro von Matačić (conductor)
06:25 AM
Tarquinio Merula (1595-1665)
Ciaccona, Op 12
Il Giardino Armonico
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002mx1k)
Birdsong and Bach to banish those morning blues
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
TUE 09:30 Essential Classics (m002mx1m)
The very best of classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
TUE 13:00 Classical Live (m002mx1p)
Debussy’s La Mer live from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Linton Stephens introduces an afternoon of specially recorded and live music including performances from current and recent Radio 3 New Generation Artists. In today’s programme we hear recent recordings from flautist Elizaveta Ivanova, pianist Giorgi Gigashvili, the Kleio Quartet and period performance group, Ensemble Augelletti.
Today at
2.30pm, there's also a special live concert from MediaCity in Salford, as Joshua Weilerstein conducts the BBC Philharmonic in Debussy's La Mer, alongside pieces by Ravel, Tailleferre and Camille Pépin.
Including:
Felix Mendelssohn: Overture – the Fair Melusine, Op. 32
Ulster Orchestra
Sinead Hayes (conductor)
JS Bach: Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV. 830
Giorgi Gigashvili (piano)
Sergei Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op. 19
Inmo Yang (violin)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)
Carl Nielsen: String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13
Kleio Quartet
2.30pm Live from MediaCity, Salford
Camille Pépin: Laniakea
Maurice Ravel: Une barque sur l’océan
Germaine Tailleferre: Petite Suite
Claude Debussy: La Mer
BBC Philharmonic
Joshua Weilerstein (conductor)
Georg Phillip Telemann: Sonata in A minor, TWV.42:a1
Ensemble Augelletti
Erwin Schulhof: Flute Sonata
Elizaveta Ivanova (flute)
Sanja Bizjak (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
TUE 16:00 Composer of the Week (m001svwm)
A Medieval Christmas
Daniel and the Feast of Fools
Donald Macleod investigates some unusual festive celebrations popular in the Middle Ages.
Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during mediaeval times. Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered. Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our mediaeval ancestors.
Today, Donald and William look at how churches in the Middle Ages used theatre to press home their Christmas messages, plus they focus their attention the much misunderstood church festival of the ‘Feast of Fools’.
Orientis partibus
Ensemble Obsidienne, directed by Emmanuel Bonnardot,
Orientis partibus
Ensemble Discantus, directed by Brigitte Lesne
The Play of Daniel (Ludus Danielis): Prelude & extracts from Part 1
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
Hec est Clara dies
Ensemble Obsidienne, directed by Emmanuel Bonnardot,
Procedenti puero
Ensemble Discantus, directed by Brigitte Lesne
Pérotin: Salvatoris hodie
Diabolus In Musica
The Play of Daniel (Ludus Danielis): Extracts from Part 2
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002mx1s)
Richard Shelton performs live with his Quartet
Petroc Trelawny welcomes jazz singer Richard Shelton to perform live with his Quartet, presenting songs from his festive album A Swinging Christmas. Conductor Ellie Slorach is also live in Broadcasting House to discuss leading performances of The Snowman with Sinfonia Smith Square and Royal Northern Sinfonia.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002mx1v)
A laid-back sequence of classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music, including works by Ravel, Poulenc and Bizet, seasonal choral music for advent by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange, a taste of winter from Delius, and some of Nicholas Britell's haunting score for the TV drama - Succession.
Producer: Helen Garrison
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002mx1x)
Stephen Kovacevich and Martha Argerich play Brahms and Debussy
One of Beethoven's late piano sonatas dominates the first half of a concert in which the American pianist Stephen Kovacevich celebrates his 85th birthday at Wigmore Hall in London. He's joined by the violinist Irène Duval for the first of Brahms' violin sonatas, and unites with long-time musical collaborator - the pianist Martha Argerich - to conclude with captivating Debussy.
Presented by Ian Skelly and recorded on 22nd October at Wigmore Hall in London.
Brahms: 7 Fantasien, Op. 116 - Intermezzo in E
Brahms: Intermezzo in F minor, Op. 118 No. 4
Brahms: 7 Fantasien, Op. 116 - Capriccio in D minor
Brahms: Intermezzo in A, Op. 118 No. 2
Brahms: Intermezzo in E flat minor, Op. 118 No. 6
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat, Op. 110
Interval
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 78
Debussy: En blanc et noir
Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Irène Duval (violin)
Stephen Kovacevich (piano)
Martha Argerich (piano)
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert'.
TUE 21:45 The Essay (m002mx1z)
Scotland in Song
Tobias Hume
Music knows many different forms in Scotland, as a result of her radically different traditions: the Lowland Scots one, the Gaelic Highland one, and that one represented by the north-east, greatly influenced by ancient links with Norway. Poet Kenneth Steven chooses to explore the stories of five composers, almost seeking to weave a piece of tweed from the journeys of their lives as musicians.
The Reformation: Tobias Hume
It’s more than likely Tobias Hume came from a Catholic family. His name derives from one of the books of the Apocrypha, those texts omitted from the Protestant Bible. This may well be why he ended up in Poland, for that was one of the countries to which many Catholics from Scotland fled in the 16th century in order to be able to worship in freedom. It was also the reason Tobias Hume gained such a knowledge of Polish music. But he was hardly in Poland to enjoy life as a musician, much as he might have wished he could have been - he was here rather as a soldier and a mercenary.
His first music was published in London in the years of 1605 and 1607; since James had been crowned in 1603 that would point to his having come to London in the hope of seeking his patronage.
Presenter Kenneth Steven
Producer Mark Rickards
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 3
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002mx21)
Immersive music for after-hours
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
TUE 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002mx23)
anaiis's Flowers
Tina Edwards, sitting in all week for Soweto Kinch, presents 'Round Midnight - a weeknight celebration of jazz from across the spectrum, with a particular focus on new UK music.
Singer-songwriter anaiis is back with her second Flowers pick of the week, and tonight she chooses an American vocalist whose rendition of a jazz standard deeply influenced her.
