RADIO-LISTS: BBC RADIO 3
Unofficial Weekly Listings for BBC Radio 3 — supported by bbc.co.uk/programmes/
SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2026
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002rhh4)
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective: Schumann, Holloway and Brahms
Robin Holloway's new piano quartet receives its first London outing in this concert from Wigmore Hall. It's followed by Brahms' rich and ever-changing 1st Piano Quartet. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Clara Schumann (1819-1896), arr. Tom Poster
Ihr Bildnis, Op 13 no 1
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
12:33 AM
Robin Holloway (b.1943)
Piano Quartet, Op 143
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
12:49 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Piano Quartet no 1 in G minor, Op 25
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
01:28 AM
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel (1690-1749)
Bist du bei mir - aria for voice and continuo
Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord)
01:32 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony no 5 in C minor, Op 67
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Pietari Inkinen (conductor)
02:08 AM
Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901)
Horn Sonata in E flat major, Op 178
Martin Van der Merwe (horn), Huib Christiaanse (piano)
02:31 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Timon of Athens, the man-hater - incidental music, Z.632
Lynne Dawson (soprano), Gillian Fisher (soprano), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Paul Elliott (tenor), Michael George (bass), Stephen Varcoe (bass), Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)
02:52 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op 42
Duncan Gifford (piano)
03:13 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Macbeth, Op 23
BBC Philharmonic, Vassily Sinaisky (conductor)
03:32 AM
Nicolaus Bruhns (1665-1697)
De Profundis
Max von Egmond (bass), Ricercar Consort
03:45 AM
Judith Weir (1954-)
String quartet
Silesian Quartet
03:57 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Sopranino Recorder Concerto in C major RV.444
Michael Schneider (recorder), Camerata Köln
04:07 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), orch. Anton Webern
6 Deutsche Tänze, D820
Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Justin Brown (conductor)
04:16 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Nocturne no 4 in E flat major, Op 36
Stéphane Lemelin (piano)
04:23 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) - Overture, K.620
BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)
04:31 AM
Juriaan Andriessen (1925-1996)
Sonnet No.43
Netherlands Chamber Choir, Uwe Gronostay (conductor)
04:38 AM
Anton Arensky (1861-1906), arr. Vladimir Kriukov
Romance no.3: Ne zazhigay ognya ('Do not kindle the fires')
Hertz Trio
04:41 AM
Darius Milhaud (1892-1974)
Three Rag caprices, Op 78
CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Daniel Swift (conductor)
04:48 AM
Dobrinka Tabakova (b.1980)
Pirin for viola
Maxim Rysanov (viola)
04:57 AM
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Alma Redemptoris Mater & Ave Maria, O auctrix vite
Sequentia, Elizabeth Gaver (medieval fiddle), Elisabetta de Mircovich (medieval fiddle)
05:08 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Symphony for strings in B flat major, Wq.182 no 2
Barbara Jane Gilby (violin), Barbara Jane Gilby (director), Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players, Geoffrey Lancaster (harpsichord)
05:18 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Sonata for organ in A major, Op 65 no 3
Martti Miettinen (organ)
05:29 AM
Johann Halvorsen (1864-1935)
Symphony no.2 in D minor 'Fatum'
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Josep Caballé-Domenech (conductor)
06:03 AM
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), Percy Bysshe Shelley (author), Alfred, Lord Tennyson (author), Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (author), William Wordsworth (author), Thomas Middleton (author), Wilfred Owen (author), John Keats (author), William Shakespeare (author)
Nocturne for tenor, 7 instruments and string orchestra, Op 60
Benjamin Butterfield (tenor), Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Simon Streatfield (conductor)
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002rryf)
Brighten your day 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 (m002rryh)
Pianist Vikingur Olafsson at the piano
Tom Service with guests, stories and the perfect classical soundtrack for the weekend!
An all-star line-up of guests joins us this morning as superstar pianist Vikingur Olafsson pops in to champion the music of the Hungarian composer György Kurtág who turns 100 this month. Vikingur joins Tom at the piano to play some of his music and talk about how getting to know him personally has changed how he hears other music forever.
Continuing our focus on Creators and the stories behind their creations: multi award-winning composer Anna Meredith talks to Tom about her track Nautilus that started life with her stomping along a beach in Scotland but became a powerhouse tune that's been arranged and re-arranged countless times for electronics, orchestra, marching band and even featured in a David Beckham documentary.
And Radio 3's Kate Molleson pays tribute to the French composer and electronic music pioneer Eliane Radigue who died this week age 94. Radigue's music of ecstatic sonic concentration is an invitation to change our perceptions of what music can do, and what can it make us feel.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002lnjy)
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 Copland, Dvorak and Victoria with performances by Tenebrae, Charlie Parker and Les Musiciens du Louvre. His guest is the singer, songwriter and pianist Jon Regen who performs on the studio piano and introduces recordings he loves by Martha Argerich, Henrietta Schumann and Dave Grusin.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Earlier with Jools Holland".
SAT 13:00 Music Matters (m002rryk)
Turning the Page
2. A new purpose
Violinist Tasmin Little talks to soprano Lesley Garrett and John Sherba from the Kronos Quartet about finding new meaning after a performance career.
Lesley speaks about the need for opera composers to write roles for older women and how her children have noticed she becomes withdrawn when she isn’t working.
Violinist John Sherba tells Tasmin how being a musician has meant he is hard-wired as a giving person. He spent 45 years on the road giving performances with the Kronos Quartet, an ensemble celebrated for its cross-genre collaborations. Now, age 70 he has time to give care as a grandfather and discover new music and hobbies.
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002rrym)
Dvorak's String Quintet Op.97 in Building a Library with Laura Tunbridge and Andrew McGregor
Andrew McGregor with the best new classical releases, joined by guest reviewers Suzi Digby and Laura Tunbridge.
1410
Conductor and music educator Suzi Digby talks through her pick of the week's new releases.
1500
Building a Library: Professor Laura Tunbridge surveys recordings of Dvorak's String Quintet Op. 97. Scored for string quartet with an extra viola, Dvorak's String Quintet Op. 97 was written immediately after his 'American' Quartet, in just over a month, whilst the composer was spending the summer in Spillville, Iowa in 1893.
Top choice:
Pavel Haas Quartet with Pavel Nikl (viola)
SUPRAPHON SU41952
c1545
Record of the Week
Andrew picks his favourite new release of the week.
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m002rryp)
Edith speaks to composer Daniel Blumberg
Step into the world of cinema with Edith Bowman as she unveils a curated playlist of iconic movie music. This week, Segun Akinola joins us for Harmonising Hollywood to talk about his score for the BBC series “Kingdom.” Plus, BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 presenter Kate Molleson gives her Pick of the Flicks.
Edith will also be speaking to Academy Award-winning composer Daniel Blumberg about his most recent project "The Testament of Ann Lee".
We’ll also bring you the latest film‑music releases alongside timeless classics from Hollywood’s golden age.
SAT 17:00 This Classical Life (m002rryr)
Jess Gillam with... Imogen Whitehead
Jess Gillam swaps music choices and life stories with the trumpet player Imogen Whitehead. Imogen shares her experience of being the Principal Trumpet of the Britten Sinfonia, playing as a soloist and the music she listened to on road-trips growing up. There is music by Copland, Barber, Beyonce and Jess brings choices by Vivaldi, Janacek and Ruhi Erdogan.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3”.
SAT 18:00 Opera on 3 (m002rryt)
Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov
Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov from the Royal Ballet and Opera.
Boris Godunov has been crowned Tsar of Russia in a glittering coronation, but his path to power wasn't straightforward. Years ago he ordered the murder of Dmitry, a young heir to the throne, and that decision has haunted him ever since. And his position isn't secure - a young man the same age as Dmitry sees an opportunity to oust Boris and become Tsar himself.
Mussorgsky's original version of the opera takes the form of seven tautly constructed scenes, including his fabulous Coronation Scene. Bryn Terfel returns to the role of the troubled Tsar, and Mark Wigglesworth conducts.
Recorded last month at the Royal Ballet and Opera, and presented by Martin Handley.
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (original version)
Boris Godunov ..... Bryn Terfel (bass baritone)
Pimen ..... Adam Palka (bass)
Andrei Shchelkalov ..... Andrii Kymach (baritone)
Grigory Otrepiev ..... Jamez McCorkle (tenor)
Prince Shuisky ..... John Daszak (tenor)
Varlaam ..... Alexander Roslavets (bass)
Missail ..... Alasdair Elliott (tenor)
Xenia ..... Hannah Edmunds (soprano)
Xenia's Nurse ..... Carolyn Holt (mezzo-soprano)
Hostess of the Inn ..... Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano)
Holy Fool ..... Mingjie Lei (tenor)
Nikitich ..... Eddie Wade (baritone)
Mityukha ..... Sam Hird (baritone)
Frontier Guard ..... Freddie Tong (baritone)
Boyar ..... Christopher Lemmings (tenor)
Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Mark Wigglesworth (conductor)
SAT 20:40 Radio 3 in Concert (m002rwqf)
City of Floating Sounds
Ellie Slorach conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, London in Huang Ruo's immersive urban soundscape, which blends Chinese and Western avant-garde music.
Huang Ruo: City of Floating Sounds
BBC Concert Orchestra
Conductor Ellie Slorach
SAT 21:30 Music Planet (m002rryw)
Afro-diasporic grooves and Lucas Santtana’s Return Journey
Kathryn Tickell curates a selection of roots-based music from across the globe, including fresh Afro-diasporic grooves from London-based, Ethio-jazz–inspired duo Zena. Swedish fiddle icon Lena Jonsson and Finnish accordion innovator Johanna Juhola bring new life into traditional Nordic melodies.
And if that wasn't riches enough... ahead of a London show celebrating the release of his new album Brasiliano, renowned Brazilian producer, guitarist and singer Lucas Santtana shares his two Return Journey tracks: one for the road and one that takes him home.
Produced by Fatuma Khaireh and Gabriel Francis
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 (m002rryy)
TECHNO-UTOPIA
Ahead of next week's BBC-wide focus on AI, Tom Service presents the work of composer Robert Laidlow, co-commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. TECHNO-UTOPIA is the first orchestral piece to use embedded AI instruments and draws on thousands of hours of recordings from the orchestra's archive.
