SATURDAY 28 JUNE 2025
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002dn24)
Sparkling Baroque from Zurich Opera House
The Scintilla Orchestra, conducted by Riccardo Minasi, presents a programme of playful, witty and charming Italian and German music from the 17th century. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Battalia
12:41 AM
Giovanni Battista Buonamente (1595-1642)
Sonata seconda a 3
12:48 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Nachtwächter - Serenade
12:57 AM
Dario Castello (1602-1631)
Sonata decimaquinta
01:03 AM
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
Canon and Gigue
01:08 AM
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c.1620-1680)
Die Fechtschule
01:16 AM
Tarquinio Merula (1595-1665)
Ballo detto Pollicio
01:19 AM
Johannes Hieronymous Kapsberger (c.1580-1651)
Corrente quinta
01:23 AM
Biagio Marini (c.1594-1663)
Passacaglia a quattro
01:31 AM
Biagio Marini (c.1594-1663)
Aria a 3 'La Soranza'
01:32 AM
Carlo Farina (c.1604-1639)
Capriccio stravagante
La Scintilla Orchestra, Riccardo Minasi (conductor)
01:49 AM
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c.1620-1680)
Vesperae sollennes
Gradus ad Parnassum, Concerto Palatino, Choral scholars from Wiener Hofburgkapelle, Konrad Junghanel (director)
02:11 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata in F major, K 332 (2nd mvt Adagio)
Henri Sigfridsson (piano)
02:17 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Sonata in C minor for violin and bass continuo
Salzburger Hofmusik, Wolfgang Brunner (director)
02:31 AM
Leo Weiner (1885-1960)
Serenade for small orchestra in F minor, Op 3
Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Miklos Erdelyi (conductor)
02:53 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Jesu meine Freude, BWV.227
Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier (director)
03:16 AM
Dimitar Nenov (1901-1953)
Theme with variations
Mario Angelov (piano)
03:32 AM
John Tavener (1944-2013)
Funeral Ikos (The Greek funeral sentences) for chorus
Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Grete Helgerod (conductor)
03:38 AM
Josef Suk (1949-2011)
Meditation on an old Czech hymn St Wenceslas Op 35a
Signum Quartet
03:45 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Symphonic Dance no 1, Op 45
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton (conductor)
03:57 AM
Domenico Pellegrini (17th century),Alessandro Piccinini (1566-c.1638)
Courante per la X (Pellegrini); Chiaccona in partite variate (Piccinini)
United Continuo Ensemble
04:03 AM
Mieczyslaw Karlowicz (1876-1909)
Smutna opowiesc - A sorrowful tale, Op 13
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andrzej Straszynski (conductor)
04:14 AM
Cipriano de Rore (1516-1565)
"Qualhor rivolgo"
Consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley (director)
04:20 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Andantino (second movement) from Piano Sonata in A major, D.959
David Huang (piano)
04:31 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Overture from La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie)
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Montgomery (conductor)
04:41 AM
Traditional Hungarian
18th Century Dances for recorder and ensemble
Csaba Nagy (recorder), Camerata Hungarica, Laszlo Czidra (conductor)
04:47 AM
Kaspar Forster (1616-1673)
Et cum ingressus esset Jesu, KBPJ.16
Kai Wessel (counter tenor), Krzysztof Szmyt (tenor), Grzegorz Zychowicz (bass), Il Tempo Baroque Ensemble
04:53 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Scherzo no 2 in B flat minor, Op 31
Valerie Tryon (piano)
05:03 AM
Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)
Introduction and rondo capriccioso for violin and orchestra, Op 28
Moshe Hammer (violin), Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kazuhiro Koizumi (conductor)
05:12 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Sonata for oboe and continuo in B flat major (Essercizii Musici, 1739-40)
Camerata Koln
05:25 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
String Quartet in G minor, Op 74 no 3 'Rider'
Ebene Quartet
05:46 AM
Jacobus Gallus Carniolus (1550-1591)
Missa super Adesto dolori meo a 5, SQM III/9
Madrigal Quintett Brno, Roman Valek (director)
06:08 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Symphony no 7 in C major, Op 105
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vanska (conductor)
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002dxxw)
Ease into Satie-Day with classical music
Emma Clarke presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford.