Also in the programme, there’s music from Sarathy Korwar, COLECTIVA, and Bembe Segue and De Lata.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER 2025
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002mx25)
Dvořák's Violin Concerto and Amy Beach's 'Gaelic' Symphony
Midori is the soloist in Dvořák's Violin Concerto with the German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin. The programme also features 'Earworms' by Vivian Fung and Amy Beach's 'Gaelic' Symphony. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Vivian Fung (b.1975)
Earworms
German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin, Marie Jacquot (conductor)
12:43 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op 53
Midori (violin), German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin, Marie Jacquot (conductor)
01:17 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude, from 'Partita no 3 in E major, BWV.1006'
Midori (violin)
01:21 AM
Amy Beach (1867-1944)
Symphony in E minor, Op 32 'Gaelic Symphony'
German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin, Marie Jacquot (conductor)
02:06 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Five Scottish and Irish songs
Stephen Powell (tenor), Lorraine Reinhardt (soprano), Linda Lee Thomas (piano), Gwen Thompson (violin), Eugene Osadchy (cello), Vancouver Chamber Choir, Jon Washburn (conductor)
02:20 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Slavonic Dance, Op 46 no 2
Moshe Hammer (violin), Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi (cello), William Tritt (piano)
02:25 AM
Traditional, arr. Fritz Kreisler
Farewell to Cucullain 'Londonderry Air' - an old Irish melody arr for piano trio
Moshe Hammer (violin), Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi (cello), William Tritt (piano)
02:31 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Harpsichord Concerto in D minor, Wq 17
Andrea Buccarella (harpsichord), Kore Orchestra
02:53 AM
Česlovas Sasnauskas (1867-1916)
Requiem
Inesa Linaburgyte (mezzo soprano), Algirdas Janutas (tenor), Vladimiras Prudnikovas (bass), Kaunas State Choir, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Petras Bingelis (conductor)
03:27 AM
Alexander Scriabin (1871-1915)
Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op 9 no 2
Anatol Urgorski (piano)
03:34 AM
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
Oboe Concerto in E flat (arr for trumpet)
Geoffrey Payne (trumpet), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Halász (conductor)
03:42 AM
Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880)
Polonaise in A major for violin & piano, Op 21
Piotr Plawner (violin), Andrzej Guz (piano)
03:52 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
The Wasps - overture
Argovia Philharmonic, Douglas Bostock (conductor)
04:03 AM
John Dowland (1563-1626), arr. John Duarte / Galbraith
Fantasie arr. Duarte/Galbraith for guitar
Manuel Calderon (guitar)
04:07 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Abendempfindung, K.523
Elly Ameling (soprano), Jörg Demus (piano)
04:12 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune
Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marcello Viotti (conductor)
04:23 AM
Bartolomé de Selma y Salaverde (1580-1640)
Canzona terza
Accentus Austria, Thomas Wimmer (director)
04:31 AM
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
Or est maintenant, l'eternel regnant (Psalm 99)
Netherlands Chamber Choir, Peter Phillips (conductor)
04:35 AM
Josip Raffaelli (1767-1843)
Introduction and theme with variations in A major
Vladimir Krpan (piano)
04:44 AM
Unico Wilhelm Van Wassenaer (1692-1766)
Concerto armonico no 6 in E flat major (from Sei Concerti Armonici, 1740)
Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, Jan Willem de Vriend (conductor)
04:53 AM
Florence Price (1887-1953)
Concert Overture no 2
BBC Concert Orchestra, Jane Glover (conductor)
05:09 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Flute Quartet in D major, K.285
Joanna G'froerer (flute), Martin Beaver (violin), Pinchas Zukerman (viola), Amanda Forsyth (cello)
05:24 AM
Alfred Desenclos (1912-1971)
Prelude, Cadence and Finale
Jan Gricar (saxophone), Tomaz Hostnik (piano)
05:35 AM
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra, Op 33 (original version)
Alexander Rudin (cello), Romanian National Radio Orchestra, Alexander Rudin (conductor)
05:54 AM
Josquin des Prez (c1440 - 1521)
Missa de Beata Virgine
BBC Singers, Bo Holten (conductor)
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002mwjz)
Launch the day with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
WED 09:30 Essential Classics (m002mwk1)
Relax into the day with classical
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
WED 13:00 Classical Live (m002mwk3)
Elgar's Sea Pictures
Linton Stephens continues his week of specially recorded music and performances from current and recent Radio 3 New Generation Artists, including flautist Elizaveta Ivanova, pianist Giorgi Gigashvili, the Kleio Quartet and Ensemble Augelletti.
Today, pianist Eric Lu performs his winning concerto at the recent Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw and Giorgi Gigashvili plays Mendelssohn at this summer's Cheltenham Music Festival. Plus, continuing with this week's nautical theme, there's a performance of Elgar's Sea Pictures from mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Including:
Fryderyk Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasy in A flat, Op. 61
Eric Lu (piano)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
Eric Lu (piano)
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrey Boreyko (conductor)
Edward Elgar: Sea Pictures
Beth Taylor (mezzo-soprano)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)
Gaetano Donizetti: Flute Sonata in C major
Elizaveta Ivanova (flute)
Sanja Bizjak (piano)
Mrs Philharmonica: Divertimento in D minor
Ensemble Augelletti
Felix Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Op. 19
Giorgi Gigashvili (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live'.
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002mwk5)
St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden
Live from the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, with the choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
Introit: The Lord will come (Grayston Ives)
Responses: Alexander Haythorne
Psalms 53, 54, 55 (Stanford, Van den Heuvel, Stainer, Martin)
First Lesson: Amos 9 vv11-15
Office hymn: Conditor alme siderum (Plainsong, arr. Washington)
Canticles: Third Service (Philip Moore)
Second Lesson: Romans 13 vv8-14
Anthem: O Oriens (Matthew Martin)
Hymn: Hills of the North, rejoice (Little Cornard, arr. Paul Plummer)
Voluntary: Symphony No 7 (Moderato) (Widor)
Matthew Martin (Precentor)
Eben Eyres, Jack van den Heuvel (Organists)
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong'.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m001sw8v)
A Medieval Christmas
Christmas at Notre Dame
Donald Macleod explores musical innovations at Paris’s newly built gothic cathedral.
Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during medieval times. Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered. Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our mediaeval ancestors.
The gothic architectural wonder that is Notre Dame Cathedral first rose above the streets of Paris during the 12th and 13th centuries. The composers employed there, to write music for this brand new building, were working at the cutting edge of mediaeval musical thought. Today, Donald and William introduce sacred Christmas music from mediaeval Notre Dame and discuss what makes it so extraordinary.
Dum sigillum summi patris [instrumental]
Ensemble Anonymus
Perotin: Viderunt Omnes
The Hilliard Ensemble, dir. Paul Hillier
Hodie Christus natus est
Viderunt Emmanuel
Lux hodie, Lux leticie
Ensemble Discantus, directed by Brigitte Lesne
Psallat chorus; Eximie pater et regie; Aptatur
Descendit de cælis
In natali Domini
Ensemble Anonymus
Isaias Cecinit
Perotin: Sederunt Principes
The Hilliard Ensemble, dir. Paul Hillier
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002mwk8)
Live music from Sir Willard White
Katie Derham welcomes Sir Willard White in studio, to perform live with pianist Eugene Asti ahead of their recital at Wigmore Hall in London on 12/12. The programme also features live music from Baroque music group Lowe Ensemble, who are joined by lute player Danny Murphy for a performance of music as presented in their upcoming appearance at York Early Music Christmas Festival on 12/12.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m0025tc1)
Expand your horizons with classical music
Half and hour of back to back classical music to help wind down at the end of a busy day. Today's mix includes some festive favourites such as Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Lauridsen's 'O Magnum Mysterium' and a Christmas Lullaby by John Rutter. Woven into the tinsel is some J.S. Bach performed by pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, a concerto by Dora Bright, and Voces8's own take on 'Away in a manger'.
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Mixtape'.
Producer: Helen Garrison
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002mwkb)
Richard Strauss Triple Bill
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director Kazuki Yamada give a concert dedicated to the music of Richard Strauss, including a pair of tone poems encompassing life, death and what it means to be human. Plus Jonathan Kelly, current principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic, rejoins his former orchestra as the soloist in the Oboe Concerto.
Tod und Verklarung (Death and Transfiguration) was written when Strauss was in his mid-20s and deeply enthralled with the musical world of Richard Wagner. It depicts the last moments of a man's life, both the external reality of his bed-ridden existence and the battle raging between life and death within his soul. But as the moment of death comes, Strauss's music opens out ecstatic new horizons; the soul is transfigured and transported heavenwards.
From the other end of Strauss's long composing career and inhabiting a far more intimate soundworld, the Oboe Concerto was one of his final creations. As with so much of his late music, it was inspired by Strauss's greatest musical hero: Mozart. The idea for the concerto came from one John de Lancie, an American military intelligence officer and oboist who had befriended the elderly composer when posted to the area of Switzerland where Strauss was living at the end of World War II.
After the interval, the iconic opening of Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra) will blast out in Birmingham's Symphony Hall. But it doesn't stop there; the expansive Nietzsche-inspired symphonic tone poem is far more than its celebrated beginning. Joys and passions, dances and dirges - the music responds to and encapsulates some of life's highs and lows before melting into the dark of a peaceful night.
Presented by Al Ryan.
***
Richard Strauss: Tod und Verklarung, Op. 24
Richard Strauss: Oboe Concerto in D major
INTERVAL
Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Jonathan Kelly (oboe)
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)
***
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert'.
WED 21:45 The Essay (m002mwkd)
Scotland in Song
Sophia Dussek
Music knows many different forms in Scotland, as a result of her radically different traditions: the Lowland Scots one, the Gaelic Highland one, and that one represented by the north-east, greatly influenced by ancient links with Norway. Poet Kenneth Steven chooses to explore the stories of five composers, almost seeking to weave a piece of tweed from the journeys of their lives as musicians.
The Enlightenment: Sophia Dussek
This is the extraordinary story of the life of musician and composer Sophia Dussek. She was born Sophia Corri on 1775, just 19 years after the Battle of Culloden had put an end effectively to all hope the Jacobites possessed for the return of a Stuart monarch to the throne.
By the time Sophia Corri was growing up in the city that had given her birth, the Scottish Enlightenment was rising into life too.
She was born in 1775 to Italian parents and to a family that was steeped in music. Her father had come to Scotland from Italy to take up a position as a musician for the Edinburgh Musical Society. He was a composer as was Sophia’s uncle. In time her father became involved in other musical ventures across the city; he was an impresario and a publisher of music. The young Sophia was evidently a child prodigy, playing in public when only four years of age.
Presenter Kenneth Steven
Producer Mark Rickards
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 3
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002mwkg)
Reflective music for the day’s end
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
WED 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002mwkj)
A Christmas bop from Ezra Collective
Tina Edwards, sitting in all week for Soweto Kinch, presents 'Round Midnight - a weeknight celebration of jazz from across the spectrum, with a particular focus on new UK music.
Tonight, anaiis returns with another artist that she would like to spotlight for Flowers. This time, she chooses a saxophonist and bandleader who is widely celebrated for her creative compositions and distinctive sound.
Plus there’s music from Makaya McCraven, Zola Marcelle, and B.H.A.M.
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight'.
THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER 2025
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002mwkl)
Rachel Podger at Wigmore Hall
Rachel Podger plays violin sonatas by Biber and Froberger with lutenist Elizabeth Kenny and Marcin Świątkiewicz at the harpsichord. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Violin Sonata no 1 in A
Rachel Podger (violin), Elizabeth Kenny (lute), Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
12:42 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Violin Sonata no 5 in E minor
Rachel Podger (violin), Elizabeth Kenny (lute), Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
12:55 AM
Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667)
Suite in A minor, FbWV 630
Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
01:05 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Violin Sonata no 6 in C minor (scordatura)
Rachel Podger (violin), Elizabeth Kenny (lute), Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
01:19 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Violin Sonata no 3 in F
Rachel Podger (violin), Elizabeth Kenny (lute), Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
01:32 AM
Marcin Świątkiewicz (b.1984)
Improvised Fantasia
Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord)
01:34 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
La Valse
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mário Košik (conductor)
01:47 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Missa Salisburgensis
Collegium Vocale 1704, Collegium 1704, Václav Luks (conductor)
02:31 AM
George Gershwin (1898-1937), arr. Bengt-Åke Lundin
Rhapsody in Blue arr. Lundin for piano and string quintet
Bengt-Åke Lundin (piano), New Stenhammar String Quartet, Staffan Sjöholm (double bass)
02:48 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony no 92 in G major, H.
1.92 'Oxford'
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Peeter Lilje (conductor)
03:16 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Piano Sonata no.5 in C major, Op.135 (version revised)
Boris Berman (piano)
03:33 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Gentle Morpheus, son of night (Calliope's song) from 'Alceste'
Emma Kirkby (soprano), Academy of Ancient Music, Andrew Manze (director)
03:42 AM
Thea Musgrave (b.1928)
Loch Ness - a postcard from Scotland for orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles (conductor)
03:53 AM
Anonymous
Psalm 116 From Lynar B7
Jacques van Oortmerssen (organ)
04:00 AM
Francesco Scarlatti (1666-after 1741)
Concerto Grosso No. 4 in E minor
Chiave d'Arco Baroque Orchestra, Sigiswald Kuijken (director)
04:06 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Premiere Rhapsodie
Camerata Variabile Basel
04:15 AM
Dorothy Howell (1898-1982)
Two Pieces for Muted Strings
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Michael Collins (conductor)
04:24 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
"Mogst du, mein kind" (Daland's aria from Act II Die Fliegende Hollander)
Martti Talvela (bass), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jussi Jalas (conductor)
04:31 AM
Antonio Salieri (1750-1825)
La grotta di Trofonio (Overture)
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Biondi (conductor)
04:38 AM
Alexander Scriabin (1871-1915)
2 Poems for piano, Op 32
Jayson Gillham (piano)
04:43 AM
Susan Spain-Dunk (1880-1962)
Kentonia
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Bell (conductor)
04:50 AM
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-c.1678)
Laudate pueri - psalm for 8 voices
Cappella Artemisia, Maria Christina Cleary (harp), Francesca Torelli (theorbo), Bettini Hoffmann (gamba), Miranda Aureli (organ), Candace Smith (director)
04:59 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), orch. Arnold Schoenberg
Chorale Prelude, BWV.654
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Edo de Waart (conductor)
05:07 AM
John Tavener (1944-2013)
Funeral Ikos (The Greek funeral sentences) for chorus
Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Grete Helgerød (conductor)
05:13 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Adagio and fugue for strings in C minor, K.546
Risør Festival Strings
05:20 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Symphony no 5 in E flat major, Op 82
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thomas Søndergård (conductor)
05:52 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Sonata for clarinet and piano in E flat major, Op 120 no 2
Hans Christian Bræin (clarinet), Håvard Gimse (piano)
06:13 AM
Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
In a Summer Garden for orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis (conductor)
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002mx6z)
Boost your morning with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
THU 09:30 Essential Classics (m002mx71)
Celebrating classical greats
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
THU 13:00 Classical Live (m002mx73)
Chausson's Poème de l'amour et de la mer
Linton Stephens with another afternoon of specially recorded music and performances from current and recent Radio 3 New Generation Artists, including flautist Elizaveta Ivanova, pianist Giorgi Gigashvili, the Kleio Quartet and Ensemble Augelletti.
Today there are two nods to the sea with Chausson’s ravishing Poème de l'amour et de la mer and Thomas Adès’ Shanty - Over the sea. And Sol Gabetta joins the Vienna Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1.
Including:
Grazyna Bacewicz: Overture for orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Stephanie Childress (conductor)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Giorgi Gigashvili (piano)
Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F major
Kleio Quartet
Ernest Chausson: Poème de l'amour et de la mer, Op. 19
Niamh O’Sullivan (soprano)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Paul Daniel (conductor)
Johann Sebastian Bach: Trio Sonata No. 5 in C major, BWV. 529
Ensemble Augelletti
Thomas Adès: Shanty – Over the sea
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Alpesh Chauhan (conductor)
Grace Williams: Four Illustrations from the legend of Rhiannon
BBC Philharmonic
John Andrews (conductor)
CPE Bach: Sonata in G major, Wq. 133 "Hamburg"
Elizaveta Ivanova (flute)
Sanja Bizjak (piano)
Camille Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33
Sol Gabetta (cello)
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Lorenzo Viotti (conductor)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
THU 16:00 Composer of the Week (m001svyh)
A Medieval Christmas
The Cult of the Virgin
Donald Macleod presents songs for Mary and lullabies to the infant Jesus.
Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during mediaeval times. Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered. Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our mediaeval ancestors
Mary, mother of Jesus, became a huge figure of veneration during the Middle Ages, particularly during the Christmas period. In today’s programme, Donald and William explore the wealth of mediaeval music written in Mary’s honour, and the emerging tradition of lullabies to the infant Jesus.
Verbum patris umanatur O O
Sequentia, directed by Barbara Thornton and Benjamin Bagby
Edi beo thu hevene-queene
John Potter, tenor
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
Angelus ad virginem
Gothic Voices
Ecce quod natura
Ther is no rose of swych vertu
Anonymous 4
Verbum Patris humanatur
Ensemble Discantus directed by Brigitte Lesne
Verbum Patris (intrumental)
William Lyons, Nicholas Perry
Thys endere nyght
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
Ave Maris Stella
Ensemble Gilles Binchois, directed by Dominique Vellard
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002mx76)
Junyan Chen and John Wilson in studio
Petroc Trelawny is joined by pianist Junyan Chen, who performs live in the studio ahead of her Wigmore Hall recital. Conductor John Wilson discusses the Sinfonia of London's A Christmas Songbook and A Swinging Christmas concerts in Gateshead and Snape Maltings.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002mx78)
Thirty minutes of classical inspiration
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
This evening's selection includes soaring Elgar, delicate Bach and festive Hely-Hutchinson.
