SATURDAY 03 MAY 2025
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002b6by)
Birds and Spring from Copenhagen
Concerto Copenhagen in a springtime concert featuring music inspired by the season's sounds, including a version of Respighi's "Gli Uccelli" created by Danish composer Karl Aage Rasmussen for Concerto Copenhagen. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer (c.1670-1746)
Ouverture in C major, no 1 from 'Le Journal du Printemps'
Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
12:42 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Violin Concerto in A major, RV.335, ('Il Rosignuolo')
Fredrik From (violin), Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
12:53 AM
Charles Avison (1709-1770), Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Concerto grosso no 3 in D minor, after D.Scarlatti
Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
01:03 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Flute Concerto in D major, RV.428 ('Il Gardellino')
Torun Torbo (flute), Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
01:13 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
La Primavera (Spring), Violin Concerto no 1 in E, RV 269 ('The Four Seasons')
Fredrik From (violin), Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
01:24 AM
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936), Karl Aage Rasmussen (b.1947)
Gli uccelli (The Birds), P.154, suite for orchestra
Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
01:43 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Largo from L'Inverno (Winter), Violin Concerto no 4 in F minor, RV.297
Fredrik From (violin), Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
01:46 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Stabat mater for 10 voices, organ & basso continuo in C minor
Danish National Radio Chorus, Soren Christian Vestergaard (organ), Bo Holten (conductor)
02:09 AM
Anonymous, arr. Michael Praetorius
En Rose sa jeg skyde (I saw a rose spring forth)
Paul Hoxbro (recorder), Fionian Chamber Choir, Alice Granum (director)
02:13 AM
Signe Lykke (b.1984)
A world seen from above
Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
02:31 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), arr. Ferdinand Ries
Symphony no 3 in E flat major, Op 55 'Eroica' (arr. for piano quartet)
Florian Uhlig (piano), Agata Szymczewska (violin), Amihai Grosz (violin), Rafal Kwiatkowski (cello)
03:16 AM
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
Four Songs
Fredrick Zetterstrom (baritone), Anders Kilstrom (piano)
03:29 AM
Arthur de Greef (1862-1940)
Humoresque for Orchestra
Flemish Radio Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin (conductor)
03:35 AM
Carl Ludwig Lithander (1773-1843)
Rondo for flute and keyboard, Op 8
Mikael Helasvuo (flute), Tuija Hakkila (pianoforte)
03:42 AM
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-c.1678)
O quam bonus es - motet for 2 voices
Cappella Artemisia
03:52 AM
Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994)
Little Suite
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lukasz Borowicz (conductor)
04:02 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Four Mazurkas, Op 33
Bruce Liu (piano)
04:13 AM
Sergio Assad (b.1952)
Brazilian Scenes: Pinote; Recife dos Corais
Tornado Guitar Duo
04:18 AM
Marianne Martinez (1744-1812)
Sinfonia in C major
BBC Concert Orchestra, Johannes Wildner (conductor)
04:31 AM
Johannes Ockeghem (1410-1497)
Alma redemptoris mater
Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier (director)
04:37 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sonata no 9 for 2 violins and continuo in F major, Z.810
Simon Standage (violin), Agata Sapiecha (violin), Marcin Zalewski (viola da gamba), Lilianna Stawarz (harpsichord)
04:44 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata in D major, K311
Mateusz Borowiak (piano)
04:55 AM
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Scherzo Capriccioso, Op 66
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Oliver Dohnanyi (conductor)
05:09 AM
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Candide: Glitter and be gay
Tracy Dahl (soprano), Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
05:15 AM
Ferenc Farkas (1905-2000)
5 Ancient Hungarian Dances for wind quintet
Tae-Won Kim (flute), Hyong-Sup Kim (oboe), Pil-Kwan Sung (oboe), Hyon-Kon Kim (clarinet), Sang-Won Yoon (bassoon)
05:25 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Violin Concerto no 1 in D major, Op 19
James Ehnes (violin), Zurich Philharmonia, Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)
05:47 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Trio for clarinet or viola, cello and piano in A minor, Op 114
Svilen Simeonov (clarinet), Anatoli Krastev (cello), Mina Ivanova (piano)
06:13 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV.903
Andreas Staier (harpsichord)
06:25 AM
Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594)
Aurora lucis rutilat - motet for 10 voices
Currende, Erik van Nevel (conductor)
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002bfmq)
Start your day with classical music
Emma Clarke presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. 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 (m002bfms)
Carducci String Quartet joins Tom Service
Tom plays classical music to start your weekend and is joined by world renowned Carducci String Quartet for a special performance and to talk about their long standing careers together as a quartet that still has its original line up.
Plus the continuation of BBC Radio 3’s 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century – a series of brand new commissions celebrating and commemorating some of the biggest events of the 21st century so far. This week, Views from the M9 by Glaswegian composer Aileen Sweeney is inspired by one of the largest pieces of public art in the UK, The Kelpies. A pair of monumental steel horse-heads by sculptor Andy Scott between Falkirk and Grangemouth, they were unveiled in 2014, just months before the Scottish Referendum. It’s recorded by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002bfmv)
Classical, blues and jazz for the weekend
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 is joined by drummer and composer Stewart Copeland with music by Adams, Debussy and Liszt.
SAT 13:00 Music Matters (m0020ybb)
Music on the Front Line
Paul Conroy
Clive Myrie is in conversation with news correspondents about the music they’ve heard whilst reporting from the front line. With his own extensive experience of covering wars and conflicts, and his personal love of opera and jazz, Clive and Paul Conroy share stories to reveal something of the power and significance of music when working in extreme conflict situations.
Paul is an award-winning photojournalist who’s worked extensively in combat zones such as the Balkans, the Middle East, and Libya. He worked alongside Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin. His many musical memories whilst working include hearing Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis whilst filming the Kosovo border exodus. Having Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre in his head whilst smuggling himself from Budapest into Belgrade under a bus when NATO were bombing Serbia. He listened to Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherezade on a loop during the Iraq invasion. And during an illegal nighttime border crossing with Marie Colvin and the Free Syrian Army, he remembers having Grieg’s In The Hall Of The Mountain King from Peer Gynt Suite rattling through his brain as they tiptoed through land mines.
Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Must Try Softer Production
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002bfmy)
Mozart's Coronation Mass in Building Library with Joseph McHardy and Andrew McGregor
Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.
1405
Mahaliah Edwards joins Andrew to look at some of the week's new releases.
1500
Building a Library
Joseph McHardy picks his favourite recording of Mozart's Coronation Mass.
Mozart's Mass in C major, K.317, was written in 1779 in Salzburg. Having just returned to his home city after 18 months of fruitless job hunting in Paris and Mannheim, Mozart's father got him a job as court organist and composer at Salzburg Cathedral. The mass was probably premiered there on Easter Sunday, 4 April 1779. The first documented performance was at the coronation of Francis II as Holy Roman Emperor in 1792, and the mass became very popular at the Viennese court, earning the nickname Krönungsmesse (Coronation Mass) in the early nineteenth century after becoming the preferred music for royal and imperial coronations as well as services of thanksgiving.
1545
Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Record Review”
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m002bfn0)
The Art of Repetition
Matthew Sweet look at music for films in which repetition is a key point in the plot, and scores in which musical repetition is stylistically important.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”
SAT 17:00 This Classical Life (m002bfn2)
This Classical Life... with Esther Yoo
Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.
SAT 18:00 Opera on 3 (m002bfn4)
Verdi's Il Trovatore
Daniele Callegari conducts Verdi's dramatic blockbuster at the New York Metropolitan Opera, with Michael Fabiano and Rachel Willis-Sørensen as the tragic lovers Manrico and Leonora. Doomed love, family strife, tenor pyrotechnics, stereotyped gypsies and the famous anvil chorus - all the ingredients for a great night at the opera.
Presented from the Met by Debra Lew Harder, with commentator Ira Siff.
Verdi: Il Trovatore
Manrico, the troubadour ..... Michael Fabiano (tenor)
Leonora, his lover ..... Rachel Willis-Sørensen (soprano)
Azucena ..... Jamie Barton (mezzo-soprano)
Count di Luna ..... Igor Golovatenko (baritone)
Ferrando, his aide ..... Ryan Speedo Green (bass)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Conductor Daniele Callegari
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Opera on 3".