SUNDAY 01 MARCH 2026
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002rrz0)
Poland Night
Celebrating Chopin's birthday and Polish musical culture. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Fantasies, Op 116
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
12:54 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Four Piano Pieces, Op 119
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
01:10 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Fantasy in F minor, Op 49
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
01:23 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Four Mazurkas, Op 30
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
01:33 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Piano Sonata no 3 in B minor, Op 58
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
02:00 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Waltz in A flat, Op 34 no 1 (encore)
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
02:06 AM
Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611/2-1675)
Vom Leiden Christi
Ensemble Polyharmonique, Alexander Schneider (director), {oh!} Orkiestra Historyczna, Martyna Pastuszka (conductor)
02:11 AM
Zygmunt Noskowski (1846-1909)
The Pearls of Moniuszko - 15 Songs for orchestra
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz (conductor)
02:31 AM
Elżbieta Sikora (b.1943)
Rappel III for string orchestra
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wojciech Michniewski (conductor)
02:47 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Piano Concerto no 1 in E minor, Op 11
Szymon Nehring (piano), Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, Néstor Bayona (conductor)
03:28 AM
Tadeusz Baird (1928-1981)
Four Love Sonnets
Jarosław Bręk (baritone), Dorota Frąckowiak-Kapała (harpsichord), 'Amadeus' Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra, Anna Duczmal-Mróz (conductor)
03:41 AM
Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880)
Polonaise in A major for violin & piano, Op 21
Piotr Plawner (violin), Andrzej Guz (piano)
03:51 AM
Henryk Górecki (1933-2010)
Canticum Graduum, Op 27
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tadeusz Strugala (conductor)
04:05 AM
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734)
Laetatus sum for 4 voices, 2 violins, 2 trumpets and organ
Olga Pasiecznik (soprano), Henning Voss (counter tenor), Wojciech Parchem (tenor), Mirosław Borczyński (bass), Sine Nomine Chamber Choir, Concerto Polacco Baroque Orchestra, Marek Toporowski (director)
04:09 AM
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734)
Illuxit sol
Olga Pasiecznik (soprano), Marta Bobertska (soprano), Piotr Lykowski (counter tenor), Wojciech Parchem (tenor), Mirosław Borczyński (bass), Concerto Polacco, Marek Toporowski (director)
04:16 AM
Antoni Haczewski (C.18th/19th)
Symphony in D major
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andrzej Straszynski (conductor)
04:25 AM
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)
Mélodie in G flat from "Miscellanea" (Op.16 No.2)
Zheeyoung Moon (piano)
04:31 AM
Witold Maliszewski (1873-1939)
Festive Overture in D major, Op 11
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz (conductor)
04:42 AM
Adam Jarzebski (1590-1649)
Corona Aurea - concerto a 3
Il Tempo Baroque Ensemble, Simon Standage (violin)
04:49 AM
Mieczysław Karłowicz (1876-1909), Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer (lyricist)
Czasem, gdy długo ma pol sennie marze
Urszula Kryger (mezzo soprano), Katarzyna Jankowska-Borzykowska (piano)
04:51 AM
Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872)
Triolet
Urszula Kryger (mezzo soprano), Katarzyna Jankowska-Borzykowska (piano)
04:53 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Horn Concerto no 1 in D major, K412
Premysl Vojta (horn), Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz (conductor)
05:02 AM
Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872)
String Quartet No.1 in D minor
Camerata Quartet
05:18 AM
Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787)
Sonata for viola da gamba and harpsichord in D major, A
2:50
Krzysztof Firlus (viola da gamba), Anna Firlus (harpsichord)
05:29 AM
Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)
Violin Concerto no 4
Janusz Skramlik (violin), Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Tomasz Bugaj (conductor)
05:54 AM
Marcin Mielczewski (c.1600-1651)
Missa super O Gloriosa Domina
Il Canto
06:12 AM
Wojciech Kilar (1931-2013)
Chorale Prelude
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wojciech Rajski (conductor)
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002rt6n)
The best classical music wake-up call
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 (m002rt6q)
Three hours of classical sparkle
This week, Sarah Walker marks the arrival of March with music full of colour, imagination and changing seasons. The morning begins with a trip to Sweden in the company of Hugo Alfvén’s musical picture of a Swedish folk festival, before moving into the nostalgic English countryside with Gerald Finzi’s beautiful Severn Rhapsody.
For Sarah’s Choral Reflection this week, the American choir Ensemble Altera provide a radiant take on William Harris’s masterpiece Bring Us, O Lord God.
There’s also elegance from Joseph Bologne, witty Beethoven, dazzling Debussy and to accompany a leisurely coffee, Sarah will be bringing the sweeping drama of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto to the airwaves. Best make a big mug.
Plus, a musical flower clock from Jean Françaix. Spring is well and truly here.
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3.
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002cp06)
Peter Hamlyn, neurosurgeon
Peter Hamlyn is the founder and president of the Brain and Spine Foundation, after working as a neurosurgeon for 40 years.
He is perhaps best-known for saving the life of the boxer Michael Watson, who suffered a severe brain injury during a title fight in 1991 and was in a coma for 40 days. Peter performed seven brain operations and became a pioneer in the field of sports medicine, campaigning for better care for athletes.
He is now fascinated by how Artificial Intelligence might transform the diagnosis and care of neurological patients.
Peter's music includes Hildegard of Bingen, Berlioz, Handel and Prokofiev.
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002rt6s)
Rossini's Thieving Magpie
Sara Mohr-Pietsch collects the musical gems that connect to the overture La Gazza Ladra - the Thieving Magpie - including Handel's thundering drums and The Unthanks' folkloric bird. There's also a peep at Mozart's percussive technique for strings, and underhand shenanigans with a soundtrack by Michael Nyman and Louis Armstrong's Mack the Knife.
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002rgxs)
Exeter University
From the University of Exeter Mary Harris Memorial Chapel.
Introit: Scapulis suis (Malcolm)
Responses: Morley
Psalm 119 vv73-104 (Cooper, Howells, Noble, Howells)
First Lesson: Genesis 11 vv1-9
Magnificat (Arvo Pärt)
Second Lesson: Matthew 24 vv15-28
Nunc dimittis (Paweł Łukaszewski)
Anthem: Infelix Ego (Byrd)
Hymn: Take up thy cross (Breslau)
Voluntary: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (Bach)
Michael Graham (Director of Music)
David Davies (Organist)
Recorded 2 February.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002rt6v)
Ethiopia to Japan and beyond!
Alyn Shipton presents your requests of jazz artist from around the world including music from Ethiopian vibes master Mulatu Astatke, Japanese pianist Hiromi, American icon Ray Charles and New York singer Maria Muldaur famous for the pop hit Midnight at the Oasis.
Join our community of jazz lovers. Alyn Shipton is waiting for your requests: email 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 (m002rt6x)
The Blow Torch
Hannah French visits St Paul's Cathedral in London to explore the legacy of composer John Blow, who became master of the choristers at the newly consecrated cathedral in 1687. She meets the current Director of Music, Andrew Carwood, to talk about music that Blow may have written for the Cathedral's opening service, and the dual roles that the composer had at St Paul's and Westminster Abbey.
They're joined in the Cathedral by natural trumpet specialist Russell Gilmour, who traces a line between some of the most important trumpeters in Blow's time, and who gives a demonstration of how natural trumpets sound in the famously resonant acoustic of St Paul's Cathedral. The music includes works by Blow, together with some of his pupils and successors, including Croft, Clarke, and Purcell.
Producer: Ben Collingwood.
SUN 18:00 Words and Music (m002rt6z)
Music and the Mechanical Mind
The possibilities and dangers of Artificial Intelligence is one of the major issues of the day, but for centuries people have imagined machines that could think, able to create and possibly even enjoy art, so we feature early fictional examples of mechanical minds from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Thea Von Harbou's Metropolis, and automata like a moving sculpture of a silver swan and what was known as the 'talking Turk'
We consider the limits of art created by computers in poetry by Adrienne Rich and musings from Nick Cave.
And our playlist features pianola recordings from Rex Lawson, alongside a reading from HG Wells's Tono-Bungay in which the player piano assists romance, but we also make space for music very much outside of the world of the machine, such as Benjamin Britten’s ode to country life and honest hard work, The Useful Plough
The readers are Annette Badland and Daniel Millar
Produced in Salford by Jessica Treen
SUN 19:15 Sunday Feature (m002rt71)
Bartok and Us
The comedian, actor and keen amateur musician Nick Mohammed reports on the controversies sparked when the Hungarian Bela Bartok brought his music first to concert halls across the UK, and then into our homes, thanks to the arrival of music broadcasting by the BBC in the 1920s.
'Is Bartok Mad – Or Are We?’ was the headline splashed across the front page of Radio Times in December 1927, above a cartoon in which three listeners recoil in horror from a wireless broadcasting ‘CLATTER’ and ‘CRASH’. Bartok’s dissonant scores also provoked strong reactions from critics: ‘Bartok must have caused a series of aesthetic earthquakes all over the British Isles and brought home to many that the greatest boon about wireless is the ability to switch it off,’ wrote one.
Nick charts how, as a virtuoso pianist, Bartok toured the UK, including a memorable visit to Aberystwyth, finds out why the nascent BBC backed Bartok despite strong resistance from audiences, and discovers how key performers such as the young Yehudi Menuhin became powerful advocates and won round listeners.
Nick Mohammed says: ‘As a performer, I’m fascinated by how audiences respond to new ideas, and particularly with Bartok – how did he get British audiences to tune in to a new sound and convince them that he was one of the most significant musicians of the 20th century?’.
The documentary includes new interviews with violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, pianist Robert Taub, former Radio 3 and Proms controller Nicholas Kenyon, music historian Rhian Davies and conductor Simon Rattle, as well as rarely heard archive recordings from violinists Yehudi Menuhin and Joseph Szigeti.
Series Producer: Clare Walker for BBC Audio
With thanks to: actors Django Bevan, Clive Hayward, Aron Kun and Luke MacGregor, and Louise North at the BBC Written Archive.
SUN 20:00 Record Review (m002rt73)
Dvorak String Quintet Op.97
The Building a Library recommended recording from yesterday's Record Review.
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002rt75)
Louis Andriessen: Disrupting the mainstream
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 the Dutch radical Louis Andriessen, leading to a full listen to his work De Staat or The Republic of 1976. To get there, Gillian traverses the thorny issue of Stravinsky vs Schoenberg, finds a noisy disruption at a Concertgebouw concert, and tries to get to the bottom of what “Unpolite Minimalism” might encompass...
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 (m002rt77)
Lent 2
A reflective service of night prayer from the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell, London. With words and music for the end of the day, including works by Otero and Willan.
Introit: O gladsome Light, O grace (Bourgeois/Goudimel)
Preces (Plainsong)
Hymn: Hymn: Before the ending of the day (Plainsong)
Psalms 4, 31 vv1-6 (Plainsong)
Reading: Isaiah 30 v15
Responsory: Into thy hands, O Lord (Plainsong)
Nunc dimittis: Fauxbourdons (Healey Willan)
Anthem: Te lucis ante terminum (Carlos Rodriguez Otero)
Daniel Gethin (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Compline”.