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Mixtape'.
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002mx7b)
French visionaries
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra explore French visionaries of the orchestral world, with a programme that showcases the luminous colours of Debussy’s ravishing Nocturnes as well as the bittersweet beauty of Ravel’s waltzes.
The concert opens with a different (and eye-opening) angle on French music: a delightful, rarely-heard symphony from the decade that the BBC SSO was founded written by Elsa Barraine. She was a classmate and lifelong friend of Olivier Messiaen, who carved her own unique path in the mid-20th century French music scene. Pianist Nicolas Hodges dives deep into the innovative sonic world of Maurice Ohana, the Casablanca-born French composer with a voice that was entirely his own.
Live from City Halls in Glasgow, presented by Gillian Moore.
Elsa Barraine: Symphony No.2
Maurice Ohana: Piano Concerto
c.
8:25pm: interval
c.
8.45pm:
Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales (orchestral version)
Debussy: Nocturnes, for women’s chorus and orchestra
Ilan Volkov, conductor
Nicolas Hodges, piano
Upper Voices of the RCS Chamber Choir
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
THU 21:45 The Essay (m002mx7d)
Scotland in Song
Marjory Kennedy-Fraser
Music knows many different forms in Scotland, as a result of her radically different traditions: the Lowland Scots one, the Gaelic Highland one, and that one represented by the north-east, greatly influenced by ancient links with Norway. Poet Kenneth Steven chooses to explore the stories of five composers, almost seeking to weave a piece of tweed from the journeys of their lives as musicians.
The Celtic Revival: Marjory Kennedy-Fraser
Marjory Kennedy-Fraser was to become one of the leading lights of the Celtic Revival, born into an intensely musical family in Perth. This was no longer the Highland, Gaelic-speaking town it had been on the edge of the Highlands. That Highland line had moved north; history and politics re-defining the map. Marjory Kennedy-Fraser was born in 1857; she studied singing in Milan and Paris. This was an intense time of collecting; across Europe folk were going into the forests and hills to bring back folktales and songs. A time too of nationalism, of fascination for folk costumes and fiddle tunes and half-forgotten dialects. Marjory had had Gaelic-speaking ancestors, but the language itself had been denied her and she was acutely aware of that.
Presenter Kenneth Steven
Producer Mark Rickards
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 3
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002mx7g)
A bewitching night time soundtrack
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
THU 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002mx7j)
New from Nubiyan Twist with Fatoumata Diawara
Tina Edwards, sitting in all week for Soweto Kinch, presents 'Round Midnight - a weeknight celebration of jazz from across the spectrum, with a particular focus on new UK music.
Concluding her week as Tina's Flowers guest, singer-songwriter anaiis has a final bunch to give to an artist she has been inspired by, and tonight she chooses an American saxophonist known for his sonically-full compositions.
There is also music from Hermeto Pascoal, Tanhai Collective, and KOKOROKO.
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight'.
FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER 2025
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002mx7l)
Dvořák and Richard Strauss
Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrández is the soloist in Dvořák's Cello Concerto with the RAI National Symphony Orchestra at a concert in Turin. Richard Strauss's symphonic poems 'Tod und Verklärung' and 'Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche' complete the programme. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Cello Concerto in B minor, Op 104
Pablo Ferrández (cello), RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Andrés Orozco-Estrada (conductor)
01:12 AM
Traditional Catalonia
El cant dels ocells (Song of the Birds)
Pablo Ferrández (cello)
01:16 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Tod und Verklärung, Op 24
RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Andrés Orozco-Estrada (conductor)
01:42 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op 28
RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Andrés Orozco-Estrada (conductor)
01:58 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Morgen, Op 27 no 4
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Lazar Shuster (violin), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kamirski (conductor)
02:02 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
4 Romantic pieces, Op 75
Elena Urioste (violin), Zhang Zuo (piano)
02:16 AM
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
3 Piezas espanolas for guitar
Goran Listes (guitar)
02:31 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV131 (Cantata)
Roberta Invernizzi (soprano), Sonia Prina (contralto), Krystian Adam (tenor), Christopher Purves (bass), Wrocław Philharmonic Chorus, Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini (conductor)
02:55 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Piano Quintet in A major 'The Trout', Op 114 (D.667)
John Harding (violin), Ferdinand Erblich (viola), Stefan Metz (cello), Henk Guldemond (double bass), Menahem Pressler (piano)
03:29 AM
Johannes Verhulst (1816-1891)
Overture in C minor, 'Gijsbrecht van Aemstel', Op 3
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jac van Steen (conductor)
03:39 AM
Christian Gottfried Krause (1719-1770)
Trio Sonata in D minor
Flor Galante
03:46 AM
Miguel Yuste (1870-1947)
Estudio melodico for clarinet and piano, Op 33
Cristo Barrios (clarinet), Lila Gailing (piano)
03:54 AM
Max Bruch (1838-1920)
Romance, Op 85
Adrien Boisseau (viola), Polish Sinfonia luventus Orchestra, José Maria Florêncio (conductor)
04:04 AM
Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869)
Le Chant du martyr - Grand caprice religieux
Lambert Orkis (piano)
04:11 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Alessandro (excerpt 'Solitudini amate')
Sophie Boulin (soprano), La Petite Bande, Sigswald Kuijken (director)
04:17 AM
Johan Halvorsen (1864-1935)
Norwegian Rhapsody no 1 in A minor
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Ole Kristian Ruud (conductor)
04:31 AM
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Spiritus Sanctus vivificans vite, antiphon for solo voice
Sequentia
04:42 AM
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
Louange à l'Éternité de Jésus: No 5 from Quatuor pour la fin du temps
Leonard Elschenbroich (cello), Zhang Zuo (piano)
04:51 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
Nocturne in B major, Op 33 no 2
Stéphane Lemelin (piano)
04:58 AM
Zygmunt Noskowski (1846-1909)
The Highlander's Fantasy, Op 17
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz (conductor)
05:07 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto in F (RV.568) for violin, 2 oboes, 2 horns, bassoon & cello
Zefira Valova (violin), Anna Starr (oboe), Markus Müller (oboe), Anneke Scott (horn), Joseph Walters (horn), Moni Fischaleck (bassoon), Les Ambassadeurs
05:20 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), arr. Andrzej Bauer, Friedrich Rückert (author)
Nun seh’ich wohl warum so dunkle Flammen (Kindertotenlieder)
Agata Zubel (soprano), Warsaw Cellonet Group, Andrzej Bauer (director)
05:26 AM
Lou Harrison (1917-2003)
Harp Suite
David Tanenbaum (guitar), William Winant (percussion), Scott Evans (percussion), Joel Davel (drums)
05:41 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Excerpts from Idomeneo: Overture (K.366), Chaconne & Pas Seul (K.367 nos 1 & 2)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Richard Hickox (conductor)
06:00 AM
Albert Roussel (1869-1937)
Piano Trio in E flat major, Op 2
Tale Olsson (violin), Johanna Sjunnesson (cello), Mats Jansson (piano)
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002mxh2)
Start the day with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
FRI 09:30 Essential Classics (m002mxh4)
A feast of great music
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
FRI 13:00 Classical Live (m002mxh6)
Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony
Linton Stephens concludes his week of specially recorded music and performances from current and recent Radio 3 New Generation Artists, including flautist Elizaveta Ivanova, pianist Giorgi Gigashvili and Ensemble Augelletti.