Looking ahead to Satie-Day, as Radio 3 marks 100 years since the death of the French composer, Emma plays music by Saint-Saens, Charpentier, Poulenc, Rameau, Chaminade, Hahn, Gossec, Roussel, Ibert, and Satie himself...
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 (m002dxxy)
Satie-Day Morning
Bienvenue à Satie-Day! Tom Service marks the centenary of composer Erik Satie's death with a special show including exclusive performances from Alistair McGowan, pianist Bertrand Chamayou, singer Héloïse Werner & guitarist Xuefei Yang.
Satie will forever be associated with the city of Paris, the cafes he performed in and the streets he walked. So Tom heads to the city to discover the heart of Satie's music with pianist Bertrand Chamayou.
Soprano Héloïse Werner and guitarist Xuefei Yang join us live to bring a little of the Parisian cafe culture to the Saturday Morning studio - they'll be performing some Satie songs transcribed for guitar and voice and talking about their new album 'Chapeau Satie' which celebrates the composer's unique soundworld.
And we'll also spend the morning in the company of Satie mega-fan and expert, the actor and comic Alistair McGowan. Alistair and Tom will be delving into the composer's flamboyant, surreal and sometimes just plain odd writing and music to give a sense of a brilliantly unique musician.
Plus the continuation of BBC Radio 3’s 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century. This week, Thea Musgrave pays tribute to and celebrates the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002dxy0)
The pianist and bandleader picks his favourite classical music
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.
Jools's choices today include music by Satie - as Radio 3's Satie-Day marks 100 years since the death of the French composer - plus Vivaldi and Clara Schumann, with performances by Chouchane Siranossian, Jelly Roll Morton and Isata Kanneh-Mason. His guest is the film director Tim Pope who introduces music he loves by Allegri, Milhaud and Stanford.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Earlier with Jools Holland".
SAT 13:00 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century (m002dxy2)
Part one: Dawn of a new millennium
Naga Munchetty explores the landmark events of the 21st century via the lens of music. Part one: 2000 to 2008.
In 2025, BBC Radio 3 challenged contemporary composers to tell the story of the century thus far with music. Each of the resulting "25 for 25" commissions is inspired by an event that has somehow defined the first quarter of the century.
Part one charts the years 2000-2008 - from the start of the new millennium through to Barack Obama being elected as the first African-American president. This episode features the music of Anna Clyne, Stephen Hough, Erland Cooper, Arowah, Jasdeep Singh Degun, Sauli Zinovjev, Kieran Brunt, Jasper Dommett and Nkeiru Okoye.
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002dxy7)
Satie's Sports et divertissements with Kathryn Stott and Andrew McGregor
As part of Satie-Day on Radio 3, marking 100 years since the death of the French composer, Kathryn Stott makes her personal recommendation from recordings of Satie's Sports et divertissements, plus the best of the week's new releases.
Presented by Andrew McGregor
2pm
Iain Burnside joins Andrew with his pick of new releases
3pm
Building a Library
As part of "Satie-Day", Kathryn Stott brings her personal recommendation for the ultimate recording of Satie's quirky Sports et divertissements to buy, download or stream
Recommended version: Anne Queffelec (Erato/Warner)
3.45pm
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m002dxyc)
Surrealism on Satie-Day
As Radio 3's Satie-Day continues, marking 100 years since the death of the French composer in 1925, Matthew Sweet uses Satie's music for the 1924 film 'Entracte' as a starting to point to delve into surrealist encounters with the movies. Includes music from "Orphée" by Satie protégé Georges Auric, Howard Shore's "Naked Lunch" and Son Lux's "Everything Everywhere All at Once".