SUN 22:30 Night Tracks (m002rt79)
Eclectic music for after dark
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002l0b3)
Resonant Shadows
Join Elizabeth Alker with a selection of fresh music from genre-defying artists as we journey through landscapes of ambient and experimental sounds. This week, enveloping saxophone textures from Colin Stetson, slowly-evolving organ clusters from Michiko Ogawa and the delicate balladry of Rakel.
Produced by Geoff Bird
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Unclassified”
MONDAY 02 MARCH 2026
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002rt7d)
Esmé Quartet: Papa Haydn
The young ensemble performs string quartets by Haydn, Kui Dong and Schumann in this concert from Barcelona. The programme includes Haydn's famously humorous quartet 'The Joke.' Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
String Quartet no 30 in E flat, Op 33 no 2 'The Joke'
Esmé Quartet, Wonhee Bae (violin), Yuna Ha (violin), Dimitri Murrath (viola), Yeeun Heo (cello)
12:48 AM
b. 1966
Spring
Esmé Quartet
12:55 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
String Quartet no 3 in A, op 41 no 3
Esmé Quartet
01:27 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Io ti lascio, K245
Bryn Terfel (bass baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano)
01:32 AM
Christopher Simpson (c.1605-1669)
The Four Seasons - Spring
Les Voix Humaines, Arparla
01:50 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Symphony No 4 in E minor, Op 98
Sinfonia Varsovia, Robert Treviño (conductor)
02:31 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Quartet for flute, viola and continuo in A minor, Wq 93, H537
Les Adieux, Andreas Staier (pianoforte), Wilbert Hazelzet (flute), Hajo Bäß (viola)
02:48 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Cantata: Ich habe genug, BWV.82a
Raphael Höhn (tenor), Café Zimmermann
03:11 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Metamorphosen
Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Lovro von Matačić (conductor)
03:42 AM
Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003)
Sonatina for cello and piano
Andrei Ioniță (cello), Lilit Grigoryan (piano)
03:53 AM
Anonymous,Nicola Matteis (c. 1650-after 1713)
Passages in Imitation of the Trumpet; 5 Marches from Playford's New Tunes
Pedro Memelsdorff (recorder), Andreas Staier (harpsichord)
04:03 AM
Josquin des Prez (c1440 - 1521)
La deploration de Johan Okeghem
Netherlands Chamber Choir, Paul Van Nevel (conductor)
04:08 AM
Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942)
Introduzione (Yankee Doodle Dandy) - No.1 from 2 Movements for string quartet
Escher Quartet
04:15 AM
Uuno Klami (1900-1961)
Serenades joyeuses
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jussi Jalas (conductor)
04:22 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
4 Studies, Op 7
Nikita Magaloff (piano)
04:31 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
'Agrippina'; overture
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ondrej Lenárd (conductor)
04:38 AM
Leonel Power (1370-1445)
Salve Regina
Hilliard Ensemble
04:45 AM
Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)
Saxophone Concerto, Op 109
Valentine Michaud (saxophone), CHAARTS Chamber Artists, Maximilian Hornung (conductor)
04:58 AM
Larisa Vrhunc (b.1967)
Between the Fingers Sound of Image ll
RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Rossen Milanov (conductor)
05:08 AM
Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
Psalm 116, from 'Angst der Hellen und Friede der Seelen'
Cardinal Complex, Jonas Gassmann (conductor)
05:32 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Piano Sonata in D major, H.XVI.33
Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
05:46 AM
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
Concerto for violin and horn in A major
Agata Raatz (violin), Zora Slokar (horn), Berner Kammerorchester, Graziella Contratto (conductor)
06:15 AM
Santiago de Murcia (1673-1739)
2 pieces from 'Codex de Saldívar'
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar), Pedro Estevan (percussion)
06:23 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Last Spring, Op 33 no 2
Camerata Bern, Thomas Furi (leader)
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002rr29)
Start the day on the right note with classical music
Linton Stephens 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’
MON 09:30 Essential Classics (m002rr2c)
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 (m002rr2f)
Cello music by Britten and Bridge live from Wigmore Hall
Music for cello and piano by Britten and Bridge performed live at Wigmore Hall by one of Radio 3's New Generation Artists, Stirling Elliott. The scheme champions and supports a chosen number of formidable young artists of international pedigree with the view of offering a window on classical music's rising stars.
Also in this week's programmes, Al Ryan presents a selection of exclusive concert recordings of distinctive and contasting settings of the church mass. Today Mozart's Coronation Mass performed late last year in Wroclaw.
And from Northern Ireland, we feature highlights from the recent Belfast International Chamber Music Festival including performances from the Sitkovetsky Trio and from trombonist Peter Moore, both playing music by Brahms.
1.00 FROM WIGMORE HALL
Intoduced by Hannah French
Sterling Elliott (cello)
Joseph Havlat (piano)
Frank Bridge
Cello Sonata in D minor
Benjamin Britten
Cello Sonata in C Op. 65
*****
2.00
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mass in C major, K. 317 (Coronation Mass)
Anett Fritsch (soprano)
Justyna Rapacz-Ołów (mezzo-soprano)
Dovlet Nurgeldiyev (tenor)
Volodymyr Andrushchak (baritone)
NFM Choir
Il Giardino Armonico
Giovanni Antonini (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Johannes Brahms
Vier Ernste Gesänge
(Four Serious Songs) Op. 121/1
“Denn es gehet dem Menschen”
Op. 121/2
“Ich wandte mich, und sahe an”
Op. 121/3
“O Tod, wie bitter bist du”
Op. 121/4
“Wenn ich mit Mensche”
(arr. trombone & piano)
Peter Moore (trombone)
Zeynep Özsuca (piano)
Claude Debussy
Jeux
Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest
János Kovács (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Johannes Brahms
Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87
Sitkovetsky Trio
MON 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002rr2h)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
National Defiance in Music
Kate Molleson charts the influences upon the early symphonies of Sibelius, including the romantic symphonic music of Tchaikovsky, and themes of Nationalism. Although both the First and Second Symphonies demonstrate clear links to the political situation of the times in Finland, the Symphony No 2 was also very much inspired by a trip to Italy and the impact of the scenery there.
Symphony No 2 in D, Op 43 (excerpt)
BBC Philharmonic
John Storgårds, conductor
Song of my Heart, Op 18 No 6
YL Male Voice Choir
Matti Hykki, director
Symphony No 1 in E minor, Op 39 (excerpt)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Okko Kamu, conductor
The Diamond on the March Snow, Op 36 No 6
Jorma Hynninen, baritone
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Jorma Panula, conductor
Sunrise, Op 37 No 1
Mari Anne Häggander, soprano
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Jorma Panula, conductor
Symphony No 2 in D, Op 43 (excerpt)
BBC Philharmonic
John Storgårds, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002rr2l)
Mark Elder, Huw Watkins and Palisander
Petroc Trelawny talks to conductor Mark Elder and composer and pianist Huw Watkins about their upcoming album with The Hallé. There's also live music in the studio from recorder ensemble Palisander, who have a new album out called 'Double, Double, Toil & Trouble'.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002rr2n)
Switch up your listening with classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002rr2q)
Benedetti plays Mendelssohn
The Scottish Chamber orchestra and its principal conductor, Maxim Emelyanychev, explore music by two of Germany’s great composers, Brahms and Mendelssohn. In his Academic Festival Overture, we hear Brahms at his most celebratory, and in his masterful 4th Symphony, there is music of great beauty and uncompromising intellectual complexity – it's a piece that can’t fail to inspire and move all who hear it.
Nicola Benedetti has performed Mendelssohn’s exhilarating Violin Concerto for many years. Bringing together sublime lyrical beauty and fizzing violin fireworks, this concerto is the ideal showcase for the world-renowned Scottish violin virtuoso’s consummate talents.
Recorded at City Halls in Glasgow on 27th February 2026
Presented by Stephen Broad
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
Interval
Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Maxim Emelyanychev - conductor
Nicola Benedetti - violin
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
MON 21:45 The Essay (m002rr2s)
You, Me and the Wireless
Episode 1
Legendary broadcaster Gillian Reynolds looks back at her life and the role of radio in it.
An award-winning journalist in print and on air, Gillian Reynolds was a radio critic for over 50 years, and a lifelong listener. Her sharp observation, warm wit and unerring sense of what works in sound are celebrated in this series of essays, where she looks back at a life and career inextricably intertwined with the radio. Presenters, comedians, dramatists, politicians, station controllers, commissioners – Gillian knew them all, and shares fascinating memories over her distinguished career, and her deep love for the medium of radio.
You Me and the Wireless discusses how and why radio works so well in different genres, with highlights from a long and distinguished career in both commercial and public sector broadcasting.
"Radio is more popular with BBC audiences than TV, delivering 43 percent of the BBC's total audience……. radio is perceived as a medium of the future not a dusty relic……. There are ways of telling a story on radio... audio does better than any other medium, more intimately and with more immediate impact."
Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph December 2015
After writing for The Guardian from 1967 to 1974, Gillian was the radio critic for The Daily Telegraph for more than 42 years, from 1975 to 2018. She then continued her career at The Sunday Times, where she wrote about radio until 2021. She was the first Programme Controller of Radio City in Liverpool in 1974, the first woman in the UK to hold such a post.
Gillian Reynolds is a Fellow of The Radio Academy, a trustee of the National Museum in Liverpool, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and an Honorary Fellow of her old Oxford college, St Anne's.
Essay 1
Gillian discusses why radio is so important to its audience, going back to where it all began – growing up on a Liverpool Council estate, with the radio an ever present companion. Memories include her indomitable mother supporting her to get a place at Oxford, plus her early career in commercial radio in Liverpool.
Archive clips:
Neville Chamberlain’s declaration of War, BBC Radio, 3rd September 1939
An Appointment with Fear Valentine Dyall, BBC Light Programme, 20th November 1945
Writer and presenter : Gillian Reynolds
Producer : Polly Thomas
Sound designer : Paul Cargill
Exec producer : Jon Sen
A Thomas Carter Projects production for BBC Radio 3.
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002rr2w)
Meditative music for night owls
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
MON 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002rr2y)
Melissa Aldana’s Flowers
‘Round Midnight is presented by award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. This weekday late-night show celebrates the thriving UK jazz scene and spotlights the best new music alongside incredible acts from past decades.
This week, Soweto is joined by Chilean born, New York based tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana. In 2013, she became the first female instrumentalist and South American musician to win the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. She has continued to forge her path as a formidable saxophonist, working with artists including Danilo Pérez, Christian McBride, and Jeff “Tain” Watts, alongside her own work as a bandleader.
From Monday to Thursday this week, Melissa is spotlight some of the musicians that have influenced her. Tonight she begins with an American jazz pianist known for his soulful delivery and compositions.