Today, there's also a performance of Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony from Madrid, Wagner from the BBC Philharmonic, and Beethoven's 'Gassenhauer' Trio recoded in Warsaw.
Including:
Richard Wagner: Overture - The Flying Dutchman
BBC Philharmonic
Nicholas Carter (conductor)
Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Trio No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 11 'Gassenhauer'
Lorenzo Coppola (clarinet)
Kristin von der Goltz (cello)
Cristina Esclapez (piano)
George Enescu - Cantabile & Presto
Elizaveta Ivanova (flute)
Sanja Bizjak (piano)
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'
Leonor Bonilla (soprano)
Damián del Castillo (baritone)
RTVE Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Christoph König (conductor)
Jules Mouquet: La flûte de Pan, Op. 15
Elizaveta Ivanova (flute)
Sanja Bizjak (piano)
Peter Dickinson: Suite – The Unicorns
BBC Concert Orchestra
Paul Daniel (conductor)
Johann Georg Pisendel: Imitation des caractères de la danse
Ensemble Augelletti
Johannes Brahms: 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117
Giorgi Gigashvili (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live'.
FRI 16:00 Composer of the Week (m001sw2h)
A Medieval Christmas
Carols and Revelries
Donald Macleod presents seasonal music for dancing, feasting and social occasions.
Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during mediaeval times. Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered. Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our mediaeval ancestors
In their final programme, Donald and William explore community Christmas traditions during the Middle Ages. Including carol singing, Christmas plays and gift giving.
Nowell, owt of youre sleep aryse
Adam lay ibowndyn (arr. William Lyons)
Ye have so longe kepe schepe (instrumental)
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
Nowell, nowell, nowell
Gothic Voices
Hayl Mary ful of grace
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
Coventry Carol
The King's Singers
Halle: Dieus soit en cheste maison
Sequentia
Dufay: Bonjour, bon mois
Ensemble Allégorie
Lantins, A: Ce jour de l’an, belle je vous supply
Le miroir de musique, directed by Baptiste Romain
Dufay: Ce jour de l'an
The Hilliard Ensemble
Gresley Dances (arr. William Lyons)
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002mxh9)
Live music from Harold López-Nussa
Pianist Harold López-Nussa is live in studio to perform ahead of his recital on 13/12 at London's Wigmore Hall. Violinist Janine Jansen and viola player Timothy Ridout are also in 80/S to discuss their upcoming performances at London's Beare's Chamber Music Festival on 16 and 17/12.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002mxhc)
A chilled half hour of classical music
An engaging mix of classical music for half an hour, featuring the lush Allegretto from Granados’ Piano Quintet, Nadia Boulanger’s setting of Henry Bataille’s poetry, and Philip Stopford’s portrayal of the Virgin comforting her baby, plus clarinettist Martin Fröst soothes the ghost of Alecto in Purcell’s incidental music to the play Oedipus.
FRI 19:30 Friday Night is Music Night (m002kzm9)
Christmas at the Movies
Katie Derham presents a concert of old and new Christmas film scores, live from Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre.
Irving Berlin, arr Roy Moore: Overture - White Christmas
Jerry Goldsmith, arr John Bell: Suite - Gremlins
John Williams: Harry’s Wondrous World
Doreen Carwithen: On the Twelfth Day
INTERVAL
Richard Addinsell Suite - Scrooge
Philip Lane: The Night before Christmas
Craig Armstrong, arr Matt Dunkley: Suite - Love Actually
Bruce Broughton: Miracle on 34th Street
Alan Silvestri: Suite - The Polar Express
Narrator Katie Derham
BBC Concert Orchestra
Conductor George Morton
FRI 21:45 The Essay (m002mxhf)
Scotland in Song
Hamish MacCunn
Music knows many different forms in Scotland, as a result of her radically different traditions: the Lowland Scots one, the Gaelic Highland one, and that one represented by the north-east, greatly influenced by ancient links with Norway. Poet Kenneth Steven chooses to explore the stories of five composers, almost seeking to weave a piece of tweed from the journeys of their lives as musicians.