SAT 21:30 Music Planet (m002bfn6)
Dawn choruses and workers’ songs
To mark International Dawn Chorus Day, Lopa Kothari shares roots-based music inspired by birdsong, including a track from Ivory Coast artist Ruth Tafébé about a Nimba flycatcher. And in the week after International Workers' Day (May 1st), Lopa picks traditional recordings of work songs from the archives, including a llano work song from a Venezuelan herder, a country ballad from American unionist Bobbie McGee, and a haunting chant from salt miners in Sicily. Plus new tracks from Màiri Morrison and Alasdair Roberts, who teamed up to reinterpret Canadian traditional songs with Scottish roots.
Produced by Silvia Malnati
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: “Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Planet.”
SAT 22:30 New Music Show (m002bfn8)
Steven Daverson, Andrea Balency-Béarn, Shin Kim
From the BBC Symphony Orchestra's Symphonic Electronics season event earlier this year, a performance of Steven Daverson's Figures Outside a Dacha, With Snowfall, and an Abbey in the Background, inspired by the final scene from Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Nostalghia, in the UK premiere of a BBC co-commission. Also featured tonight: Riot Ensemble in concert with duo concertos by Shin Kim and Andrea Balency-Béarn, student composers at the Royal Academy of Music; Belfast's Hard Rain Ensemble perform the music of Polish composer Agnieszka Stulgińska; a live set from Tim Cape and Alex Ward recorded at London's Cafe Oto; plus a selection of the latest new releases. With Tom Service.
SUNDAY 04 MAY 2025
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002bfnb)
Julija Bal plays piano transcriptions of famous guitar pieces
Julija Bal premieres some of her transcriptions of popular guitar compositions on the piano at the 18th Vojvodina Guitar Festival in Serbia. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), transc. Julija Bal
Capricho Arabe
Julija Bal (piano)
12:37 AM
Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), transc. Julija Bal
Lagrima (Teardrop)
Julija Bal (piano)
12:44 AM
Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), transc. Julija Bal
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Julija Bal (piano)
12:46 AM
Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), transc. Julija Bal
Marieta (Mazurka)
Julija Bal (piano)
12:49 AM
Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), transc. Julija Bal
Gran Vals
Julija Bal (piano)
12:54 AM
Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909), transc. Julija Bal
Asturias Op 47 no 5
Julija Bal (piano)
01:01 AM
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), transc. Julija Bal
Dance of the Neighbours from 'El Sombrero de tres picos'
Julija Bal (piano)
01:05 AM
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), transc. Julija Bal
Dance of the Miller from 'El Sombrero de tres picos'
Julija Bal (piano)
01:08 AM
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), transc. Julija Bal
Fandango (Molinera Dance) from 'El Sombrero de tres picos'
Julija Bal (piano)
01:12 AM
Enrique Granados (1867-1916), transc. Julija Bal
Orientale Op 37 no 2 from '12 Spanish Dances'
Julija Bal (piano)
01:17 AM
Enrique Granados (1867-1916), transc. Julija Bal
Andalusian Dance Op 37 no 5
Julija Bal (piano)
01:21 AM
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), transc. Julija Bal
Spanish Dance no 1 from 'La Vida breve'
Julija Bal (piano)
01:25 AM
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), transc. Julija Bal
Danza Ritual del Fuego
Julija Bal (piano)
01:30 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Iberia: Images for Orchestra, no 2
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Jun Markl (conductor)
01:52 AM
Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
O Domine Jesu Christe
Sistine Pontifical Music Chapel Choir
01:56 AM
Jordi Cervello (1935-2022)
Remembrances
Atrium Quartet
02:20 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Concerto for 3 oboes, 3 violins and continuo in B flat major, TWV.
44:43
Il Gardellino
02:31 AM
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Hamlet - fantasy overture, Op 67
Croatian Radio-Television Symphony Orchestra, Aleksandar Markovic (conductor)
02:52 AM
Louis-Nicolas Clerambault (1676-1749)
L'Isle de Delos (cantate profane)
Isabelle Poulenard (soprano), Ensemble Amalia
03:13 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Etudes-Tableaux, Op 39 (excerpts - I to VI)
Nicholas Angelich (piano)
03:38 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Holberg Suite, Op 40
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton (conductor)
03:58 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Concert aria: Ch'io mi scordi di te...? Non temer, amato bene, K.505
Tuva Semmingsen (soprano), Jorn Fosheim (piano), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Michel Tabachnik (conductor)
04:08 AM
Alan Rawsthorne (1905-1971)
The Cruel sea - music for the film
BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba (conductor)
04:14 AM
Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703)
Fürchte dich nicht (motet)
Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier (director)
04:19 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Des pas sur la neige, No 6 from Preludes - book 1
Shai Wosner (piano)
04:24 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Andante Festivo for strings and timpani
Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Hannu Koivula (conductor)
04:31 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Violin Concerto in D major, RV 204, Op 4 no 11
Fabio Biondi (violin), Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi (director)
04:37 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
5 Esquisses for piano, Op 114
Raija Kerppo (piano)
04:46 AM
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Overture, Le Corsaire, Op 21
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor)
04:56 AM
Francesco Cavalli (1602-1676)
Lauda Jerusalem (Psalm 147, 'How good it is to sing praises to our God')
Concerto Palatino
05:05 AM
Josef Suk (1874-1935)
Elegy Op 23 arr. for piano trio
Trio Lorenz
05:13 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 26 in E flat major, K.184
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Franz-Paul Decker (conductor)
05:23 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op 26
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
05:44 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Divertimento (1932)
Esther Hoppe (violin), Alasdair Beatson (piano)
06:06 AM
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734)
Completorium
Aldona Bartnik (soprano), Agnieszka Ryman (soprano), Matthew Venner (counter tenor), Maciej Gocman (tenor), Tomas Kral (bass), Jaromir Nosek (bass), Period Instruments Ensemble, Andrzej Kosendiak (director)
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002bfvz)
Brighten your day with classical music
Mark Forrest presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong 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 (m002bfw1)
Your perfect Sunday soundtrack
Sarah Walker brings you three hours of classical music to reflect, restore, and refresh.
Today, Sarah Walker whips up a diverse musical spread, from 16th and 17th century masterpieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Thomas Tallis, to comforting and glorious romantic music by Robert Schumann, Georges Bizet and Dora Pejacevic.
There are also tracks from some of the brightest musical talents in the classical scene today including a warm and lyrical choral work by Kerensa Briggs and a serene folk-inspired track by cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin and his band the Danish String Quartet.
Plus, a light music classic which was used as the theme tune for the BBC series The Secret Garden…
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3.
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002bfw3)
Jonathan Sumption
Jonathan Sumption, Lord Sumption, isn’t afraid of hard work or an intellectual challenge. He’s combined a high-profile legal career with a passion for medieval history, and his books include a five volume, 4000 page account of the 100 years war, widely described as ‘monumental.’
For much of his career he was a very successful barrister working on commercial law, constitutional law and human rights cases, with clients ranging from the British government to Roman Abramovich. Then in 2012 he made history when he was appointed to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, without ever having served as a full time judge.
In 2019, he gave the Reith Lectures, under the title Law and the Decline of Politics, examining how the courts are taking on more of the role of making law. It’s a topic he follows up in his most recent book, The Challenges of Democracy and the Rule of Law.
Jonathan's music includes Berlioz, Schumann, Britten and Mozart.
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002bfw5)
A journey to Sibelius's Finlandia
Sara Mohr-Pietsch is your guide on a journey towards a defining moment in Finnish history, at the turn of the last century, to explore an orchestral masterpiece - Sibelius's rousing Finlandia.
Along the way, expect echoes of marches by Elgar, Björk and Sibelius himself, stirring anthems like Abide With Me, revolutionary music by Chopin and Verdi, and even composers honoured on bank notes, like Clara Schumann and Edward Elgar.
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Map."
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002b697)
St Paul’s Knightsbridge, London
St Paul’s Knightsbridge, London with the BBC Singers.
Introit: Hail, gladdening light (Helen Neeves)
Responses: Radcliffe
Psalms 147, 148 (Hylton Stewart, Robinson)
First Lesson: Hosea 5 v15 – 6 v6
Canticles: Sumsion in G
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15 vv1-11
Anthem: A May Magnificat (Mathias)
Hymn: Nearer, My God, To thee (Essex Road)
Voluntary: Fantasie (Diemer)
Graham Walker (Conductor)
Tom Winpenny (Organist)
Recorded 7 March.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002bfw7)
Ron Carter Birthday Celebrations
Alyn Shipton presents jazz records of all styles as requested by you including music celebrating the birthday of bassist Ron Carter.