Also in the programme, there is music from Ron Carter, Alice Leggett, and Kassa Overall.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
TUESDAY 03 MARCH 2026
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002rr30)
Songs by Richard Strauss, Zemlinsky and Wagner
Baritone Andrè Schuen and pianist Daniel Heide give a recital at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg in Austria. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Frühlingsgedränge, Op 26 no 1
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
12:33 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Aus den Liedern der Trauer, Op 15 no 4
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
12:35 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Freundliche Vision, Op 48 no 1
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
12:38 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Nachtgang, Op 29 no 3
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
12:40 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Traum durch die Dämmerung, Op 29 no 1
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
12:43 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Ständchen, Op 17 no 2
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
12:46 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Wesendonck Lieder
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:05 AM
Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942)
Turmwächterlied, Op 8 no 1
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:11 AM
Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942)
Und hat der Tag all seine Qual, Op 8 no 2
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:15 AM
Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942)
Mit Trommeln und Pfeifen, Op 8 no 3
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:17 AM
Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942)
Tod in Ähren, Op 8 no 4
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:21 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Allerseelen, from 'Letzte Blätter, Op 10 no 8'
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:24 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Breit' über mein Haupt, Op 19 no 2
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:26 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Vier Lieder, Op 27
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:40 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Zueignung, Op 10 no 1
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:42 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Tragödie: Entflieh mit mir, from 'Romanzen und Balladen Vol.IV, Op 64'
Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano)
01:44 AM
Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942)
Die Seejungfrau (The Little mermaid)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly (conductor)
02:25 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Le Jardin feerique (from 'Ma mère l'oye')
Katia Labèque (piano), Marielle Labèque (piano)
02:31 AM
Henryk Górecki (1933-2010)
String Quartet no 2, Op 64 ('Quasi una fantasia')
Royal String Quartet
03:02 AM
Pál Esterhazy (1635-1713)
Harmonia Caelestis (excerpts)
Mária Zádori (soprano), Monika Fers (soprano), Katalin Károlyi (alto), Savaria Vocal Ensemble, Capella Savaria, Pal Nemeth (conductor)
03:27 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757), Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Chaconne on a Theme by Scarlatti after Keyboard Sonata in D minor K 32
Joseph Moog (piano)
03:34 AM
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Havanaise for violin and orchestra, Op 83
Moshe Hammer (violin), Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kazuhiro Koizumi (conductor)
03:44 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Rondo in D major (KAnh.184) arr. for flute and piano
Carina Jandl (flute), Svetlana Sokolova (piano)
03:50 AM
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
Ballet music from 'Paris e Helena'
Radio Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, Ludovít Rajter (conductor)
04:02 AM
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-c.1678)
O quam bonus es - motet for 2 voices
Cappella Artemisia
04:13 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Intermezzo in E major, Op 116 no 4
Barry Douglas (piano)
04:18 AM
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
Liebesleid - old Viennese dance no 2
Li-Wei (cello), Gretel Dowdeswell (piano)
04:22 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Rondes de Printemps, from 'Images'
BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena (conductor)
04:31 AM
Anonymous, Francois Campion (c.1685-1747)
El cant dels ocells; Les Ramages
Zefiro Torna
04:38 AM
Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)
Serenade for orchestra
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jan Krenz (conductor)
04:43 AM
Dora Pejačević (1885-1923)
Four piano pieces
Ida Gamulin (piano)
04:53 AM
Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel (1750-1817)
Duet no 3 for 2 violas
Milan Telecky (viola), Zuzana Jarabakova (viola)
05:01 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Trumpet Concerto in E flat major
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Argovia Philharmonic, Rune Bergmann (conductor)
05:17 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Magnificat RV.610/RV.611
Lydia Teuscher (soprano), Maria Espada (soprano), Marie-Claude Chappuis (mezzo soprano), Florian Boesch (baritone), Bavarian Radio Choir, Peter Dijkstra (director), Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini (conductor)
05:37 AM
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Harold en Italie - symphony for viola and orchestra, Op 16
Milan Telecky (viola), Radio Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, Ondrej Lenárd (conductor)
06:22 AM
Manuel Maria Ponce (1882-1948)
Guitar Preludes Nos 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Heiki Mätlik (guitar)
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002rtgf)
Ease into the day with classical music
Linton Stephens 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’
TUE 09:30 Essential Classics (m002rtgh)
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 (m002rtgk)
The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace from Germany
Al Ryan with concert recordings of distinctive settings of the church mass, today with music by Karl Jenkins - his immensely popular intercultural Mass for Peace, The Armed Man. Plus further highlights from the recent Belfast International Chamber Music Festival. Today an arrangement of a baroque masterpiece performed by trombonist Peter Moore plus pianist Jeneba Kannah-Mason playing music by William Grant Still and Florence Price
Johannes Brahms
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 83
Vadym Kholodenko (piano)
Norwegian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Leslie Suganandarajah (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Oboe Concerto in D Minor (after Marcello, arr. Ralph Sauer)
Peter Moore (trombone)
Zeynep Özsuca (piano)
Maurice Ravel
Tombeau de Couperin
Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest
János Kovács (conductor)
Karl Jenkins
The Armed Man - An Intercultural Peace Mass
Nabil Al Chalabi (muezzin)
Beth Taylor (mezzo-soprano)
Arcis Vocalists Munich
Munich Radio Orchestra
Anu Tali (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
William Grant Still
Summerland
Florence Price
Fantasie Nègre No 1
Jeneba Kannah-Mason (piano)
TUE 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002rtgm)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
The Classical Master
Kate Molleson surveys the Third Symphony by Sibelius and the period it was composed - a work which led one critic to call Sibelius a Classical Master. The Second Symphony by Sibelius had proved to be very popular, so when it came to Sibelius composing his Third Symphony, there was a lot of pressure to get it right. He looked to develop his compositional language further, but in doing so, created a work which at first did not appeal to his Finnish audience.
Valse triste, Op 44 No 1
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Thomas Søndergård, conductor
Kyllikki, Op 41 No 3
Janne Mertanen, piano
Symphony No 3 in C, Op 52 (excerpt)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä, conductor
The Captive Queen, Op 48
Dominante Choir
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänska, conductor
Erloschen (The fire had died out)
Tom Krause, baritone
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Symphony No 3 in C, Op 52 (excerpt)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002rtgp)
EMPOWER: Women Changing Music live in session
Katie Derham with two hours of the best live music and chat. EMPOWER: Women Changing Music play live ahead of the premiere of Anchors of Freedom by Ezo Sarici at Empower 2026, and conductor Paavo Jarvi and pianist Alexandre Kantorow join us in the studio to talk about their upcoming concert at the Royal Festival Hall.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002kr5k)
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music including Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and Mozart.
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002rtgt)
Rachmaninov's Symphony No 3
The BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniele Rustioni performs Bernstein, Rachmaninov's Symphony No.3, and ANTHEM a collaboration with baritone Davóne Tines for USA 250.
Recorded at the Barbican, London on Friday 13th February 2026. Presented by Martin Handley.
Leonard Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from ‘West Side Story’
Various Artists: ANTHEM (collaboratively arranged by Michael Schachter, Caroline Shaw, Davóne Tines and Tyshawn Sorey, including text by Mahogany L. Browne)
20.10 Interval
Sergei Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3 in A minor
Davóne Tines (bass-baritone)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Daniele Rustioni (conductor)
What is the true voice of America? For Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story was a plea for tolerance in a violent world, expressed through electrifying dance rhythms. For Sergei Rachmaninov, the USA was a land of new possibilities and sorrowful exile – emotions that pulse and soar throughout his glorious, glittering Third Symphony.
But in the USA’s 250th anniversary year, there are still questions to be asked – and in ANTHEM, Barbican artist in residence Davóne Tines collaborates with an array of living American composers (Michael Schachter, Caroline Shaw and Tyshawn Sorey), and poet Mahogony L. Browne, to ask what a nation is, and what it might yet be. Between Bernstein’s and Rachmaninov’s very personal testimonies, it’s a compelling centrepiece to an evening of music that’s never felt more timely.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert"
TUE 21:45 The Essay (m002rtgw)
You, Me and the Wireless
Episode 2
Legendary broadcaster Gillian Reynolds looks back at her life and the role of radio in it.
An award-winning journalist in print and on air, Gillian Reynolds was a radio critic for over 50 years, and a lifelong listener. Her sharp observation, warm wit and unerring sense of what works in sound are celebrated in this series of essays, where she looks back at a life and career inextricably intertwined with the radio. Presenters, comedians, dramatists, politicians, station controllers, commissioners – Gillian knew them all, and shares fascinating memories over her distinguished career, and her deep love for the medium of radio.
You Me and the Wireless discusses how and why radio works so well in different genres, with highlights from a long and distinguished career in both commercial and public sector broadcasting.
"Radio is more popular with BBC audiences than TV, delivering 43 percent of the BBC's total audience……. radio is perceived as a medium of the future not a dusty relic……. There are ways of telling a story on radio... audio does better than any other medium, more intimately and with more immediate impact."
Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph December 2015
After writing for The Guardian from 1967 to 1974, Gillian was the radio critic for The Daily Telegraph for more than 42 years, from 1975 to 2018. She then continued her career at The Sunday Times, where she wrote about radio until 2021. She was the first Programme Controller of Radio City in Liverpool in 1974, the first woman in the UK to hold such a post.
Gillian Reynolds is a Fellow of The Radio Academy, a trustee of the National Museum in Liverpool, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and an Honorary Fellow of her old Oxford college, St Anne's.
Essay 2
Voices in the air……the power of the single voice to hold our attention in news, entertainment and sport. Gillian Reynolds picks out some of her favourite radio voices over the years.
Clips:
Alistair Cooke: Letter from America BBC Radio 4, 25th August 1973
John Arlott: cricket commentary, BBC Radio, 11th December 1982
Joseph Priestley: Postscript to the News, BBC Radio, 5th June 1940
Anne Robinson: The Weakest Link, BBC Television
The Western Brothers: BBC Radio
Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, BBC Television, 25th December 1971
Tommy Handley, Tommy Handley’s Half Hour, 19th October 1943, BBC Radio
Writer and presenter : Gillian Reynolds
Producer : Polly Thomas
Sound designer : Paul Cargill
Exec producer : Jon Sen
A Thomas Carter Projects production for BBC Radio 3.
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002rtgy)
Blissful sounds for after-hours
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
TUE 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002l0fc)
Fresh from Helen Glavin
‘Round Midnight is presented by award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. This weekday late-night show celebrates the thriving UK jazz scene and spotlights the best new music alongside incredible acts from past decades.
Chilean tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana is back with her second Flowers pick of the week. Tonight she chooses to celebrate a collaborator, and singular voice in jazz and music more broadly.