The Scottish Renaissance: Hamish MacCunn
The composer Hamish MacCunn, given name James, was born in 1868. At just six months of age his twin brother died and was by no means the only child from the family to pass away in early childhood. The family was well to do; his was a ship owner and music was running in their blood; the young Hamish’s mother was a trained singer and pianist, his father an amateur cellist. But it's important to note what the young MacCunn was able to see from his window looking north, for this is what came to define so much of his work as a composer. Glasgow, unlike Scotland’s capital on the east coast, is blessed with the most extraordinary views north to the West Highlands. This is where he came in his mind to remember and to dream.
Presenter Kenneth Steven
Producer Mark Rickards
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 3
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002mxhh)
Winter wonkyland
Join Jennifer Lucy Allan as she serves up experimental approaches to the yuletide songbook, encompassing traditions of old and the excitement of the new. We’ll hear a free improv take on a seasonal classic from Bill Orcutt as well as the latest in a series of folk-laced wintery evocations by Laura Cannell. Elsewhere, turntableist mashups of holiday classics and a chorus of chaos as a computer programme attempts to amalgamate all of the quintessential sounds of the season into one definitive standard. So grab a mince pie settle in for a sonic stocking stuffed with festive curiosities!
Produced by Alex Yates
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Late Junction'
We want to hear your favourite sounds - albums, tracks, self-made recordings - of 2025! Email us at latejunction@bbc.co.uk
FRI 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002mxhk)
Levitation Orchestra in concert
Tina Edwards, sitting in all week for Soweto Kinch, presents 'Round Midnight - a weeknight celebration of jazz from across the spectrum, with a particular focus on new UK music.
Tonight, Tina shares concert highlights from cinematic ensemble Levitation Orchestra, from their recent performance at Islington Assembly Hall, as part of this year’s London Jazz Festival.
Founded in 2018 by musical director and trumpeter Axel Kaner-Lidström, Levitation Orchestra have paved their way as a powerhouse band formed around an ethos of collaboration and group creative exploration, blending everything from Alice Coltrane and Sun Ra to Stravinsky and Ravel, to London's sound-system culture.
Alongside Axel, the ensemble are; cellist Emma Barnaby, pianist Leif Kaner-Lidström, drummer Harry Ling a.k.a. Mackwood, guitarist Paris Raine, harpist Marysia Osu, bassist Hamish Nockles Moore, saxophonist James Akers, vocalist Plumm, and flautist Lluís Domènech Plana.
For this performance, the ensemble showcased music from their new album 'Sanctuary'.
To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight'.
LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)
'Round Midnight
23:30 MON (m002mw48)
'Round Midnight
23:30 TUE (m002mx23)
'Round Midnight
23:30 WED (m002mwkj)
'Round Midnight
23:30 THU (m002mx7j)
'Round Midnight
23:30 FRI (m002mxhk)
20th Century Radicals
21:00 SUN (m002mw80)
Between the Ears
19:15 SUN (m002mw7t)
Breakfast
06:30 SAT (m002mw2g)
Breakfast
06:30 SUN (m002mw77)
Breakfast
06:30 MON (m002mw3p)
Breakfast
06:30 TUE (m002mx1k)
Breakfast
06:30 WED (m002mwjz)
Breakfast
06:30 THU (m002mx6z)
Breakfast
06:30 FRI (m002mxh2)
Choral Evensong
15:00 SUN (m002ml87)
Choral Evensong
15:00 WED (m002mwk5)
Classical Live
13:00 MON (m002mw3t)
Classical Live
13:00 TUE (m002mx1p)
Classical Live
13:00 WED (m002mwk3)
Classical Live
13:00 THU (m002mx73)
Classical Live
13:00 FRI (m002mxh6)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 MON (m002mw3z)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 TUE (m002mx1v)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 WED (m0025tc1)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 THU (m002mx78)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 FRI (m002mxhc)
Compline
22:00 SUN (m002mw82)
Composer of the Week
16:00 MON (m001svql)
Composer of the Week
16:00 TUE (m001svwm)
Composer of the Week
16:00 WED (m001sw8v)
Composer of the Week
16:00 THU (m001svyh)
Composer of the Week
16:00 FRI (m001sw2h)
Earlier... with Jools Holland
12:00 SAT (m002fk0k)
Essential Classics
09:30 MON (m002mw3r)
Essential Classics
09:30 TUE (m002mx1m)
Essential Classics
09:30 WED (m002mwk1)
Essential Classics
09:30 THU (m002mx71)
Essential Classics
09:30 FRI (m002mxh4)
Friday Night is Music Night
19:30 FRI (m002kzm9)
In Tune
17:00 MON (m002mw3x)
In Tune
17:00 TUE (m002mx1s)
In Tune
17:00 WED (m002mwk8)
In Tune
17:00 THU (m002mx76)
In Tune
17:00 FRI (m002mxh9)
Jazz Record Requests
16:00 SUN (m002mw7m)
Late Junction
22:00 FRI (m002mxhh)
Music Map
13:30 SUN (m002mw7j)
Music Matters
13:00 SAT (m002mw2w)
Music Planet
21:30 SAT (m002mw3c)
New Music Show
22:30 SAT (m002mw3f)
Night Tracks
22:30 SUN (m002mw84)
Night Tracks
22:00 MON (m002mw46)
Night Tracks
22:00 TUE (m002mx21)
Night Tracks
22:00 WED (m002mwkg)
Night Tracks
22:00 THU (m002mx7g)
Opera on 3
18:00 SAT (m002mw39)
Private Passions