Get in touch: jrr@bbc.co.uk or use #jazzrecordrequests on social
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Jazz Record Requests”
SUN 17:00 The Early Music Show (m002bfw9)
London International Festival of Early Music
Hannah French presents highlights of last November's London International Festival of Early Music, including performances by the young Korean recorder player Jiyeon Bang, viol player Robert Smith, harpsichordist Maciej Skrzeczkowski, and recorder player Erik Bosgraaf with the ensemble filoBarocco.
SUN 18:00 Words and Music (m001kvl9)
Pirates and Outlaws
Film music from The Sea Hawk, Pirates of the Caribbean and Disney's Robin Hood, is set alongside stage works, like Bellini's Il Pirata, G&S' The Pirates of Penzance, and Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera. Readings performed by Rory Kinnear and Buffy Davis range from depictions of pirates and outlaws as romantic figures to morally flawed individuals. We'll hear about Bonnie & Clyde and some English celebrated seamen, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, deemed pirates by the Spanish crown because of their exploits in their Caribbean colonies, as well as extracts from writing by Robert Louis Stevenson, J. Meade Falkner, Lord Byron, John Keats, Rebecca Simon and David Graeber.
Producer: Juan Carlos Jaramillo
Texts
The Corsair (excerpt), by Lord Byron
The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast, by Michael Scott Moore
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Henry Martin, traditional popular ballad
Pirates of the Caribbean, by Emily Grosholz
Robin Hood. To a friend (excerpt), by John Keats
Poem by Bonnie Elizabeth Parker
Poem by Clyde Chestnut Barrow
Pirate Queens, by Rebecca Alexandra Simon
Danger On The Barbary, by James Casey
Moonfleet, by J. Meade Falkner
Pirate Story, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Pirate Enlightenment, by David Graeber
Upon Sir Francis Drake's Return from His Voyage about the World, and the Queen's Meeting Him - Anonymous
Text by Luis Antonio de Oviedo y Herrera
Sir Walter Raleigh's letter to King James, at his return from Guiana
SUN 19:15 Sunday Feature (m002bfwd)
Conscripting Beethoven
Historian Leah Broad discovers how pianists Elly Ney and Myra Hess used Beethoven to shape wartime culture in Germany and Britain.
SUN 20:00 Brass Banding with Hannah Peel (m002bfwg)
Trombones and Tibetan bells
Hannah drops the map of banding pin in Scotland’s thriving band scene and meets trombone soloist and New Generation Artist Peter Moore, who introduces a piece from his new album with Tredegar Band.
Featuring a moving piece from Belgian’s Willebroek brass band and a recent composition by Viskamol Chaiwanichsiri combining Thai folk music with British brass bands. Plus works from English composers John Ireland and Lucy Pankhurst.
Produced by Olivia Swift
A Reform Radio production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002bfwj)
Maceda: Political Pressure, Collective Power
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. This is a story about a hundred years of change. Of war. Of oppression. Of steps towards equality. Of censorship. Of rapid, inescapable technological advancement. Of machines. Of transport. Of science... And it's the story of how art and music responded, the story of the composers who defined the 20th century, who created 'modern' musical art which would shock, appall and fascinate in equal measure, changing the way we listen for ever.
In this episode, Kate explores one of the largest musical happenings in the history of music – José Maceda’s ‘Ugnayan’ of 1974. With potentially millions of performers and listeners involved, the piece took over an entire megalopolis in the Philippines, as twenty distinct musical tracks were played out on different radio frequencies simultaneously. In telling its remarkable story, Kate traces the history of modern art in the Philippines, examining Maceda's connections with some of the leading composers of the avant-garde and his commitment to the emerging world of ethnomusicology. We’ll also hear about the controversial political collusion which made ‘Ugnayan’ possible in the first place, and listen to a large part of this epic work alongside music by Iannis Xenakis, Isang Yun and Midori Takada.
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 Ultimate Calm (m002b6vz)
Hania Rani: Series 4
Sink into soothing cycles ft. Portico Quartet
Polish composer, pianist and vocalist Hania Rani believes that time is the kernel of music - where the music happens, how it happens and of course when. In this episode, she shares contemplative musical selections that demonstrate how artists grapple with time. She reflects on different ways to tame or temporarily control time in music - through loops, patterns, cycles and gaps, with pieces by Steve Reich, Shida Shahabi and Mette Henriette.
And we’re transported to not one but two musical safe havens—hearing from Duncan Bellamy and Jack Wyllie from the Mercury Prize-nominated group Portico Quartet, who each share the song that brings them ultimate calm.
Produced by Kit Callin
A Reduced Listening production
SUN 23:00 The Night Tracks Mix (m002bfwl)
A magical sonic journey conjured from the BBC music archives.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002bfwn)
Subharmonica
Join Elizabeth Alker with a selection of fresh music from genre-defying artists as we journey through landscapes of ambient and experimental sounds. Along the way, we'll hear from emerging independent producers whose work plays with orchestral textures and classical form as well as the latest sounds from a new generation of contemporary composers who look to embrace the spirit of rock, pop and electronica.
MONDAY 05 MAY 2025
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002bfwq)
Schaghajegh Nosrati plays Bach, Mendelssohn and Alkan
German pianist Schaghajegh Nosrati performs a piano recital in Switzerland, including JS Bach's Partita No 4, BWV.828 and Alkan's Grand sonata: The Four Ages. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Partita no 4 in D major, BWV.828
Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
01:02 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Variations sérieuses, Op 54
Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
01:14 AM
Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)
Grande Sonate: Les quatre âges, Op 33
Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
01:51 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Adagio cantabile (from 'Piano Sonata no 8 in C minor, Op 13 'Pathétique')
Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
01:57 AM
Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)
Grand Duo Concertant for violin and piano in F sharp minor, Op 21 (c.1840)
Semmy Stahlhammer (violin), Johan Ullen (piano)
02:19 AM
Leif Strand (1942-2021), arr. Oivind Westby
Men går jag över engarna (But I Walk Across the Meadows)
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Argovia Philharmonic, Rune Bergmann (conductor)
02:25 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Hungarian Melody in B minor, D.817
Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
02:31 AM
Bela Bartok (1881-1945)
The Wooden Prince - ballet, Sz.60
National Orchestra of France, Hans Graf (conductor)
03:24 AM
Catharina van Rennes (1858-1940)
3 Quartets for women's voices and piano, Op 24
Irene Maessen (soprano), Rachel Ann Morgan (mezzo soprano), Christa Pfeiler (mezzo soprano), Corrie Pronk (alto), Franz van Ruth (piano)
03:29 AM
Joan Baptista Pla i Agusti (1720-1773)
Sonata in C major for flute, violin and basso continuo
La Guirlande
03:38 AM
Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (1805-1900)
6 Characteerstykker med indledende Smaavers af H.C Andersen, Op 50
Nina Gade (piano)
03:50 AM
Johann Strauss II (1825-1899)
An der schonen, blauen Donau (The Blue Danube) - waltz, Op 314
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles (conductor)
04:02 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Kyrie eleison in G minor for double choir and orchestra, RV.587
Choir of Latvian Radio, Riga Chamber Players, Sigvards Klava (conductor)
04:12 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Fantasia and fugue for organ in A minor, BWV.561
Norbert Bartelsman (organ)
04:21 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Premiere Rhapsodie
Camerata Variabile Basel
04:31 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Kirchen-Sonate no 15 in C major for 2 violins, bass and solo organ, K.328
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Kent Nagano (conductor)
04:36 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
3 Fantasy Pieces, Op 73
Alec Frank-Gemmill (horn), Simon Smith (piano)
04:48 AM
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
3 Preludes for piano
Donna Coleman (piano)
04:55 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Flute Quartet in D major, Op 5 no 1
Ensemble Pyramide
05:08 AM
Boris Lyatoshynsky (1895 - 1968)
Grazyna - symphonic poem, Op 58
Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Oksana Lyniv (conductor)
05:27 AM
Bernat Vivancos (b.1973)
Obriu-me els llavis, Senyor (Psalm 51 - Miserere)
Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Klava (conductor)
05:42 AM
Max Bruch (1838-1920)
Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor, Op 26
Roland Orlik (violin), Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Marek Pijarowski (conductor)
06:08 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Sonatine, arr. flute, bassoon and harp
Andrea Kolle (flute), Maria Wildhaber (bassoon), Sarah Verrue (harp)
06:20 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Vo'dar pace a un alma ultiera (from "Tamerlano")
Derek Lee Ragin (counter tenor), English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)
06:25 AM
Dora Pejacevic (1885-1923)
Nocturne for orchestra
Croatian Radio-Television Symphony Orchestra, Pavle Despalj (conductor)
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002bh7p)
The best classical music wake-up call
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford, including BBC Radio 3’s 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century – a series of brand new commissions celebrating and commemorating some of the biggest events of the 21st century so far. This week, Views from the M9 by Glaswegian composer Aileen Sweeney is inspired by one of the largest pieces of public art in the UK, The Kelpies. A pair of monumental steel horse-heads by sculptor Andy Scott between Falkirk and Grangemouth, they were unveiled in 2014, just months before the Scottish Referendum. It’s recorded by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
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 (m002bh7r)
The ideal mix of classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favorites.