SAT 17:00 This Classical Life (m002dxyh)
Jess Gillam with... Pascal Rogé
Specially for Satie-Day, as Radio 3 marks 100 years since the death of the French composer, Jess Gillam is joined by French pianist and Satie specialist Pascal Rogé, to share some of the music they love.
Pascal has been one of the greatest interpreters of French piano music for the last 50 years - he's in demand across the world for his performances of Debussy, Ravel and particularly Satie, a composer he's recorded every note he wrote for the piano. Pascal chats to Jess about his life in music and some of the performers and live concerts that have made the biggest impression on him - from a intimate gig by Oscar Peterson to hearing the unforgettable voice of Edith Piaf as a child, plus tracks by Glenn Gould and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
Meanwhile Jess finds the epic in the orchestra with music by Beethoven and Carl Nielsen and, given we're in France, brings along some 'Fleurs' courtesy of Minnie Riperton.
SAT 18:00 Opera on 3 (m002dxym)
Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci
A double-bill of Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci from Bavarian State Opera, recorded last month in Munich.
Cavalleria rusticana tells the story of Turiddu, a soldier who, after learning his love Lola has married another while he was away, seduced Santuzza in order to spite his ex-fiancée. But Lola and Turiddu then restart their own affair, pushing Lola’s husband Alfio to take violent retribution.
In Pagliacci we're with a travelling theatre troupe including the clown Canio, his wife Nedda and her lover Silvio. Canio suspects Nedda of carrying on an affair, and those suspicions lead to violence during the performance of a comedy - which closely mirrors the tangled affairs of its cast members' lives...
Presented by Georgia Mann in conversation with Iain Burnside
Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana
Lola ..... Ekaterine Buachidze (mezzo-soprano)
Turiddu ..... Ivan Gyngazov (tenor)
Santuzza ..... Yulia Matochkina (soprano)
Alfio ..... Wolfgang Koch (baritone)
Mamma Lucia ..... Rosalind Plowright (contralto)
c.
7.15pm
Leoncavallo: Pagliacci
Nedda / Colombina ..... Ailyn Pérez (soprano)
Canio / Pagliaccio ..... Jonas Kaufmann (tenor)
Silvio ..... Thomas Mole (baritone)
Tonio / Taddeo ..... Wolfgang Koch (baritone)
Beppe / Arlecchino ..... Andres Agudelo(tenor)
Bavarian State Opera Children's Chorus
Bavarian State Opera Chorus
Bavarian State Orchestra
Daniele Rustioni, conductor
Recorded at the National Theatre, Munich in May
SAT 21:30 Music Planet (m002dxyr)
New shades of flamenco with Angeles Toledano
To mark the 20th anniversary of London’s Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells (27 May - 8 June 2025), Kathryn Tickell shares a special recording of an intimate performance from Spanish vocalist Angeles Toledano and guitarist Benito Bernal. Representing the new generation of flamenco artists, Toledano fuses traditional cante (song) with contemporary themes and sounds, as heard in her recent debut album Sangre Sucia, which includes her own original compositions - soleás, bulerías, jaleos, alegrías and tonás - with the addition of delicate electronic textures.
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 (m002dxyt)
Klaus Lang's Diaphonia
Kate Molleson presents a live recording of Klaus Lang's Diaphonia for electric guitar and ensemble performed by Yaron Deutsch and Riot Ensemble; we hear Christof Ressi's Am Anfang war das A for ensemble and electronics from Black Page Orchestra at Warsaw Autumn; and from last month's Tectonics Glasgow the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra perform Micheline Coulombe Saint-Marcoux's Luminance. Plus the latest new releases from Mary Halvorson, Joke Lanz, Hannah Kendall and Giuliano d'Angiolini.