12:00 SUN (m002mw7d)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 MON (m002mw41)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 TUE (m002mx1x)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 WED (m002mwkb)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 THU (m002mx7b)
Record Review
14:00 SAT (m002mw30)
Record Review
20:00 SUN (m002mw7y)
Saturday Morning
09:00 SAT (m002mw2l)
Sound of Cinema
16:00 SAT (m002mw34)
Sunday Feature
19:45 SUN (m002mw7w)
Sunday Morning
09:00 SUN (m002mw79)
The Early Music Show
17:00 SUN (m002mw7p)
The Essay
21:45 MON (m002mw43)
The Essay
21:45 TUE (m002mx1z)
The Essay
21:45 WED (m002mwkd)
The Essay
21:45 THU (m002mx7d)
The Essay
21:45 FRI (m002mxhf)
This Classical Life
17:00 SAT (m002mw37)
Through the Night
00:30 SAT (m002mkd5)
Through the Night
00:30 SUN (m002mw3h)
Through the Night
00:30 MON (m002mw88)
Through the Night
00:30 TUE (m002mw4b)
Through the Night
00:30 WED (m002mx25)
Through the Night
00:30 THU (m002mwkl)
Through the Night
00:30 FRI (m002mx7l)
Unclassified
23:30 SUN (m002mw86)
Words and Music
18:00 SUN (m002mw7r)
LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES ORDERED BY GENRE
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)
Drama
Words and Music
18:00 SUN (m002mw7r)
Factual
Sunday Feature
19:45 SUN (m002mw7w)
Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media
Between the Ears
19:15 SUN (m002mw7t)
Music Matters
13:00 SAT (m002mw2w)
The Essay
21:45 MON (m002mw43)
The Essay
21:45 TUE (m002mx1z)
The Essay
21:45 WED (m002mwkd)
The Essay
21:45 THU (m002mx7d)
The Essay
21:45 FRI (m002mxhf)
Music
Late Junction
22:00 FRI (m002mxhh)
Music: Classical
20th Century Radicals
21:00 SUN (m002mw80)
Breakfast
06:30 SAT (m002mw2g)
Breakfast
06:30 SUN (m002mw77)
Breakfast
06:30 MON (m002mw3p)
Breakfast
06:30 TUE (m002mx1k)
Breakfast
06:30 WED (m002mwjz)
Breakfast
06:30 THU (m002mx6z)
Breakfast
06:30 FRI (m002mxh2)
Classical Live
13:00 MON (m002mw3t)
Classical Live
13:00 TUE (m002mx1p)
Classical Live
13:00 WED (m002mwk3)
Classical Live
13:00 THU (m002mx73)
Classical Live
13:00 FRI (m002mxh6)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 MON (m002mw3z)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 TUE (m002mx1v)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 WED (m0025tc1)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 THU (m002mx78)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 FRI (m002mxhc)
Composer of the Week
16:00 MON (m001svql)
Composer of the Week
16:00 TUE (m001svwm)
Composer of the Week
16:00 WED (m001sw8v)
Composer of the Week
16:00 THU (m001svyh)
Composer of the Week
16:00 FRI (m001sw2h)
Earlier... with Jools Holland
12:00 SAT (m002fk0k)
Essential Classics
09:30 MON (m002mw3r)
Essential Classics
09:30 TUE (m002mx1m)
Essential Classics
09:30 WED (m002mwk1)
Essential Classics
09:30 THU (m002mx71)
Essential Classics
09:30 FRI (m002mxh4)
In Tune
17:00 MON (m002mw3x)
In Tune
17:00 TUE (m002mx1s)
In Tune
17:00 WED (m002mwk8)
In Tune
17:00 THU (m002mx76)
In Tune
17:00 FRI (m002mxh9)
Music Map
13:30 SUN (m002mw7j)
Night Tracks
22:30 SUN (m002mw84)
Night Tracks
22:00 MON (m002mw46)
Night Tracks
22:00 TUE (m002mx21)
Night Tracks
22:00 WED (m002mwkg)
Night Tracks
22:00 THU (m002mx7g)
Private Passions
12:00 SUN (m002mw7d)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 MON (m002mw41)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 TUE (m002mx1x)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 WED (m002mwkb)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 THU (m002mx7b)
Record Review
14:00 SAT (m002mw30)
Record Review
20:00 SUN (m002mw7y)
Saturday Morning
09:00 SAT (m002mw2l)
Sunday Morning
09:00 SUN (m002mw79)
This Classical Life
17:00 SAT (m002mw37)
Through the Night
00:30 SAT (m002mkd5)
Through the Night
00:30 SUN (m002mw3h)
Through the Night
00:30 MON (m002mw88)
Through the Night
00:30 TUE (m002mw4b)
Through the Night
00:30 WED (m002mx25)
Through the Night
00:30 THU (m002mwkl)
Through the Night
00:30 FRI (m002mx7l)
Words and Music
18:00 SUN (m002mw7r)
Music: Classical: Choral
Choral Evensong
15:00 SUN (m002ml87)
Choral Evensong
15:00 WED (m002mwk5)
Compline
22:00 SUN (m002mw82)
Music: Classical: Early Music
The Early Music Show
17:00 SUN (m002mw7p)
Music: Classical: Experimental & New
New Music Show
22:30 SAT (m002mw3f)
Unclassified
23:30 SUN (m002mw86)
Music: Classical: Opera
Opera on 3
18:00 SAT (m002mw39)
Music: Easy Listening, Soundtracks & Musicals
Friday Night is Music Night
19:30 FRI (m002kzm9)
Sound of Cinema
16:00 SAT (m002mw34)
Music: Jazz & Blues
Jazz Record Requests
16:00 SUN (m002mw7m)
Music: Jazz & Blues: Jazz
'Round Midnight
23:30 MON (m002mw48)
'Round Midnight
23:30 TUE (m002mx23)
'Round Midnight
23:30 WED (m002mwkj)
'Round Midnight
23:30 THU (m002mx7j)
'Round Midnight
23:30 FRI (m002mxhk)
Jazz Record Requests
16:00 SUN (m002mw7m)
Music: World
Late Junction
22:00 FRI (m002mxhh)
Music Planet
21:30 SAT (m002mw3c)
Night Tracks
22:30 SUN (m002mw84)
Night Tracks
22:00 MON (m002mw46)
Night Tracks
22:00 TUE (m002mx21)
Night Tracks
22:00 WED (m002mwkg)
Night Tracks
22:00 THU (m002mx7g)
Religion & Ethics
Choral Evensong
15:00 SUN (m002ml87)
Choral Evensong
15:00 WED (m002mwk5)
Compline
22:00 SUN (m002mw82)