1000 Playlist starter – listen and send us your ideas for the next step in our musical journey today.
1030 Song of the Day – harnessing the magic of words, music and the human voice.
1115 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.
1145 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
MON 13:00 Classical Live (m002bh7t)
Sitkovetsky Trio live from Wigmore Hall
Elizabeth Alker introduces an afternoon of great music-making from around the world including this week's live concert from Wigmore Hall featuring the Sitkovetsky Trio with viola player Eivind Ringstad in a programme of Faure and Beethoven and orchestral music from Denmark and the start of a cycle of Beethoven piano concertos in specially made recordings with some of today's foremost pianists.
LIVE FROM WIGMORE HALL
introduced by Andrew MacGregor
The Sitkovestky Trio with Eivind Ringstad
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Trio in D, Op. 70/1 "Ghost"
Gabriel Fauré
Piano Quartet in C minor No. 1 Op. 15
Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin)
Eivind Ringstad (viola)
Isang Enders (cello)
Wu Qian (piano)
*****
Richard Strauss
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Fabio Luisi (conductor)
Frank Bridge
“Come to me in my dreams”
Hugo Wolf
“Ganymed” (Goethe Lieder)
Gustav Mahler
“Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen” (Rückert Lieder)
Richard Strauss
“Morgen!” Op. 27 No. 4
Mary Bevan (soprano)
Joseph Middleton (piano)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15
Piotr Anderszewski (piano)
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Fabio Luisi (conductor)
Ruth Gipps
Ambarvalia
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Rumon Gamba (conductor)
MON 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002bh7w)
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Folk Songs of England
Edward Elgar was a man of many passions, from cycling to chemistry. Best known for the patriotic epic Pomp and Circumstance, England itself may have been chief among them - but the composer's relationship with his country was more nuanced than his flag waving might suggest.
In today’s programme, Donald Macleod explores Elgar’s complicated passion for England, from his early days skiving off to explore the countryside, to his compositions for the coronation.
Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1-5, Op. 39: March No. 1 in D
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Barry Tuckwell
Caractacus, Op 35: Scene 3, Nos. 1-5
Elizabeth Llewellyn, soprano
Elgan Llŷr Thomas, tenor
Huddersfield Choral Society and Orchestra of Opera North, conducted by Martyn Brabbins
Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1-5, Op. 39: March No. 3 in C Minor
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Barry Tuckwell
The Spirit of England, Op. 80: No. 3. For the Fallen
Andrew Staples, tenor
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis
Coronation Ode, Op. 44: I. Crown the King
Teresa Cahill, soprano
Anne Collins, contralto
Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, tenor
Gwynne Howell, bass
Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by Sir Alexander Gibson
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002bh7y)
Ease into your evening with classical music
Join Petroc Trelawny for a special VE Day celebration on In Tune with live music from the swing band, Jivin' Miss Daisy, who will be bringing the sounds of the era to life. Plus, Petroc speaks to Wing Commander Richard Murray, Principal Director of Music at the Royal Air Force, about the VE Day parade.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002bh80)
Your daily classical soundtrack
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002bh82)
VE Day 80th Anniversary
Marking the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, a special concert of performances from three of the BBC orchestras, opening with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Elgar's deeply passionate Violin Concerto, with soloist Anthony Marwood. Britten, a pacifist composer, expressed the horrors of war in several haunting works, including his Sinfonia da Requiem, commissioned (and eventually rejected) by the Japanese government to mark Emperor Jimmu's 2600th anniversary of the founding of the Japanese Empire. Dalia Stasevska conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Finally, Martyn Brabbins directs the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in the most popular - and most peaceful - symphony by Vaughan Williams, who witnessed the brutality of war first-hand as an ambulance driver in World War I.
Presented by Mark Forrest.
Elgar
Violin Concerto
Anthony Marwood (violin)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Manze (conductor)
Recorded: Malvern Forum Theatre, Malvern, February 2025
Britten
Sinfonia da Requiem
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Dalia Stasevska (conductor)
Recorded: Barbican Hall, London, October 2019
Vaughan Williams
Symphony No 5
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)
Recorded: Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor, November 2024
MON 21:45 The Essay (m002bh84)
Books for Brighter Blackouts
05/05/2025
As the BBC marks the 85th anniversary of VE Day, Professor Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War Two changed books, publishing and reading forever.
She begins on the night of 29th Dec 1940, when the Nazis dropped tens of thousands of incendiary bombs onto the historic quarter of London surrounding St Paul’s Cathedral. The damage to Paternoster Row, the street which had been synonymous with British publishing for centuries, was particularly dramatic, and over five million books were destroyed.
A policeman who was asked for directions on the following day by a passer-by eager to view the Blitz damage, simply replied ‘There ain’t no Paternoster Row’.
But Emma tells the story of one unique manuscript which was saved by chance from the conflagration, and of another book which rose, phoenix-like, from the ashes to become a twentieth century classic.
With contributions from Andrew Pettegree, Liam Sims and Henry Gott.
Produced for Just Radio by Beaty Rubens
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002bh86)
Blissful sounds for after-hours
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
MON 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002bh88)
NIJI’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 welcomes rising pianist NIJI as his guest from Monday to Thursday, for Flowers. Hailing from East London, NIJI now splits his time between London and New York, where he is Madison Square Garden’s resident organist. Alongside working with artists as varied as Harry Styles, Stormzy, and Gregory Porter, NIJI is an innovative solo artist. He released his latest album “Oríkì” earlier this year via Kartel Music Group.
Starting his Flowers week in style, NIJI chooses one of jazz’s enduring trailblazers.
Also in the programme, new music from Lily Carassik, Candice Hoyes, and Steven Bamidele.
TUESDAY 06 MAY 2025
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002bh8b)
Renaud Capuçon in Schumann and Dvorák
Distinguished French violinist Renaud Capuçon conducts the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and is also the soloist in Schumann's Violin Concerto. Dvorák's Eighth Symphony completes the programme. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Violin Concerto in D minor, WoO 23
Renaud Capucon (violin), Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Renaud Capucon (conductor)
01:00 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Daphne-Etude
Renaud Capucon (violin)
01:02 AM
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Symphony no 8 in G major, Op 88
Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Renaud Capucon (conductor)
01:37 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
String Quartet in F major
Bartok String Quartet
02:05 AM
Laszlo Lajtha (1892-1963)
Three Nocturnes, Op 34
Julia Paszthy (soprano), Istvan Matuz (flute), Ida Lakatos (harp), New Budapest Quartet
02:25 AM
Pal Kadosa (1903-1983)
Sonatina on Hungarian Folk Songs
Zoltan Kocsis (piano)
02:31 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
The Fairy Queen, Z.629
Elodie Fonnard (soprano), Rachel Redmond (soprano), Reinoud van Mechelen (tenor), Yannis Francois (bass baritone), European Union Baroque Orchestra, Paul Agnew (director)
03:17 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Keyboard Sonata in E flat major, Hob.XVI/38
Andreas Staier (pianoforte)
03:28 AM
Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)
Souvenir d'une nuit d'ete a Madrid, 'Spanish overture no 2'
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Oliver Dohnanyi (conductor)
03:39 AM
Andrew York (b.1958)
Sanzen-in
Tornado Guitar Duo
03:44 AM
Pierre Max Dubois (1930-1995)
Quartet for flutes
Valentinas Kazlauskas (flute), Lina Baublyte (flute), Albertas Stupakas (flute), Giedrius Gelgotas (flute)
03:52 AM
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Song to the Moon from Rusalka, Op 114
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kamirski (conductor)
03:59 AM
Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen (1745-1818)
String Quartet no 1 in E flat major, Op 3
Eos Quartet
04:09 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Rondo in C major for Two Pianos, Op 73
Soos-Haag Piano Duo (piano duo)
04:19 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)
04:31 AM
Karol Pahor (1896-1974)
Oce náš hlapca jerneja
Chamber Choir AVE, Andraz Hauptman (conductor)
04:37 AM
Adam Jarzebski (1590-1649)
Venite Exsultemus - concerto a 2
Bruce Dickey (cornetto), Alberto Grazzi (bassoon), Michael Fentross (theorbo), Jacques Ogg (organ)
04:43 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Capriccio in E minor, Op 81 no 3
Brussels Chamber Orchestra
04:50 AM
Ernest Chausson (1855-1899)
Pavane & Forlane from Quelques danses for piano, Op 26
Bengt-Ake Lundin (piano)
05:00 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), arr. Max Reger
Memnon, D541 (arr Reger for voice and orchestra)
Dietrich Henschel (baritone), National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Semkow (conductor)
05:04 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 16 in C major, K.128
CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
05:18 AM
Gabriel Faure (1845 - 1924)
Cello Sonata no 2 in G minor, Op 117
Andreas Brantelid (cello), Bengt Forsberg (piano)
05:38 AM
Albertus Groneman (c.1710-1778)
Sonata for Flute in D major
Jed Wentz (flute), Balazs Mate (cello), Marcelo Bussi (harpsichord)
05:52 AM
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 7
Alice Burla (piano), Swiss National Youth Orchestra, Mario Venzago (conductor)
06:15 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Concerto Grosso in D major, Op 6 no 5
Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble, Plamen Djurov (conductor)
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002bfy8)
Start the day on the right note with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
TUE 09:30 Essential Classics (m002bfyb)
Refresh your morning with classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favorites.