To listen using most smart speakers, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play New Music Show”
SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2025
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002dxyw)
Ensemble Midtvest from the Nørre Vosborg Chamber Music Festival
Ensemble Midtvest and harpist Anneleen Lenaerts perform Takemitsu, Dvorak and Piazzolla. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)
And then I knew 'twas wind
Charlotte Norholt (flute), Sanna Ripatti (viola), Anneleen Lenaerts (harp)
12:46 AM
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
Piano Trio no 4 in E minor, Op 90 'Dumky'
Martin Qvist-Hansen (piano), Nicolas Dautricourt (violin), Jonathan Slaatto (cello)
01:18 AM
Giovanni Benedetto Platti (1697-1763)
Sonata for oboe, bassoon and basso continuo in C minor, WD.695
Peter Kirstein (oboe), Yavor Petkov (bassoon), Anneleen Lenaerts (harp)
01:29 AM
Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884)
Vltava (Moldau), from 'Má vlast' (My Homeland)
Anneleen Lenaerts (harp)
01:39 AM
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Le Grand Tango
Nicolas Dautricourt (violin), Anneleen Lenaerts (harp)
01:49 AM
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Libertango
Nicolas Dautricourt (violin), Anneleen Lenaerts (harp)
01:52 AM
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
La Muerte del ángel
Nicolas Dautricourt (violin), Jonathan Slaatto (cello), Anneleen Lenaerts (harp)
01:56 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Two Flute Quartets: no 3 in C major K.Anh.171 (K.285b) & no 1 in D major (K.285)
Dora Seres (flute), Young Danish String Quartet
02:22 AM
Traditional, arr. Toru Takemitsu
Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) from Uta - songs for chorus
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
02:26 AM
Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996)
Sayonara (Goodbye) from Uta - songs for chorus
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
02:31 AM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
Missa Dei filii (Missa ultimarum secundat) ZWV.20
Martina Jankova (soprano), Wiebke Lehmkuhl (contralto), Krystian Adam Krzeszowiak (tenor), Felix Rumpf (bass), Dresden Chamber Choir, Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, Vaclav Luks (conductor)
03:12 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Phantasy in C major, D.934 (Op.Posth.159)
Thomas Zehetmair (violin), Kai Ito (piano)
03:39 AM
Susan Spain-Dunk (1880-1962)
Kentonia
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Bell (conductor)
03:46 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Nocturne in D flat major, Op 27 no 2
Jane Coop (piano)
03:53 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Wehmut (no 9) & Im Walde (no 11) from Liederkreis, Op 39
Olle Persson (baritone), Stefan Bojsten (piano)
03:57 AM
Frantisek Jiranek (1698-1778)
Sinfonia in D major
Collegium Marianum, Jana Semeradova (director)
04:05 AM
Anonymous
Suite (16th Century)
Hortus Musicus, Andres Mustonen (conductor)
04:13 AM
Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
To a Nordic Princess (bridal song) vers. piano
Leslie Howard (piano)
04:20 AM
Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)
Sonata for 2 oboes, bassoon and continuo in F major, 'Echo sonata'
Ensemble Zefiro, Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord)
04:31 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Coriolan - overture, Op 62
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin (conductor)
04:40 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Keyboard Sonata in D major, Hob.XVI/37
Andreas Staier (fortepiano)
04:51 AM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
De profundis (Psalm 129) in C minor, ZWV 96
Czech Chamber Choir, Virtuosi di Praga, Petr Chromcak (conductor)
05:00 AM
Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824)
Duo concertante in D minor
Alexandar Avramov (violin), Ivan Peev (violin)
05:09 AM
Ivo Parac (1890-1954)
Pastorale
Ljerka Ocic-Turkulin (organ)
05:17 AM
Anton Webern (1883-1945)
Langsamer Satz
Zermatt Music Festival Academy Students
05:27 AM
Ludvig Norman (1831-1885)
String Quartet in E major, Op 20
Berwald Quartet
05:50 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
5 Lyric Pieces (Evening in the mountains; At your feet; Summer's evening; Gone; Remembrances)
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
06:03 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Violin Sonata no 1 in G major, Op 78
Vilde Frang Bjaerke (violin), Jens Elvekjaer (piano)
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002f06l)
Rise and shine with classical music
Mark Forrest presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford with birdsong and the best in classical music. This week's dawn chorus features the Japanese bush-warbler, with music by Johann Strauss II and Joe Hisaishi.