There is also music from Shobaleader One, Maggie Nicols & Geoff Eales, and Hannah Horton.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
WEDNESDAY 04 MARCH 2026
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002rth0)
Haydn and Beethoven from the Takács Quartet
Haydn's 'Sunrise' Quartet and Beethoven's 'Razumovsky' Op 59 no 1 Quartet performed by one of the world's most enduring quartets at the Barcelona String Quartet Biennale. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
String Quartet no 63 in B flat major, Op 76 no 4, Hob III:78 'Sunrise'
Takács Quartet
12:51 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
String Quartet no 7 in F major, Op 59 no 1 'Razumovsky'
Takács Quartet
01:29 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Vivace, from 'String Quartet no 16 in F major, Op 135'
Takács Quartet
01:33 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony no 6 in D, Hob. I:6 'Le matin'
Soundeum Chamber Ensemble, Yacin Elbay (conductor)
01:56 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Adagio in E flat (WoO.43 No.2) for mandolin and piano
Lajos Mayer (mandolin), Imre Rohmann (piano)
02:02 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Sonata for cello and piano no 2 in F major, Op 99
Christian Poltéra (cello), Martin Helmchen (piano)
02:31 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Cantata no 35 BWV.35 "Geist und Seele wird verwirret"
Jadwiga Rappé (alto), Concerto Avenna, Andrzej Mysinski (conductor)
02:55 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Harmonies poetiques et religieuses - 10 pieces for piano (excerpts)
Steven Osborne (piano)
03:25 AM
Joel Martinson (b.1960)
Aria on a Chaconne for organ
Jan Bokszczanin (organ)
03:29 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Gigues - from Images for Orchestra
BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena (conductor)
03:37 AM
François Dufault (1604-1672), Honoré d'Ambruys (c. C17th)
Pièce pour harpe (Dufaut); Air de cour “Le doux silence de nos bois" (d'Ambruys)
Angélique Mauillon (harp), Marc Mauillon (tenor), Étienne Galletier (theorbo)
03:44 AM
Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (1805-1900)
4 Caprices, Op 18:I (1835)
Nina Gade (piano)
03:55 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Ah! perfido, Op 65
Rosamund Illing (soprano), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Esser (conductor)
04:08 AM
Anonymous
Folias de Espana
Komalé Akakpo (cimbalom)
04:16 AM
Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908)
Concert fantasy on Carmen for violin and orchestra, Op 25
Julia Fischer (violin), Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Warren-Green (conductor)
04:31 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Hungarian Melody in B minor, D.817
Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
04:35 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Quartet in D minor, TWV.43:d2
Ensemble of the Eighteenth Century, Susanne Regel (conductor)
04:45 AM
Victor Young (1899-1956)
My foolish heart - song
Gwilym Simcock (piano)
04:55 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
In Nature's Realm (Overture), Op 91
Radio Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, Ondrej Lenárd (conductor)
05:10 AM
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
6 Metamorphoses after Ovid
Owen Dennis (oboe)
05:23 AM
Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909), arr. Ruggiero Ricci
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Kerson Leong (violin)
05:28 AM
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
Antar - symphonic suite, Op 9
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz (conductor)
06:00 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Quintet in E flat major K.452 for piano, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano), Albrecht Mayer (oboe), Kari Kriikku (clarinet), Per Hannisdahl (bassoon), Jonathan Williams (horn)
06:23 AM
Jacobus Clemens non Papa (c.1510-1556)
Carole magnus eras
Netherlands Chamber Choir, Paul Van Nevel (conductor)
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002rsp2)
Rise and shine with classical music
Linton Stephens 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’
WED 09:30 Essential Classics (m002rsp4)
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 (m002rsp6)
Striggio's 40-part Mass from Montpellier
Al Ryan with exclusive concert recordings including part of a distinctive and spectacular mass setting for 40 voices by the 16th Century Italian composer Alessandro Striggio recorded at last year's Montpellier Festival with Hervé Niquet and Le Concert Spirituel. Plus more chamber music highlights from the recent Belfast International Chamber Music Festival including pianist Jeneba Kannah-Mason performing Bach and Chopin. Also in today's programme, the next in the series of Wednesday afternoon concerts from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra that will take us into spring. Today the orchestra performs music by Beethoven, Dorothy Howell and Richard Strauss's elegiac Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings.
Alessandro Striggio
Mass for 40 solo voices ('Ecco si beato giorno') (excerpt)
Le Concert Spirituel
Hervé Niquet (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV. 829
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (piano)
13:30
THE BBC PHILHARMONIC WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON CONCERT
Richard Strauss
Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings
Dorothy Howell
Lamia
Ludwig van Beethoven
Overture - Leonore No. 3
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Yoel Gamzou (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Frederic Chopin
Ballade No 3 in A flat major Op. 47
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (piano)
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002rsp8)
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Live from the Chapel of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
Introit: The Lord’s Prayer (Lucy Walker)
Responses: Sasha Johnson Manning
Psalms 22, 23 (Camidge, Ives)
First Lesson: Job 1 vv1-22
Canticles: St Paul’s Service (Joanna Marsh)
Second Lesson: Luke 21 v34 – 22 v6
Anthem: Ash Wednesday (Cecilia McDowall)
Voluntary: Prelude & Fugue on ‘O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid’ (Smyth)
David Skinner (Director of Music)
Samuel Kemp, Edward Talbot-Ponsonby (Organ Scholars)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002rspb)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
A Psychological Symphony
Kate Molleson follows the creation of the Fourth Symphony by Sibelius amid much self-doubt - a work at least one biographer has termed as his Psychological Symphony. In the build-up to World War One, in his Fourth Symphony Sibelius continued to search for a new compositional language, whilst at the same time having increasing concerns about money, and also his health from excessive drinking and smoking.
Twelfth Night, Op 60 No 1 (Come Away, Death)
Gerald Finley, bass-baritone
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
String Quartet in D minor, Op 56 ‘Voces Intimae’ (excerpt)
Emerson Quartet
Des Abends, Op 58 No 5
Janne Mertanen, piano
Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63 (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor
Spring’s Spell, Op 61 No 8
Elisabeth Söderström, soprano
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63 (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002rspd)
Her Ensemble live in session
There’s live music from Her Ensemble and Petroc chats to Eric McElroy about his new book on composer John Ireland and Welsh author Arthur Machen.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002rspg)
Power through with classical music
30 minutes of back to back classical music to help wind down at the end of a busy day. The sap is rising during today's sequence, with a Bach Siciliano, and romances from Khachaturian and Rachmaninov, along with serenades from Mozart's Don Giovanni, and a pair of birds from Purcell's Fairy Queen. Some cinematic lushness perfumes the warming air with Michel Legrand's "Paris violon", whilst Mel Bonis entices us into the forest for an evening stroll. Looking up from earthly pleasures, Rebecca Dale reveals a glimpse of heaven with her ethereal setting of Salve Regina, whilst Percy Grainger's ravishing arrangement of "The Three Ravens" tells the grisly story of a heroic dead knight, who's body is rescued by a deer.
Producer: Helen Garrison
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002rspj)
Holst's Planets Suite from Manchester
The Hallé Orchestra and Choirs, and its Principal Conductor Kahchun Wong perform a programme of celestial music by Gutsav Holst, Unsuk Chin and Colin Matthews.
Unsuk Chin’s Le Chant des Enfants des Étoiles is an intensely atmospheric work which will take you on an exploration through the stars and the infinite reaches of space. Recently revised by the composer, this concert presents the exciting world première of this updated version.
The orchestra then takes us on a more familiar journey through the solar system, from Mercury to Neptune with a performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” Suite. And to conclude, Colin Matthews’s “Pluto”, the Renewer – a lightning-fast scherzo with its flurry of solar winds in the strings, provides an irresistible complementary movement to the Holst.
Presented by Mark Forrest at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, and recorded on 19th February 2026.
Unsuk Chin: Le Chant des Enfants des Étoiles (Hallé Commission / World Premiere of Revision)
Gustav Holst: The Planets Suite
Colin Matthews: Pluto, The Renewer
Hallé Choir
Hallé Youth Choir
Hallé Orchestra
Kahchun Wong (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say, 'ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert'.
WED 21:45 The Essay (m002rspl)
You, Me and the Wireless
Episode 3
Legendary broadcaster Gillian Reynolds looks back at her life and the role of radio in it.
An award-winning journalist in print and on air, Gillian Reynolds was a radio critic for over 50 years, and a lifelong listener. Her sharp observation, warm wit and unerring sense of what works in sound are celebrated in this series of essays, where she looks back at a life and career inextricably intertwined with the radio. Presenters, comedians, dramatists, politicians, station controllers, commissioners – Gillian knew them all, and shares fascinating memories over her distinguished career, and her deep love for the medium of radio.
You Me and the Wireless discusses how and why radio works so well in different genres, with highlights from a long and distinguished career in both commercial and public sector broadcasting.
"Radio is more popular with BBC audiences than TV, delivering 43 percent of the BBC's total audience……. radio is perceived as a medium of the future not a dusty relic……. There are ways of telling a story on radio... audio does better than any other medium, more intimately and with more immediate impact."
Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph December 2015
After writing for The Guardian from 1967 to 1974, Gillian was the radio critic for The Daily Telegraph for more than 42 years, from 1975 to 2018. She then continued her career at The Sunday Times, where she wrote about radio until 2021. She was the first Programme Controller of Radio City in Liverpool in 1974, the first woman in the UK to hold such a post.
Gillian Reynolds is a Fellow of The Radio Academy, a trustee of the National Museum in Liverpool, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and an Honorary Fellow of her old Oxford college, St Anne's.
Essay 3
Radio comedy is powerhouse of creativity, laughs and great performers. A look at how so many of the British comedy greats began on radio and stayed.
Clips:
Take It From Here, BBC Light Programme, 4th December 1958
Tommy Handley's Half Hour, BBC Radio, 19th October 1943
The Goon Show, Vintage Goons: The Silent Bugler, BBC Radio, 4th December 1986
Writer and presenter : Gillian Reynolds
Producer : Polly Thomas
Sound designer : Paul Cargill
Exec producer : Jon Sen
A Thomas Carter Projects production for BBC Radio 3.
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002rspn)
Immersive music for moonlight
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
WED 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002kz22)
One for Miriam Makeba’s birthday
‘Round Midnight is presented by award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. This weekday late-night show celebrates the thriving UK jazz scene and spotlights the best new music alongside incredible acts from past decades.
Melissa Aldana has a third artist that she would like to give Flowers to, and tonight it’s the turn of a fellow saxophonist that she has been inspired by.