1000 Playlist starter – listen and send us your ideas for the next step in our musical journey today.
1030 Song of the Day – harnessing the magic of words, music and the human voice.
1115 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.
1145 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
TUE 13:00 Classical Live (m002bfyd)
Beethoven's 2nd Piano Concerto from Lausanne
Elizabeth Alker introduces specially recorded performances including the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra with Martha Argerich in the 2nd Piano Concerto of Beethoven. Also in this afternoon's line-up, Berwald's Grand Septet and a chance to catch up with this week's specially commissioned new work in our series marking the first twenty-five years of the Century. Today's new piece from Aileen Sweeney marks a landmark event in Scotland from 2014.
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
Renaud Capuçon (conductor)
Pablo de Sarasate
Concert Fantasy on Bizet's Carmen, Op. 25
James Ehnes (violin)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Juanjo Mena (conductor)
'25 FOR 25'
Aileen Sweeney
Views from the M9
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Franz Berwald
Grand Septet in Bb
Wigmore Soloists Lausanne
Isabelle van Keulen (violin)
Adrien La Marca (viola)
Michael Collins (clarinet)
Tim Gibbs (double bass)
Robin O'Neill (bassoon)
Alberto Menéndez Escribano (horn)
Michael McHale (piano)
Torleif Thedéen (cello)
Carl Maria von Weber
Overture - Oberon
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
Renaud Capuçon (conductor)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2 in Bb, Op. 19
Martha Argerich (piano)
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
Renaud Capuçon (conductor)
Eduard Grieg
6 songs Op. 48 No. 2 “Dereinst, Gedanke mein”
Samuel Barber
Hermit Songs Op. 29 No. 10 “The Desire for Hermitage”
Robert Schumann
Lenau-Lieder Op. 90 No. 7 “Requiem”
Henry Purcell
“Now that the sun hath veiled his light” (An Evening Hymn on a Ground) Z193
Mary Bevan (soprano)
Joseph Middleton (piano)
Eric Coates
From Meadow to Mayfair Suite
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Wilson (conductor)
TUE 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002bfyg)
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Love’s Greeting
Edward Elgar was a man of many passions, from cycling to chemistry. This week, Donald Macleod explores five of the composer’s greatest loves. Elgar might never have made it as a composer without the unflinching support of his wife Alice, who believed in him even when he was a penniless piano teacher.
In today’s programme, Donald discovers the unlikely beginnings of Elgar and Alice’s love story.
Salut D’Amour, Op. 12
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Kathryn Stott, piano
The Wind at Dawn
Amanda Roocroft, soprano
Reinild Mees, piano
2 Partsongs, Op. 26: No. 2, Fly, Singing Bird
Radoslaw Szulc, violin
Julita Smoleń, violin
Max Hanft, piano
Bavarian Radio Chorus, conducted by Howard Arman
String Quartet in E minor, Op. 83: II. Piacevole. Poco andante
Brodsky Quartet
Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002bfyj)
Classical music live from the BBC
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m001q757)
Half an hour of the finest classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music, including Salut d'amour on the cello by Elgar, Shostakovich's Gadfly arranged for viola, also another arrangement, this time for the piano of one of Bach's partitas for violin solo; Glazunov's scherzo from his Symphony No. 1; a pensive allemande from one of Handel's suites, 'Morning mood' from Grieg's incidental music for Peer Gynt, and Joanna Marsh's I take Thee, a choral piece with Gesualdo Six.
Producer: Juan Carlos Jaramillo
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002bfyl)
Alina Ibragimova & Friends
Two towering works of 20th-century chamber music bring together the violinist Alina Ibragimova with three of her closest colleagues; Marie-Elisabeth Hecker (cello), Matthew Hunt (clarinet) and Cedric Tiberghien (piano).
Recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 6th April 2025. Presented by Ian Skelly.
Shostakovich: Piano Trio No.2 in E minor, Op.67
Interval
Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time
Alina Ibragimova (violin)
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker (cello)
Matthew Hunt (clarinet)
Cedric Tiberghien (piano)
Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 2 combines Russian and Jewish folk themes in an emotional piece, composed in memory of a recently deceased close friend of the composer, whilst Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time is a work full of mystery, mysticism and uncompromising challenges for its four performers.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
TUE 21:45 The Essay (m002bfyn)
Books for Brighter Blackouts
06/05/2025
As the BBC marks the 85th anniversary of VE Day, Professor Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War Two changed books, publishing and reading forever.
Emma sets off on both imaginary and real journeys to Milford, Nottingham, Cambridge and London to discover the truth about civilian wartime reading. Her plan is to discover which books Laura Jesson, the fictional heroine of that most iconic of 1940s British films, Brief Encounter, might have been been carrying in her basket as she returned from a wartime visit to Boots Book-Lovers’ Library. Would it have been one of the cosy volumes recommended by Mrs Neville Chamberlain in The Brighter Blackout Book, or something altogether racier, such as Kathleen Winsor’s 1944 historical romance Forever Amber?
With contributions from Judith Wright and Nicola Wilson.
Produced for Just Radio by Beaty Rubens
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002bfyr)
Immersive music for moonlight
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
TUE 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002bfyt)
Brand new KOKOROKO
‘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.
Pianist and producer NIJI is back to give his second bouquet to an artist he takes influences from, for Flowers. Tonight, paying homage to his hometown, NIJI chooses a fellow East London pianist and producer.
Plus, music from Branford Marsalis, Jim Mullen, and Kneebody.