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 (m002f06n)
Your Perfect Sunday Soundtrack
Sarah Walker chooses three hours of attractive and uplifting music to complement your morning.
Sarah's choices include Germaine Tailleferre's intriguing Choral for trumpet and piano featuring Raymond Mase, the dark and brooding opening movement of Antonin Dvorak's Cello Concerto, with Steven Isserlis in the spotlight and a stunning recording of Purcell's Sound the Trumpet, with Andreas Scholl joined by Christophe Dumaux.
There are also favourite melodies from Vaughan Williams, Rodrigo and Schubert, and Sarah's Choral Reflection is Bruckner's motet Christus Factus Est.
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002f06q)
Jay Griffiths
Jay Griffiths first wanted to be a writer – an entity she believed to be a “god-like” creature - when she was just four years old and already captivated by words.
And she’s fulfilled that early ambition. Her books include Wild, the product of seven years’ work, travelling to wildernesses including the Amazon rainforest, the Canadian Arctic and the Australian outback.
She has also written very honestly about her experience of bipolar disorder in her book Tristimania: a Diary of Manic Depression. More recently, she’s reflected on the deep connections we have to animals and their ability to alleviate fear and trauma, under the title How Animals Heal Us.
Jay's music selections include Sibelius, Rodrigo, Vivaldi and Debussy.
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002754l)
A journey to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
Piano Sonata No. 14, more commonly known as the Moonlight Sonata, is one of Beethoven’s most famous works.
In this sonic journey, Sara Mohr-Pietsch maps the sonata in a wider musical landscape - exploring it through a playlist of moonlit melodies and free-flowing fantasies. Journey through the sound worlds of Mozart, Holst and Saint-Saëns, before arriving with Beethoven to discover the feeling of floating under the moonlight.
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Map'.
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002dmx8)
St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
From St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. The canticles are sung to the set composed for Knaresborough Parish Church in North Yorkshire by Simon Lindley, who died earlier this year, and who for 41 years from 1975 was organist at Leeds Parish Church. In this the week when the Church marks the feast of St Peter the apostle, the anthem is Palestrina’s ‘Tu es Petrus’, and the service opens with Duruflé’s setting of the same text: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church’.
Introit: Tu es Petrus (Duruflé)
Responses: Gabriel Jackson
Psalm 119 vv73-104 (Martin, Vann)
First Lesson: Genesis 42 vv17-38
Office hymn: Thou art the Christ, O Lord (Love unknown)
Canticles: Knaresborough Service (Lindley)
Second Lesson: Matthew 18 vv1-14
Anthem: Tu es Petrus (Palestrina)
Hymn: Ye watchers and ye holy ones (Lass tuns erfreuen)
Voluntary: Prelude and Fugue in C BWV 547 (Bach)
St Martin’s Voices
Andrew Earis (Director of Music)
Ben Collyer (Organist)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
Recorded 28 May.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002f06t)
Piano Magic : Dave Brubeck / Keith Jarrett
Alyn Shipton presents jazz records of all styles as requested by you including tracks from Lee Morgan, Graham Collier, Rita Reys and a touch of piano magic from Dave Brubeck and Keith Jarrett. 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 (m002f06w)
The Four Seasons: Summer
In the third of four programmes across 2025 marking the 300th anniversary of the publication of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Hannah French explores the Violin Concerto in G minor, RV.315 - better known as Summer.
In its combination of oppressive heat and violent storms, Vivaldi's concerto and the sonnet that accompanies it focus on the hardships of an Italian summer: a harsh musical depiction of tempests and high temperatures. Recorder player and artistic director of the London International Festival of Early Music Erik Bosgraaf chats to Hannah about the challenges of playing The Four Seasons on a wind instrument. And Hannah sends us a sonic snapshot from a recent trip to Mantua, where Vivaldi spent two years working at the court chapel.