Plus there is music from Jessica Lauren, Olivia Cuttill, and Neil Ardley.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
THURSDAY 05 MARCH 2026
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002rspq)
Leonard Slatkin conducts Mozart, Richard Strauss and Cindy McTee
The National Symphony Orchestra, Ireland and young French virtuoso pianist David Fray perform Mozart's Piano Concerto no 20. Also in the programme is the Irish premiere of Cindy McTee's 'Timepiece' and Richard Strauss's 'Ein Heldenleben'. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Cindy McTee (b.1953)
Timepiece
National Symphony Orchestra, Ireland, Leonard Slatkin (conductor)
12:40 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto no 20 in D minor, K.466
David Fray (piano), National Symphony Orchestra, Ireland, Leonard Slatkin (conductor)
01:09 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Air, from 'Orchestral Suite no 3 in D major, BWV.1068'
David Fray (piano)
01:14 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Ein Heldenleben, Op 40
National Symphony Orchestra, Ireland, Leonard Slatkin (conductor)
02:02 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
9 Songs: Ständchen, Op 17/2; Schlagende Herzen, Op 29/2; Muttertändelei, Op 43/2; Meinem Kinde, Op 37/3; Der Stern, Op 69/1; Die Nacht, Op10/3 Ich wollt ein Sträusslein binden, op. 68/2 Amor, op. 68/5 Wie sollten wir geheim sie halten, op. 19/4
Regula Mühlemann (soprano), Tatiana Korsunskaya (piano)
02:25 AM
Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952)
Danse Orientale
Ionel Manciu (violin), Dominic Degavino (piano)
02:31 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Come, ye sons of Art, away (Ode for the birthday of Queen Mary (1694), Z.323)
Anna Mikolajczyk (soprano), Henning Voss (contralto), Robert Lawaty (counter tenor), Mirosław Borczyński (bass), Sine Nomine Chamber Choir, Concerto Polacco Baroque Orchestra, Marek Toporowski (director)
02:54 AM
César Franck (1822-1890)
Piano Quintet in F minor
Jørgen Larsen (piano), Skampa Quartet
03:29 AM
Friedrich Kunzen (1761-1817)
Vinhoesten (Der Fest der Winzer) (Overture)
Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Peter Marschik (conductor)
03:34 AM
Frano Matušic (b.1961)
Two Croatian Folksongs
Dubrovnik Guitar Trio
03:41 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto in D minor for 2 violins, cello and orchestra, RV.565 (Op 3 no 11)
RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Pavle Dešpalj (conductor)
03:52 AM
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
Vltava (Moldau), from 'Má vlast' (My Homeland)
Kotaro Fukuma (piano)
04:03 AM
Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896)
"Adieu! Mignon" from "Mignon", Act 2
Benjamin Butterfield (tenor), Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Richard Bradshaw (conductor)
04:08 AM
Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912)
La Tristesse, Op 39
Anastasia Kobekina (cello), Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula (piano)
04:15 AM
Sulho Ranta (1901-1960)
Finnish Folk Dances - suite for orchestra, Op 51
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
04:24 AM
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
Canon in D major
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Michal Klauza (conductor)
04:31 AM
Ludwig Senfl (c.1486-1543)
Altera iam teritur bellis civilibus aetas
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis Vocal Ensemble, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis Instrumental Ensemble
04:36 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Andrew Manze
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV.565) reconstsr. Manze for violin in A minor
Andrew Manze (violin)
04:44 AM
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948)
Two orchestral intermezzi from 'I Gioielli della Madonna', Op 4
KBS Symphony Orchestra, Othmar Mága (conductor)
04:54 AM
Eric Ewazen (b.1954)
Andante from Concerto for Marimba and Strings
Heigo Rosin (percussion), Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Risto Joost (conductor)
05:04 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Keyboard Sonata in B flat major, Hob.
16.41
Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
05:16 AM
Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704)
Sonata Prima a 4 (Opera Decima Sesta)
Maniera
05:25 AM
Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927)
String Quartet no 3 in F major, Op 18
Yggdrasil String Quartet
05:58 AM
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Sea Pictures, Op 37
Margreta Elkins (mezzo-soprano), Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Werner Andreas Albert (conductor)
06:20 AM
Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764)
Badinage & Chaconne from Deuxieme Recreation de musique d'une execution facile
Les Ambassadeurs, Alexis Kossenko (director)
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002rr6v)
Roll out of bed into classical music
Linton Stephens 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’
THU 09:30 Essential Classics (m002rr6x)
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 (m002rr6z)
Charpentier's Missa Assumpta est Maria from Munich
Al Ryan introduces a concert recording from Munich of Charpentier's Missa Assumpta est Maria - a mass for the assumption of the Virgin Mary - performed by the Akademie für Alte Musik, Berlin directed by Denis Comtet and brings us highlights from the recent Belfast International Festival of Chamber Music including Mozart and Bruch from the Sitkovetsky Trio and pianist Jeneba Kannah-Mason playing Debussy and Chopin
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Trio in B flat major, K. 502
Sitkovetsky Trio
Jacques Ibert
Flute Concerto
Emmanuel Pahud (flute)
Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest
János Kovács (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Frederic Chopin
Ballade No 4 in F minor Op. 52
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (piano)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Max Bruch
Eight Pieces, Op. 83, Nos. 6, 2, 3 & 7 (arranged for violin, cello and piano)
Sitkovetsky Trio
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Missa Assumpta est Maria, H. 11 (Part 1)
Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Franziska Zwink (soprano)
Eunkyung Shin (soprano
Marieke Braun (contralto)
Heejoon Lee (tenor)
Gabriel Sin (tenor)
Q-Won Han (tenor, intonations)
Lukas Mayr (bass-baritone)
Bavarian Radio Chorus
Akademie für Alte Musik, Berlin
Denis Comtet (conductor)
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Concert pour Quatre Parties de Violes, H. 545
Prelude
Allemande
Sarabande
Gigue anglaise
Passacaille
Akademie für Alte Musik, Berlin
Denis Comtet (conductor)
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Missa Assumpta est Maria, H. 11 (Part 2)
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Franziska Zwink (soprano)
Eunkyung Shin (soprano
Marieke Braun (contralto)
Heejoon Lee (tenor)
Gabriel Sin (tenor)
Q-Won Han (tenor, intonations)
Lukas Mayr (bass-baritone)
Bavarian Radio Chorus
Akademie für Alte Musik, Berlin
Denis Comtet (conductor)
Henriëtte Bosmans
Cello Concerto No. 2
Gemma Rosefield (cello)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
George Vass (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Claude Debussy
Preludes - Book 1: La fille aux cheveux de lin
Preludes - Book 2: Bruyères
Janeba Kannah-Mason (piano)
THU 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002rr71)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
A Depiction of Swans
Kate Molleson delves into the iconic Fifth Symphony by Jean Sibelius – and it’s famed programmatic depiction of Swans. Despite the huge success of this work, the Fifth Symphony was composed during the turbulent times of World War One. Sibelius was unhappy with the score, and would return to this work a number of times to edit it further. The version known and loved today, is quite different to the one premiered in 1915.
Romance, Op 78 No 2 (excerpt)
Fenella Humphreys, violin
Joseph Tong, piano
The Oceanides, Op 73
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Thomas Sondergård, conductor
The Echo Nymph, Op 72 No 4
Karita Mattila, soprano
Ilmo Ranta, piano
Symphony No 5 in E flat, Op 82 (excerpt)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Collon, conductor
Jokamies, Op 83 (Dance Song)
Petri Lehto, tenor
Sauli Tiilikainen, baritone
Lahti Chamber Choir
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Symphony No 5 in E flat, Op 82 (excerpt)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Collon, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002rr73)
Pianist Danny Driver and conductor David Hill
Danny Driver plays live in the studio.
Plus, David Hill, Musical Director of the Bach Choir, joins Petroc ahead of their annual performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion at London's Royal Festival Hall.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002rr75)
Your daily classical soundtrack
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
Tonight's mixtape features the balletic 'Sonnet d'amour' from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, as well as rich orchestral pieces from Aaron Copland and Sergey Rachmaninov. John Williams' atmospheric score to the film 'Memoirs of a Geisha' also features, with Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman the featured soloists. Dreamy piano bookends this mixtape, with music from French composer Maurice Ravel and a beautiful Impromptu from Jean Sibelius.
Producer: Joe Blamey
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Play BBC Radio 3".
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002rr77)
Shostakovich's 2nd Cello Concerto with Alban Gerhardt
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales are joined by their Principal Conductor, Ryan Bancroft, to perform works by Sibelius, Shostakovich, and Anders Hillborg. The concert begins with Hillborg's Exquisite Corpse, named after a surrealist method of creation through collage, which contains quotations from his own compositions, and those of other composers, all woven into a tapestry of ever-evolving sound. Alban Gerhardt then joins the Orchestra as soloist in Shostakovich's 2nd Cello Concerto, a reflective work that he wrote to be performed at his 60th Birthday celebrations while convalescing after a heart attack. and the concert concludes in the mythical world of the Kalevala with Sibelius's suite of four tone poems that he wrote based on the poetry centring around the character Lemminkäinen.
Presented by Ian Skelly and recorded in BBC Hoddinott Hall on the 8th of January.
Anders Hillborg: Exquisite Corpse
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No 2, Op 126
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op 22
Alban Gerhardt (cello)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Ryan Bancroft (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert”.
THU 21:45 The Essay (m002rr79)
You, Me and the Wireless
Episode 4
Legendary broadcaster Gillian Reynolds looks back at her life and the role of radio in it.
An award-winning journalist in print and on air, Gillian Reynolds was a radio critic for over 50 years, and a lifelong listener. Her sharp observation, warm wit and unerring sense of what works in sound are celebrated in this series of essays, where she looks back at a life and career inextricably intertwined with the radio. Presenters, comedians, dramatists, politicians, station controllers, commissioners – Gillian knew them all, and shares fascinating memories over her distinguished career, and her deep love for the medium of radio.
You Me and the Wireless discusses how and why radio works so well in different genres, with highlights from a long and distinguished career in both commercial and public sector broadcasting.
"Radio is more popular with BBC audiences than TV, delivering 43 percent of the BBC's total audience……. radio is perceived as a medium of the future not a dusty relic……. There are ways of telling a story on radio... audio does better than any other medium, more intimately and with more immediate impact."
Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph December 2015
After writing for The Guardian from 1967 to 1974, Gillian was the radio critic for The Daily Telegraph for more than 42 years, from 1975 to 2018. She then continued her career at The Sunday Times, where she wrote about radio until 2021. She was the first Programme Controller of Radio City in Liverpool in 1974, the first woman in the UK to hold such a post.
Gillian Reynolds is a Fellow of The Radio Academy, a trustee of the National Museum in Liverpool, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and an Honorary Fellow of her old Oxford college, St Anne's.
Essay 4
Politics on air – Gillian Reynolds makes a powerful case for radio as the best place to debate, consider and platform key political topics.
Clips:
Neville Chamberlain’s BBC Home Service Radio Address, 3rd September 1939
Margaret Thatcher ringing the Today programme, BBC Radio 4, 8th December 1988
Kate Adie, From Our Own Correspondent, 13th May 2023
Writer and presenter : Gillian Reynolds
Producer : Polly Thomas
Sound designer : Paul Cargill
Exec producer : Jon Sen
A Thomas Carter Projects production for BBC Radio 3.