WEDNESDAY 07 MAY 2025
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002bfyw)
Handel's Chandos Anthems with the Kölner Akademie
These anthems are named after the Duke of Chandos, who commissioned them when Handel was the composer in residence at Cannons, his palace in Middlesex. The German ensemble and soloists perform these relatively unknown works in the Church of Saint-Michel in Fribourg, Switzerland. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Chandos Anthem no 4 'O come, let us sing unto the Lord', HWV 249b
Elena Harsanyi (soprano), Bettina Schaeffer (alto), Florian Sievers (tenor), Thomas Bonni (bass), Die Kolner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens (conductor)
12:46 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Chandos Anthem no 3 'Have Mercy on Me', HWV 248
Elena Harsanyi (soprano), Bettina Schaeffer (alto), Florian Sievers (tenor), Thomas Bonni (bass), Die Kolner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens (conductor)
01:07 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Chandos Anthem no 9 'O Praise the Lord with One Consent,' HWV 254
Elena Harsanyi (soprano), Bettina Schaeffer (alto), Florian Sievers (tenor), Thomas Bonni (bass), Die Kolner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens (conductor)
01:32 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
25 Variations and fugue on a theme by G F Handel for piano, Op 24
Simon Trpceski (piano)
01:58 AM
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Impromptu in E
Diana Ketler (piano)
02:01 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Phantasy Quintet
Mary Ellen Woodside (violin), Asli Ayben Ozdemir (violin), Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad (viola), Alessandro D'Amico (viola), Rafael Rosenfeld (cello)
02:15 AM
Niels Gade (1817-1890)
Echoes of Ossian, Op 1
St Gallen Symphony Orchestra, Modestas Pitrenas (conductor)
02:31 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata no 18 in E flat major, Op 31 No 3
Ingrid Fliter (piano)
02:53 AM
Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900)
Symphony in E major 'Irish'
BBC Philharmonic, Richard Hickox (conductor)
03:29 AM
Costanzo Festa (c.1485-1545)
Magnificat octavi toni
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
03:46 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
French Suite No 5 in G major, BWV 816
Evgeny Rivkin (piano)
04:02 AM
Ruth Gipps (1921-1999)
Wind Octet, Op 65
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
04:13 AM
Christoph Gluck (1714-1787)
Dance of the Blessed Spirits - dance music from 'Orphée et Euridice'
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer (conductor)
04:20 AM
Josquin des Prez (c1440 - 1521)
Chanson: Ma bouche rit
Banchieri Singers, Denes Szabo (conductor)
04:25 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Three pieces for Clarinet Solo
Martins Circenis (clarinet)
04:31 AM
Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)
Overture - from Ruslan & Lyudmila
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Arvid Engegaard (conductor)
04:37 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Romanze for Oboe and Piano, Op 94 no 1
Eva Steinaa (oboe), Galya Kolarova (piano)
04:40 AM
Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612)
Canzon II Septimi Toni a 8 from Sacrae Symphoniae 1597
Canadian Brass
04:43 AM
Mel Bonis (1857-1938)
Salome, Op 100
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Rumon Gamba (conductor)
04:49 AM
Sebastien Le Camus (c.1610-1677)
Laissez durer la nuit - air de cour
Ground Floor, Marc Mauillon (tenor), Gwennaelle Alibert (harpsichord), Angelique Mauillon (harp), Etienne Galletier (theorbo), Elena Andreyev (cello)
04:54 AM
Granville Bantock (1868-1946)
The Pierrot of the minute - overture
BBC Concert Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth (conductor)
05:07 AM
Peter Machajdik (b.1961)
Danube Afterpoint
Ricercata Ensemble, Ivan Siller (director)
05:23 AM
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Concerto in D minor for 2 pianos
Katia Labeque (piano), Marielle Labeque (piano), Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, Georges Pretre (conductor)
05:45 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Quintet for strings in G minor, K.516
Oslo Chamber Soloists
06:20 AM
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
O clarissima Mater (respond)
Rondellus
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002bg74)
Ease into the day with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
WED 09:30 Essential Classics (m002bg76)
A classical soundtrack for your morning
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favorites.
1000 Playlist starter – listen and send us your ideas for the next step in our musical journey today.
1030 Song of the Day – harnessing the magic of words, music and the human voice.
1115 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.
1145 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
WED 13:00 Classical Live (m002bg78)
Beethoven's 3rd Piano Concerto with Fazil Say
Elizabeth Alker introduces an afternoon of great music-making from around the world including today, Beethoven from Leipzig and Mozart's Clarinet Quintet from London. The acclaimed Turkish pianist and composer Fazil Say is the soloist for a performance of Beethoven's third piano concerto.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581
Wigmore Soloists
Michael Collins (clarinet)
Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin)
Annabelle Meare (violin)
Rachel Roberts (viola)
Kristina Blauman (cello)
Ruth Gipps
Cringlemire Garden
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Rumon Gamba (conductor)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor. Op. 19
Fazil Say (piano)
MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra Leipzig
Dennis Russell Davies (conductor)
Arnold Schoenberg
Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9
MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra Leipzig
Dennis Russell Davies (conductor)
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002bg7b)
Jesus College, Cambridge
Live from the Chapel of Jesus College, Cambridge.
Introit: My beloved spake (Hadley)
Responses: Philip Moore
Psalm 37 (Howells, Howells, Howells, Howells)
First Lesson: Genesis 3 vv8-21
Canticles: Stanford in B flat
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15 vv12-28
Anthem: My soul, there is a country (Parry)
Voluntary: Elegie (Parry)
Benjamin Sheen (Director of Music)
Michael D’Avanzo (Senior Organ Scholar)
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002bg7d)
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
God Against Art
Edward Elgar was a man of many passions, from cycling to chemistry. This week, Donald Macleod explores five of the composer’s greatest loves. Throughout his life, Elgar found inspiration in faith, but his relationship with religion would prove to be fraught.
In today’s programme, Donald discovers how Elgar’s Catholic upbringing both shaped his music and held back his career as a composer.
Ave Verum Corpus, Op. 2 No. 1
James Vivian, organ
The Choir of Lincoln Cathedral, conducted by Colin Walsh
The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II (excerpt)
Stuart Skelton, tenor
Sarah Connolly, mezzo
David Soar, bass
BBC Symphony Chorus & BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis
The Apostles, Op. 49: Part 1, Prologue & I. The Calling of the Apostles
Rebecca Evans, soprano
Paul Groves, tenor
Hallé Orchestra & Hallé Choir, conducted by Sir Mark Elder
The Kingdom, Op. 51: Prelude
Hallé Orchestra & Hallé Choir, conducted by Sir Mark Elder
Te Deum, Op. 34 No. 1
Jonathan Vaughn, organ
Choir of St. John’s College Cambridge, conducted by Christopher Robinson
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002bg7g)
Live music and news from the world of classical
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002bg7j)
Classical music for your journey
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002bg7l)
Prokofiev and Nielsen
Alina Ibragimova joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra for Prokofiev's first violin concerto; Hannu Lintu conducts the orchestra in Orion, composed by his compatriot Kaija Saariaho, and Nielsen's shattering Fifth symphony.
Recorded in March 2025 at the Royal Festival Hall, presented by Ian Skelly.
Kaija Saariaho: Orion
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op.19
Interval
Nielsen: Symphony No.5
Alina Ibragimova (violin)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Hannu Lintu (conductor)
Carl Neilsen was a composer who had seen the devastation caused by war, and his shattering Fifth Symphony summed up his own views about music: "Music is life and like it, inextinguishable." This extraordinary, two-movement work is conducted by the dynamic Finn Hannu Lintu, who also brings the sound-world of his compatriot Kaija Saariaho to the stage of the Royal Festival Hall. Orion paints a vivid picture of both the Giant Hunter whom Zeus places amongst the stars as a constellation, as well as depicting the cold soundworld of a Finnish landscape. And Alina Ibragimova joins the orchestra to give an extraordinary performance of Prokofiev's great First Violin Concerto; criticised at its first performance for being too conservative, Alina demonstrates a piece full of fairy tale-magic which dances and crackles with energy.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert"
WED 21:45 The Essay (m002bg7n)
Books for Brighter Blackouts
07/05/2025
As the BBC marks the 85th anniversary of VE Day, Professor Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War Two changed books, publishing and reading forever.
What did British soldiers read? At the Imperial War Museum in London, Emma Smith is delighted to be given access to a rare collection of paperbacks which were specially produced for servicemen and women. Few of these survive because they were often passed from hand to hand and simply disintegrated. As the IWM begins to catalogue this newly acquired collection of over four hundred titles, Emma is introduced to The Flying Visit by Peter Fleming. Astonishingly, his satirical 1941 novel about Hitler landing by parachute in England after a plane crash - without money and unable to speak the language – pre-dated Rudolf Hess’ actual flight to Britain later that year. What might the service personnel who read the edition of this book in the library of a naval base in Scotland particularly have enjoyed about it?
With contributions from Dominic Hewett
Produced for Just Radio by Beaty Rubens
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002bg7q)
Music for the still of night
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
WED 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002bg7s)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.
THURSDAY 08 MAY 2025
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002bg7v)
Elgar, Chopin and Strauss from the 2023 BBC Proms
Pianist Seong-Jin Cho joins the Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali in Chopin's Piano Concerto no 1. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
In the South (Alassio) - overture Op 50
Philharmonia Orchestra, Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor)
12:55 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op 11
Seong-Jin Cho (piano), Philharmonia Orchestra, Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor)
01:35 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Nocturne in E flat, Op 9 no 2
Seong-Jin Cho (piano)
01:39 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Aus Italien, Op 16
Philharmonia Orchestra, Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor)
02:25 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Nichts (Op 10 no 2) and Die Nacht (Op 10 no 3)
Mark Pedrotti (baritone), Stephen Ralls (piano)
02:31 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Fantasie in F minor for Piano Four Hands, D940
Soos-Haag Piano Duo (piano duo)
02:51 AM
Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838)
Clarinet Concerto no 1 in E flat major, Op 1
Kullervo Kojo (clarinet), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ulf Soderblom (conductor)
03:14 AM
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Nocturne for tenor, 7 instruments and string orchestra, Op 60
Benjamin Butterfield (tenor), Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Simon Streatfield (conductor)
03:41 AM
Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
Irmelin (prelude)
Symphony Nova Scotia, Georg Tintner (conductor)
03:46 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), Ignace Joseph Pleyel (1757-1831), arr. Harold Perry
Divertimento 'Feldpartita' in B flat major, Hob.
2.46
Academic Wind Quintet
03:55 AM
Johann Caspar Kerll (1627-1693)
Exulta satis - Offertorium for countertenor, tenor, two violins, viola and bc
Hassler Consort
04:04 AM
Johann Strauss II (1825-1899), arr. Alban Berg
Wein, Weib und Gesang (Wine, Woman and Song) waltz
Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Raffi Armenian (director)
04:15 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Hungarian Rhapsody no 6 in D flat major
Rian de Waal (piano)
04:23 AM
Maria Antonia Walpurgis (1724-1780)
Sinfonia from 'Talestri, Regina delle Amazzoni' - Dramma per musica
Batzdorfer Hofkapelle, Tobias Schade (director)
04:31 AM
Pietro Locatelli (1695-1764)
Sonata for violin and continuo in D major, Op 8 no 2
Gottfried von der Goltz (violin), Lee Santana (theorbo), Torsten Johann (harpsichord)
04:41 AM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
E voi siete d'altri, o labra soavi, ZWV 176
Delphine Galou (contralto), Les Ambassadeurs, Alexis Kossenko (director)
04:52 AM
Denes Agay (1911-2007)
5 Easy Dances for flute, oboe, clarinet in Bb, bassoon, horn
Tae-Won Kim (flute), Sang-Won Yoon (bassoon), Kawng-Ku Lee (horn), Hyon-Kon Kim (clarinet), Hyong-Sup Kim (oboe)
05:00 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata in C major, K.545
Young-Lan Han (piano)
05:10 AM
Victor Herbert (1859-1924)
The Fortune Teller (Excerpts)
Eastman-Dryden Orchestra, Donald Hunsberger (conductor)
05:19 AM
Niels Gade (1817-1890)
Ved solnedgang (At sunset) for choir and orchestra, Op 46
Danish National Radio Choir, Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Roman Zeilinger (conductor)
05:27 AM
Ludvig Norman (1831-1885)
String Sextet in A major, Op 18
Stockholm String Sextet (sextet)
05:53 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
3 Motets: Ave Maria; Christus factus est; Locus iste
Sokkelund Choir, Morten Schuldt-Jensen (conductor)
06:06 AM
Antoine Reicha (1770-1836)
Clarinet Quintet in B flat major, Op 89
Joze Kotar (clarinet), Slovenian Philharmonic String Quartet
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002bg7x)
Rise and shine with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
THU 09:30 Essential Classics (m002bg7z)
The very best of classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, featuring new discoveries, some musical surprises and plenty of familiar favourites.
1000 Playlist starter – listen and send us your ideas for the next step in our musical journey today.
1030 Song of the Day – harnessing the magic of words, music and the human voice.
1115 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.
1145 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.
1200 “25 for 25: Sounds of the Century” – a series of brand new commissions celebrating and commemorating some of the biggest events of the 21st century so far.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
THU 13:00 Classical Live (m002bg81)
Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto with András Schiff
Elizabeth Alker introduces an afternoon of great music-making. Recordings from concerts from home and abroad, including Hungarian born pianist András Schiff in the fourth in this week's cycle of Beethoven piano concertos
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58
András Schiff (piano)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Myung-Whun Chung (conductor)
Ralph Vaughan Williams
On Wenlock Edge
Allan Clayton (tenor)
Elias Quartet
James Baillieu (piano)
Bernhard Henrik Crusell Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 5
Michael Collins (clarinet/conductor)
Ulster Orchestra
Maurice Ravel
2 mélodies hébraïques - No. 1 “Kaddisch”
Franz Schubert
“Strophe aus Die Götter Griechenlands” D677
“Nachtstück” D672 "Auflösung” D807
Mary Bevan (soprano)
Joseph Middleton (piano)
THU 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002bg83)
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Friends and Enigmas
Edward Elgar was a man of many passions, from cycling to chemistry. This week, Donald Macleod explores five of the composer’s greatest loves. Elgar held a lifelong fascination with puzzles and would often dedicate his music to dear friends through coded notations.
In today’s programme, Donald decodes Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and meets the friends hidden in his score.
Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Theme (Andante)
Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Mark Elder
Enigma Variations, Op. 36: 1. C.A.E.; 2. H.D.S.-P.; 3. R.B.T.; 4. W.M.B.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Brabbins
Enigma Variations, Op. 36: 5. R.P.A.; 6. Ysobel; 7. Troyte; 8. W.N.; 9. Nimrod
Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Mark Elder
Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61: II. Andante
Vilde Frang, violin
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, conducted by Berlin Robin Ticciati
Carissima
Vilde Frang, violin
Thomas Hoppe, piano
Enigma Variations, Op. 36: 10. Dorabella; 11. G.R.S.; 12. B.G.N.; 13. Romanza ***; 14. E.D.U.
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002bg85)
In session with stellar classical artists
Petroc Trelawny celebrates the 80th anniversary of VE Day with wartime music, archive, and memories. He meets two World War II veterans: Patricia Owtram (aged 101) and Christian Lamb (104) - remarkable women who were each awarded France’s highest order of merit, the Légion d’Honneur. They recall their pivotal roles in work supporting D Day, and their love of music, during their hours off duty.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002bg87)
Half an hour of the finest classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002bg89)
Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony with the BBC SSO and Gemma New
Sometimes art imitates life so closely that you can almost feel its breath. “With passion and desire” wrote Tchaikovsky on the slow movement of his Fifth Symphony, and the whole piece is a struggle between love and despair, told in elegant waltzes, bittersweet songs and melody after sweeping melody. Gemma New is a regular collaborator with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and she knows exactly how to get to the heart of a masterpiece – whether Lera Auerbach’s fiery retelling of the myth of Icarus, or the shadows, secrets and burning truths of Shostakovich’s powerful First Violin Concerto. Rosanne Philippens is the soloist: a violinist who believes that every note should convey emotion, and forge a connection.
Presented by Kate Molleson, live from City Halls in Glasgow.
Lera Auerbach: Icarus
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor
interval
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor
Rosanne Philippens, violin
Gemma New, conductor
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
THU 21:45 The Essay (m002bg8c)
Books for Brighter Blackouts
08/05/2025
As the BBC marks the 85th anniversary of VE Day, Professor Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War Two changed books, publishing and reading forever.
The classic image of British prisoners-of-war during World War Two is of fearless and ingenious attempts at escape, but Emma learns that the vast majority of those kept in captivity found escapism in a less cinematic manner – through books and reading.
She visits the site of the New Bodleian’s ambitious Educational Books Service in Oxford, where librarians worked tirelessly to send books to men who hoped to spend their enforced inactivity in self-improvement. But she also learns about popular reading, including James Hadley Chase’s No Orchids for Miss Blandish, a novel which became infamous for its sado-erotic content and which has been described by one historian as the most popular book among servicemen in the entire war. Emma is surprised to discover the single work which never made it past the prisoner-of-war camp censors.
With contributions from Midge Gillies
Produced for Just Radio by Beaty Rubens
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002bg8f)
Immersive music for after-hours
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
THU 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002bg8h)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.