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002rr7c)
Music for the still of night
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
THU 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002kzdg)
A classic from Elaine Delmar
‘Round Midnight is presented by award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. This weekday late-night show celebrates the thriving UK jazz scene and spotlights the best new music alongside incredible acts from past decades.
Tonight, Melissa Aldana has one more bunch of flowers to give to a jazz artist that she appreciates, and tonight she chooses another saxophonist who is widely celebrated both as a performer and as a composer.
Also in the programme, there is music from Tomeka Reid, Fergus Quill and Billy Marrows.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
FRIDAY 06 MARCH 2026
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002rr7f)
The Romantic Violin
Violinist Carolin Widmann and pianist Gabriele Carcano play sonatas by Schumann, Brahms and Fauré at the Pau Casals International Music Festival in Spain. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Violin Sonata no 1 in A minor, Op 105
Carolin Widmann (violin), Gabriele Carcano (piano)
12:49 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Violin Sonata no 2 in A major, Op 100
Carolin Widmann (violin), Gabriele Carcano (piano)
01:11 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Violin Sonata no 1 in A major, Op 13
Carolin Widmann (violin), Gabriele Carcano (piano)
01:38 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré, M.74
Carolin Widmann (violin), Gabriele Carcano (piano)
01:41 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Overture (Suite) in D major, TWV.55:D18
Musica Florea, Marek Stryncl (conductor)
02:04 AM
Francisco Guerau (1649-1722)
Mariona, 'Poema Harmonico'
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar)
02:10 AM
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)
Iberia - book 1
Benjamin Grosvenor (piano)
02:31 AM
Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)
Symphony no 5 (H.310)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimír Válek (conductor)
03:05 AM
Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020)
Missa Brevis
Hover State Chamber Chorus of Armenia, Sona Hovhannisyan (conductor)
03:25 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in F minor, K.69
Joanna Boślak-Górniok (harpsichord)
03:29 AM
Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
On hearing the first cuckoo in spring for orchestra (RT.
6.19) (1911/12)
Symphony Nova Scotia, Georg Tintner (conductor)
03:37 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata no 24 in F sharp major, Op 78
Cédric Tiberghien (piano)
03:46 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Trio sonata in A major for flute, violin and continuo (Wq.146/H.570)
Les Adieux
03:59 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Song to the Moon from Rusalka, Op 114
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kamirski (conductor)
04:05 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Tzigane - rapsodie de concert for violin and piano
Vineta Sareika (violin), Ventis Zilberts (piano)
04:16 AM
John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)
Krazy Kat: A Jazz Pantomime (1921)
BBC Concert Orchestra, Keith Lockhart (conductor)
04:31 AM
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)
Menuet célèbre in G major, 'à l'antique', Op 14 no 1
Kyung-Sook Lee (piano)
04:35 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Divertimento in F major, K.138
Camerata Zürich
04:46 AM
Gunnar de Frumerie (1908-1987)
Klagosangen (The Lament)
Christina Billing (soprano), Carina Morling (soprano), Åslög Rosén (soprano), Swedish Radio Choir, Eric Ericson (conductor)
04:49 AM
Gunnar de Frumerie (1908-1987)
Pastoral Suite, Op 13b
Kathleen Rudolph (flute), CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
05:03 AM
Anonymous, arr. Pedro Memelsdorff & Andreas Staier
Three tunes to John Playford's 'Dancing Master'
Pedro Memelsdorff (recorder), Andreas Staier (harpsichord)
05:07 AM
Jay Capperauld (b.1989)
Circadian Refrains (172 Days Until Dawn)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Alpesh Chauhan (conductor)
05:18 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Capriccio in B flat BWV.992, 'Sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo'
David Kadouch (piano)
05:28 AM
Antonín Kraft (1749-1820)
Cello Concerto in C major, Op 4
Michal Kanka (cello), Prague Chamber Orchestra, Pavel Safarik (conductor)
05:52 AM
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
Sonata da chiesa in D minor, Op 3 no 5
Camerata Tallinn
06:00 AM
Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Requiem
Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh (director)
06:22 AM
Anatol Lyadov (1855-1914)
The Enchanted Lake, Op 62
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Dmitri Kitaenko (conductor)
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002rssf)
Breakfast with the best classical music
Linton Stephens 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 (m002rssh)
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 (m002rssk)
Beethoven's Missa Solemnis from Milan
Al Ryan reaches the climax of his week focused on performances of distinctive settings of the church mass with one of Beethoven's greatest achievements - his Missa Solemnis - in a performance given in Milan by the Orchestra of La Scala and Fabio Luisi. Al also casts an eye on highlights from the recent International Chamber Music Festival in Belfast, bringing listeners music-making from trombonist Peter Moore and from the pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason.
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31/2 (‘Tempest’)
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (piano)
Johann Sebastian Bach (arr. Andrew Davis)
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV. 582
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Davis (conductor)
Alice Mary Smith
Overture - Endymion No.2
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Emilie Godden (conductor)
Belfast International Chamber Music Festival:
Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella Suite (arr. trombone & piano)
Peter Moore (trombone)
Zeynep Özsuca (piano)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123
Rosa Feola (soprano)
Elizabeth DeShong, (mezzo-soprano)
Sebastian Kohlhepp, (tenor)
Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass)
La Scala Chorus
Alberto Malazzi, (chorus master)
La Scala Orchestra
Fabio Luisi (conductor)
FRI 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002rssm)
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
New Symphonic Territory
Kate Molleson follows Sibelius in the creation of his Sixth and Seventh Symphonies - and also the Eighth which the composer destroyed. These works were not only composed during a period of unrest for Finland, during and after World War One, but also a period of increasing uncertainty for Sibelius himself in terms of his health, and also his financial security. It was amid this backdrop of disharmony on many levels, that Sibelius continued to explore new compositional territory in his symphonic writing.
Romance, Op 101 No 1
Janne Mertanen, piano
Autrefois, Op 96b
Monica Einarson, soprano
Charlotte Forsberg, soprano
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi, conductor
Symphony No 6 in D minor, Op 104 (excerpt)
Orchestre de Paris
Paavo Järvi, conductor
Danses Champêtres, Op 106 No 1
Carlos Damas, violin
Anna Tomasik, piano
Symphony No 7 in C, Op 105
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002rssp)
Rediscovered music by Ethel Yeats and Mana-Zucca
Ahead of International Women’s Day, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective play the modern-day premieres of pieces by Ethel Yeats and Augusta Zuckermann, recently rediscovered in the BBC Central Music Library. Also, Anne-Sophie Bertrand plays live from her latest album Amalie's Cosmos.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002rssr)
Classical music for your journey
Unwind from a busy day with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
This evening's Classical Mixtape starts with Saint-Saens's beautiful 'Le Cygne' followed by a gorgeous choral setting of Nimrod from the Enigma Variations performed by VOCES8. Mozart, Mendelssohn and Debussy provide blissful piano nestled between the immersive soundtracks from the 1999 film 'American Beauty' and Howard Shore's 'The Lord of the Rings' along with another Swan connection in the shape of Elena Kats-Chernin's 'Wild Swans, Eliza's Aria' arranged for Violin & Piano. Puccini's Humming Chorus brings our journey to a close.
Produced by Sean Smith
FRI 19:30 Friday Night is Music Night (m002rsst)
Celebrating Ivor Novello
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales are joined by conductor Ian McMillan-Davidson, and vocal stars Jessica Robinson, Claire-Barnett-Jones, and Trystan Llŷr Griffiths to celebrate the music of Ivor Novello in his home town of Cardiff on the 75th anniversary of his death.
Presented by Shân Cothi, live from Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff.
Novello arr. Torch: The Romance of Ivor Novello
Novello arr. McMillan: Keep the Home-Fires Burning
Novello arr. Hope: Glamorous Night; Shine Through my Dreams (Glamorous Night)
Novello arr. Prentice: Why Is There Ever Goodbye? (Careless Rapture)
Novello arr. Cottee: Why Isn't It You? (Crest of the Wave)
Novello arr. Docker: The Dancing Years (medley)
INTERVAL
Novello arr. Hope: King's Rhapsody (medley)
Novello arr. McMillan/Poole: Dark Music (Arc de Triomphe)
Novello arr. Hope: If Only She'd Looked My Way (Gay's the Word)
Novello arr. McMillan/Poole: Finder Please Return (Gay's the Word)
Novello arr. Docker: Vitality!
Novello arr. McMillan/Poole: Valley of Song (medley)
Novello arr. McMillan/Poole: We’ll Gather Lilacs (Perchance to Dream)
Jessica Robinson (soprano)
Claire Barnett-Jones (mezzo soprano)
Trystan Llŷr Griffiths (tenor)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Ian McMillan-Davidson (conductor)
FRI 21:45 The Essay (m002rssw)
You, Me and the Wireless
Episode 5
Legendary broadcaster Gillian Reynolds looks back at her life and the role of radio in it.
An award-winning journalist in print and on air, Gillian Reynolds was a radio critic for over 50 years, and a lifelong listener. Her sharp observation, warm wit and unerring sense of what works in sound are celebrated in this series of essays, where she looks back at a life and career inextricably intertwined with the radio. Presenters, comedians, dramatists, politicians, station controllers, commissioners – Gillian knew them all, and shares fascinating memories over her distinguished career, and her deep love for the medium of radio.
You Me and the Wireless discusses how and why radio works so well in different genres, with highlights from a long and distinguished career in both commercial and public sector broadcasting.
"Radio is more popular with BBC audiences than TV, delivering 43 percent of the BBC's total audience…….radio is perceived as a medium of the future not a dusty relic…….There are ways of telling a story on radio... audio does better than any other medium, more intimately and with more immediate impact."
Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph December 2015
After writing for The Guardian from 1967 to 1974, Gillian was the radio critic for The Daily Telegraph for more than 42 years, from 1975 to 2018. She then continued her career at The Sunday Times, where she wrote about radio until 2021. She was the first Programme Controller of Radio City in Liverpool in 1974, the first woman in the UK to hold such a post.
Gillian Reynolds is a Fellow of The Radio Academy, a trustee of the National Museum in Liverpool, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and an Honorary Fellow of her old Oxford college, St Anne's.
Essay 5
Radio drama has a long and illustrious history - Gillian picks out a few highlights from the theatre of the air.