FRIDAY 09 MAY 2025
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002bg8k)
Bruckner Symphony no 8
The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra performs Bruckner's last completed symphony, his 8th. The composer himself regarded the Adagio movement in this work as the pinnacle of his life's achievements. The Bruckner expert Manfred Honeck directs the orchestra. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Symphony no 8 in C minor
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck (conductor)
01:52 AM
Hans Eklund (1927-1999)
Tre dikter om havet (3 poems about the sea)
Swedish Radio Choir, Gustav Sjokvist (conductor)
01:57 AM
Ludvig Norman (1831-1885)
2 Charakterstücke for piano, Op 1
Bengt-Ake Lundin (piano)
02:07 AM
Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792)
String Quartet no 2 in B flat major
Lysell String Quartet
02:22 AM
Benedetto Pallavicino (c.1551-1601)
Cruda Amarilli, che col nome ancora - madrigal for 5 voices
Cantus Colln
02:31 AM
Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940)
Piano Trio in A minor, Op Posth
Gould Piano Trio
02:59 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E flat major (H.7e.1)
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Nicolae Moldoveanu (conductor)
03:16 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Four Songs, Op 17
Davos Festival Women's Choir, Magdalena Hoffmann (harp), Nicolas Ramez (french horn), Francois Rieu (french horn)
03:32 AM
Thea Musgrave (b.1928)
Loch Ness - a postcard from Scotland for orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles (conductor)
03:42 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695), John Playford (1623-1686)
Seven works by Purcell and Playford
Les Ambassadeurs, Alexis Kossenko (director)
03:55 AM
Alberta Suriani (1920-1977)
Partita for harp
Branka Janjanin-Magdalenic (harp)
04:05 AM
Ernst von Dohnanyi (1877-1960)
Pierrette fatyla - keringo
Central Woodwind Orchestra of the Hungarian Army, Frigyes Hidas (conductor)
04:12 AM
Alan Rawsthorne (1905-1971)
The Cruel sea - music for the film
BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba (conductor)
04:17 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
How fair thou art (Four Hymns), Op 74 No 1
Eilert Hasseldal (baritone)
04:23 AM
Bedrich Anton Wiedermann (1883-1951)
Pastorale dorico for organ
Hans Leenders (organ)
04:31 AM
Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909), arr. Andres Segovia
Asturias (Suite española, Op 47) (1887)
Xavier Diaz-Latorre (guitar)
04:38 AM
Jacob Obrecht (1457-1505)
Frólich wesen (Cheerful disposition)
Grace Newcombe (soprano), Katharina Haun (cornetto), Baptiste Romain (fiddle), Elizabeth Rumsey (gamba), Marc Lewon (viola d'arco)
04:44 AM
Giuseppe Martucci (1856-1909)
Noveletta for orchestra, Op 82 no 2
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nello Santi (conductor)
04:51 AM
Brian Eno (b.1948), arr. Julia Wolfe
Music for Airports 1/2
Bang on a Can All-Stars, Wayne du Maine (trumpet), Tommy Hoyt (trumpet), Julie Josephson (trombone), Christopher Washburne (trombone), Wu Man (lute), Katie Geissinger (alto), Phyllis Jo Kubey (alto), Alexandra Montano (alto)
05:03 AM
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Quatre pièces fugitives, Op 15
Diana Ketler (piano)
05:15 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Quartet for flute, viola and continuo in D major
Les Adieux
05:32 AM
Selim Palmgren (1878-1951)
Cinderella Suite
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, George de Godzinsky (conductor)
05:54 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Cello Sonata No 1 in B flat major, Op 45
Diana Ozolina (cello), Lelde Paula (piano)
06:16 AM
Igor Kuljeric (1938-2006), arr. Ivana Bilic
Barocchiana for solo marimba
Ivana Bilic (percussion)
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002bg21)
Roll out of bed into classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford, including BBC Radio 3’s 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century – a series of brand new commissions celebrating and commemorating some of the biggest events of the 21st century so far. This week, Views from the M9 by Glaswegian composer Aileen Sweeney is inspired by one of the largest pieces of public art in the UK, The Kelpies. A pair of monumental steel horse-heads by sculptor Andy Scott between Falkirk and Grangemouth, they were unveiled in 2014, just months before the Scottish Referendum. It’s recorded by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
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 (m002bg23)
Relax into the day with classical
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favorites.
1000 Playlist starter – listen and send us your ideas for the next step in our musical journey today.
1030 Song of the Day – harnessing the magic of words, music and the human voice.
1115 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.
1145 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
FRI 13:00 Classical Live (m002bg25)
Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with pianist Igor Levit
Elizabeth Alker with an afternoon of specially recorded performances including the last in this week's cycle of Beethoven piano concertos, today the fifth concerto - the majestic 'Emperor' - featuring German pianist Igor Levit. Also in this afternoon's Classical Live, music by Busoni for the clarinet from Belfast and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra performing Brahms.
Claude Debussy
Nocturnes, L.98
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Esa Pekka-Salonen (conductor)
Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in D minor, Op. 42
Takacs Quartet
Ferruccio Busoni
Concertino for Clarinet and small orchestra
Michael Collins (clarinet/conductor)
Ulster Orchestra
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Myung-Whun Chung (conductor)
Peter Maxwell Davies
Lullaby for Lucy
University of Edinburgh Chamber Choir, Glasgow Chamber Choir
Michael Bawtree (Conductor)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 5 in Eb ‘Emperor’, Op. 73
Igor Levit (piano)
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Esa Pekka Salonen (conductor)
FRI 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002bg27)
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Wobbling On
Edward Elgar was a man of many passions; this week, Donald Macleod explores five of the composer’s greatest loves. As a boy, Elgar had enjoyed skipping school to explore the countryside, and later in life he found an escape from the stress of composing in the form of a bicycle he nicknamed ‘Mr. Phoebus’.
In today’s programme, Donald explores Elgar’s passion for cycling, from his first wobbly excursions to his odd adventures around England.
Five Part-songs from The Greek Anthology, Op. 45
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, conducted by Howard Arman
Sea Pictures, Op. 37: No. 1, Slumber Song; No. 2, In Haven
Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
Introduction & Allegro for strings, Op. 47
Allegri String Quartet and Sinfonia of London, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
Land of Hope and Glory - Arr. from "Pomp and Circumstance" March No. 1
The Royal Choral Society and BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordsworth
Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55: IV. Lento – Allegro
Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Daniel Barenboim
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002bg29)
World-class classical music – live
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002bg2c)
Classical music to inspire you
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
FRI 19:30 Friday Night is Music Night (m002bg2f)
80th anniversary of VE Day
The BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Richard Balcombe, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, conductor Wing Commander Richard Murray and soloists commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with music, readings and a first hand account from Joyce Terry, who entertained the troops as part of the Ivy Benson Band - the first civilians in Berlin in 1945.
Recorded at Alexandra Palace Theatre in March.
Presented by Petroc Trelawny and Squadron Leader Amy Casey.
Coates: Calling all Workers
Goodwin arr MacTaggert: Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Mitch Leigh: The Impossible Dream
Medley arr. Wiffin/Stubbs: Medley of Second World War songs
John Williams: Saving Private Ryan - Hymn to the Fallen
Amanda McBroom: The Rose
Abreu: Tico Tico
Kenneth Alwyn: Fighter Command March
INTERVAL
Vaughan WIlliams: Shining Sword
Walton: Battle of Britain - March and Siegfried Music
Jimmy McHugh: Coming In on a Wing and a Prayer
Elgar: Nimrod (Enigma Variations)
Duke, arr Charlie Parker: April in Paris
Arlen/Rodgers & Hart, arr Laidler and Hunt: The Other Side of the Rainbow
Peter Hope: Speedbird Salutes the Allied Armed Forces
Darewski/Lockton The Army, the Navy and the Air Force
Singers: Corporal Philippa Hartley and Sergeant Matthew Walker
Flute: Air Specialist (Class 1) Ross Houston
Saxophone: Corporal Jonny Faull
Central Band of the Royal Air Force
Conductor: Wing Commander Richard Murray
BBC Concert Orchestra
Conductor: Richard Balcombe
FRI 21:45 The Essay (m002bg2h)
Books for Brighter Blackouts
09/05/2025
As the BBC marks the 85th anniversary of VE Day, Professor Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War Two changed books, publishing and reading forever.
As the war progressed, readers often returned to old favourites, but there was also a demand for books which specifically responded to or reflected wartime needs. With food security an increasing issue and the demands of rationing biting harder, cookery publishing grew and grew. Ambrose Heath published no fewer than 29 books, as well as appearing on the BBC’s own daily broadcast, The Kitchen Front. Emma digs out a copy of Heath’s Vegetables for Victory and wonders whether its many, many recipes for an alphabet of vegetables, from artichokes to wild garlic, are still tasty today.
With contributions from Bee Wilson
Produced for Just Radio by Beaty Rubens
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002bg2k)
Cole Pulice’s mixtape
Verity Sharp serves up a pleasantly discombobulating mixtape crafted by the California-based electroacoustic saxophonist, improviser and composer Cole Pulice.
Cole’s music weaves together the sounds of shimmering cosmic jazz, ripples of electroacoustic minimalism and the twinkly playfulness of a video game soundtrack. Collaboration is central to their practice and process of music-making, both with other artists and with their audiences - Cole believes that "listening rituals are forms of magic… the relationship between musical listening and creating is deeply interrelated, even symbiotic – they necessitate each other. In other words: listening can be a form of composition, and composition a form of listening." Inspiration come from the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Terry Riley and Pauline Oliveros, but also from sounds in nature that they attempt to recreate through their instruments. Their mixtape for Late Junction reflects these influences and their belief in the magical power of listening - tune in to be bewitched…
Elsewhere Verity shares chamber music for lawn mowers, a journey on horseback sung in Scots language, and spiritual jazz inspired by an ancient astrological stone circle.
Produced by Kit Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Late Junction”.
FRI 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002bg2m)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.