Archive clips:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Quandary Phase Fit the Nineteenth
The Comedy of Danger 1973
Paul Temple and the Geneva Mystery: See You in London
Leaving by Vaclav Havel
Writer and presenter : Gillian Reynolds
Producer : Polly Thomas
Sound designer : Paul Cargill
Exec producer : Jon Sen
A Thomas Carter Projects production for BBC Radio 3
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002rssy)
Stretch and squeeze
Jennifer Lucy Allan presents a typically ‘Late Junction’ look at the accordion, with tracks old and new showcasing the instrument’s distinctive tones and fragile folds. From the deep listening and extended techniques of Pauline Oliveros to the digital manipulation and contemporary experimentation of Brussels-based Suzan Peeters, we trace the instrument from its humble folk roots to the edge of its eccentric possibilities, and back again.
Elsewhere in the show, a raft of new releases including Enno Velthuy’s dreamy and melancholic Music From the Other Side of the Fence as well as a maximalist tour de force in sonic bludgeoning from legendary Rhode Island duo Lightning Bolt - a triumphant return to form! Plus: Christian Aebi’s lo-fi salad of toy instruments and Força Maior’s wonderfully-warped saxophone portals to another dimension.
Produced by Alex Yates.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3.
FRI 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002l0jt)
Alice Zawadzki in concert
‘Round Midnight is presented by award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. This weekday late-night show celebrates the thriving UK jazz scene and spotlights the best new music alongside incredible acts from past decades.
Soweto presents concert highlights from vocalist, violinist, and friend of the show Alice Zawadzki, who is widely celebrated for her originality and genre-blending musical approach. Tonight, we hear music from her recent performance in Glasgow, as part of Celtic Connections 2026.
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 (m002rr2y)
'Round Midnight
23:30 TUE (m002l0fc)
'Round Midnight
23:30 WED (m002kz22)
'Round Midnight
23:30 THU (m002kzdg)
'Round Midnight
23:30 FRI (m002l0jt)
20th Century Radicals
21:00 SUN (m002rt75)
Breakfast
06:30 SAT (m002rryf)
Breakfast
06:30 SUN (m002rt6n)
Breakfast
06:30 MON (m002rr29)
Breakfast
06:30 TUE (m002rtgf)
Breakfast
06:30 WED (m002rsp2)
Breakfast
06:30 THU (m002rr6v)
Breakfast
06:30 FRI (m002rssf)
Choral Evensong
15:00 SUN (m002rgxs)
Choral Evensong
15:00 WED (m002rsp8)
Classical Live
13:00 MON (m002rr2f)
Classical Live
13:00 TUE (m002rtgk)
Classical Live
13:00 WED (m002rsp6)
Classical Live
13:00 THU (m002rr6z)
Classical Live
13:00 FRI (m002rssk)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 MON (m002rr2n)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 TUE (m002kr5k)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 WED (m002rspg)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 THU (m002rr75)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 FRI (m002rssr)
Compline
22:00 SUN (m002rt77)
Composer of the Week
16:00 MON (m002rr2h)
Composer of the Week
16:00 TUE (m002rtgm)
Composer of the Week
16:00 WED (m002rspb)
Composer of the Week
16:00 THU (m002rr71)
Composer of the Week
16:00 FRI (m002rssm)
Earlier... with Jools Holland
12:00 SAT (m002lnjy)
Essential Classics
09:30 MON (m002rr2c)
Essential Classics
09:30 TUE (m002rtgh)
Essential Classics
09:30 WED (m002rsp4)
Essential Classics
09:30 THU (m002rr6x)
Essential Classics
09:30 FRI (m002rssh)
Friday Night is Music Night
19:30 FRI (m002rsst)
In Tune
17:00 MON (m002rr2l)
In Tune
17:00 TUE (m002rtgp)
In Tune
17:00 WED (m002rspd)
In Tune
17:00 THU (m002rr73)
In Tune
17:00 FRI (m002rssp)
Jazz Record Requests
16:00 SUN (m002rt6v)
Late Junction
22:00 FRI (m002rssy)
Music Map
13:30 SUN (m002rt6s)
Music Matters
13:00 SAT (m002rryk)
Music Planet
21:30 SAT (m002rryw)
New Music Show
22:30 SAT (m002rryy)
Night Tracks
22:30 SUN (m002rt79)
Night Tracks
22:00 MON (m002rr2w)
Night Tracks
22:00 TUE (m002rtgy)
Night Tracks
22:00 WED (m002rspn)
Night Tracks
22:00 THU (m002rr7c)
Opera on 3
18:00 SAT (m002rryt)
Private Passions
12:00 SUN (m002cp06)
Radio 3 in Concert
20:40 SAT (m002rwqf)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 MON (m002rr2q)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 TUE (m002rtgt)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 WED (m002rspj)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 THU (m002rr77)
Record Review
14:00 SAT (m002rrym)
Record Review
20:00 SUN (m002rt73)
Saturday Morning
09:00 SAT (m002rryh)
Sound of Cinema
16:00 SAT (m002rryp)
Sunday Feature
19:15 SUN (m002rt71)
Sunday Morning
09:00 SUN (m002rt6q)
The Early Music Show
17:00 SUN (m002rt6x)
The Essay
21:45 MON (m002rr2s)
The Essay
21:45 TUE (m002rtgw)
The Essay
21:45 WED (m002rspl)
The Essay
21:45 THU (m002rr79)
The Essay
21:45 FRI (m002rssw)
This Classical Life
17:00 SAT (m002rryr)
Through the Night
00:30 SAT (m002rhh4)
Through the Night
00:30 SUN (m002rrz0)
Through the Night
00:30 MON (m002rt7d)
Through the Night
00:30 TUE (m002rr30)
Through the Night
00:30 WED (m002rth0)
Through the Night
00:30 THU (m002rspq)
Through the Night
00:30 FRI (m002rr7f)
Unclassified
23:30 SUN (m002l0b3)
Words and Music
18:00 SUN (m002rt6z)
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 (m002rt6z)
Factual
Sunday Feature
19:15 SUN (m002rt71)
Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media
Music Matters
13:00 SAT (m002rryk)
The Essay
21:45 MON (m002rr2s)
The Essay
21:45 TUE (m002rtgw)
The Essay
21:45 WED (m002rspl)
The Essay
21:45 THU (m002rr79)
The Essay
21:45 FRI (m002rssw)
Music
Late Junction
22:00 FRI (m002rssy)
Music: Classical
20th Century Radicals
21:00 SUN (m002rt75)
Breakfast
06:30 SAT (m002rryf)
Breakfast
06:30 SUN (m002rt6n)
Breakfast
06:30 MON (m002rr29)
Breakfast
06:30 TUE (m002rtgf)
Breakfast
06:30 WED (m002rsp2)
Breakfast
06:30 THU (m002rr6v)
Breakfast
06:30 FRI (m002rssf)
Classical Live
13:00 MON (m002rr2f)
Classical Live
13:00 TUE (m002rtgk)
Classical Live
13:00 WED (m002rsp6)
Classical Live
13:00 THU (m002rr6z)
Classical Live
13:00 FRI (m002rssk)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 MON (m002rr2n)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 TUE (m002kr5k)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 WED (m002rspg)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 THU (m002rr75)
Classical Mixtape
19:00 FRI (m002rssr)
Composer of the Week
16:00 MON (m002rr2h)
Composer of the Week
16:00 TUE (m002rtgm)
Composer of the Week
16:00 WED (m002rspb)
Composer of the Week
16:00 THU (m002rr71)
Composer of the Week
16:00 FRI (m002rssm)
Earlier... with Jools Holland
12:00 SAT (m002lnjy)
Essential Classics
09:30 MON (m002rr2c)
Essential Classics
09:30 TUE (m002rtgh)
Essential Classics
09:30 WED (m002rsp4)
Essential Classics
09:30 THU (m002rr6x)
Essential Classics
09:30 FRI (m002rssh)
In Tune
17:00 MON (m002rr2l)
In Tune
17:00 TUE (m002rtgp)
In Tune
17:00 WED (m002rspd)
In Tune
17:00 THU (m002rr73)
In Tune
17:00 FRI (m002rssp)
Music Map
13:30 SUN (m002rt6s)
Night Tracks
22:30 SUN (m002rt79)
Night Tracks
22:00 MON (m002rr2w)
Night Tracks
22:00 TUE (m002rtgy)
Night Tracks
22:00 WED (m002rspn)
Night Tracks
22:00 THU (m002rr7c)
Private Passions
12:00 SUN (m002cp06)
Radio 3 in Concert
20:40 SAT (m002rwqf)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 MON (m002rr2q)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 TUE (m002rtgt)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 WED (m002rspj)
Radio 3 in Concert
19:30 THU (m002rr77)
Record Review
14:00 SAT (m002rrym)
Record Review
20:00 SUN (m002rt73)
Saturday Morning
09:00 SAT (m002rryh)
Sunday Morning
09:00 SUN (m002rt6q)
This Classical Life
17:00 SAT (m002rryr)
Through the Night
00:30 SAT (m002rhh4)
Through the Night
00:30 SUN (m002rrz0)
Through the Night
00:30 MON (m002rt7d)
Through the Night
00:30 TUE (m002rr30)
Through the Night
00:30 WED (m002rth0)
Through the Night
00:30 THU (m002rspq)
Through the Night
00:30 FRI (m002rr7f)
Words and Music
18:00 SUN (m002rt6z)
Music: Classical: Choral
Choral Evensong
15:00 SUN (m002rgxs)
Choral Evensong
15:00 WED (m002rsp8)
Compline
22:00 SUN (m002rt77)
Music: Classical: Early Music
The Early Music Show
17:00 SUN (m002rt6x)
Music: Classical: Experimental & New
New Music Show
22:30 SAT (m002rryy)
Unclassified
23:30 SUN (m002l0b3)
Music: Classical: Opera
Opera on 3
18:00 SAT (m002rryt)
Music: Easy Listening, Soundtracks & Musicals
Friday Night is Music Night
19:30 FRI (m002rsst)
Sound of Cinema
16:00 SAT (m002rryp)
Music: Jazz & Blues
Jazz Record Requests
16:00 SUN (m002rt6v)
Music: Jazz & Blues: Jazz
'Round Midnight
23:30 MON (m002rr2y)
'Round Midnight
23:30 TUE (m002l0fc)
'Round Midnight
23:30 WED (m002kz22)
'Round Midnight
23:30 THU (m002kzdg)
'Round Midnight
23:30 FRI (m002l0jt)
Jazz Record Requests
16:00 SUN (m002rt6v)
Music: World
Late Junction
22:00 FRI (m002rssy)
Music Planet
21:30 SAT (m002rryw)
Night Tracks
22:30 SUN (m002rt79)
Night Tracks
22:00 MON (m002rr2w)
Night Tracks
22:00 TUE (m002rtgy)
Night Tracks
22:00 WED (m002rspn)
Night Tracks
22:00 THU (m002rr7c)
Religion & Ethics
Choral Evensong
15:00 SUN (m002rgxs)
Choral Evensong
15:00 WED (m002rsp8)
Compline
22:00 SUN (m002rt77)