To listen to this programme using most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Early Music Show".
SUN 18:00 Words and Music (m001qfrv)
Keys
Keys open doors and minds, keep secrets and reveal them, flutter freely from trees and imprison for eternity and they set a musical sound. Readers Yusra Warsama and Darren Kuppan read from works which feature lost keys, magical ones, fumbling at locks, at learning and committing murder. The readings include extracts from works by Dante, Tracy Beaker and a vintage recording of TS Eliot, and music including Chopin's Black Key Study, PJ Harvey's Chain of Keys, Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle, Bessie Smith's Lock and Key, JS Bach channelled by Wendy Carlos and Scott Joplin's Sycamore Rag.
Producer in Salford: Ewa Norman
Readings and *Music
Tom Ramsey - Keys
*Chopin - Etude in G flat major, Op.10 No.5 'Black Keys'
Lewis Carroll - Alice in Wonderland
*Oliver Wallace/Sammy Fain/Bob Hilliard - Alice in Wonderland: The Garden /All in the Golden Afternoon
*Mozart - Sonata for violin and piano (K.380) in E flat major, Andante
Ivan Hewitt - What is a musical key?
Emily Dickinson - Poem: 315. He fumbles at your Soul
*Colleen -Geometría del Universo
Rumi - You suppose you are the trouble
Yuko Minamikawa Adams - Key
*Melanie - Brand New Key
Jacqueline Wilson - Tracey Beaker
*Vaclav Trojan - Fairytales for accordion and orchestra: The Acrobatic Fairytale
Plato - The Republic
*Philip Glass - Etude no. 2 for piano
Marcel Proust - Swann’s Way
PJ Harvey - Zagorka
*PJ Harvey - Chain of Keys
*Hari Prasad Chaurasia - Raga Lalit
Asit Kumar Sanyal - Key-Person
*Bartok - Bluebeard's Castle: Sixth Door + Seventh Doors (excerpts)
Andrew Lang - Bluebeard
JS Bach - It's easy to play any musical instrument
*JS Bach / Wendy Carlos - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: Allegro
James Joyce - Ulysses
*Bessie Smith - Lock and Key
John Oxenham - His Latch Key
*George Butterworth - 2 English idylls for orchestra: no.2
Robin Robertson - Finding the Keys
*Scott Joplin - The Sycamore
TS Eliot - The Wasteland
*Beethoven: Coriolan - overture (Op.62)
Andrea Gibson - Birthday
*Alexander Scriabin: Piano Sonata No 3 in F sharp minor, Op 23, 'Etats de l'ame '- Andante
C.S. Lewis - The Problem of Pain
Dante - Inferno: Purgatory Canto IX
*Tomas Luis de Victoria - Tu es Petrus
Aravind Adiga - The White Tiger
SUN 19:15 Sunday Feature (m002f070)
Erik Satie - the Minimalist Muse
A century after his death, the peculiar, beautiful music of Erik Satie is well-known and beloved across so much of our culture. You may have heard it for the first time at a concert hall – or a rock gig... Or lifting up an eerie film soundtrack, nostalgic TV advert – or easy listening compilation.
Iconoclastic and uncompromising, Satie's music was a rebellion against Romanticism but his work was often dismissed by the critics of his day as naive or a joke.
'The only amusing thing about his pieces were the whimsical titles he gave them, and that the music itself was often pitifully anaemic and dull.' [Manchester Guardian 1926]
Music journalist and broadcaster Jude Rogers uncovers how and why Satie's minimalist music has posthumously influenced such an astonishing array of composers and musicians - not only from the classical world but genres like prog rock and synth-pop. And discovers why his work is so often seen as a precursor to ambient music, minimalism, film and advert music, conceptual art, and surrealism.
'Satie teaches what, in our age, is the greatest audacity: simplicity.' [Jean Cocteau]
With contributions from composer Roger Eno; concert pianist Joanna MacGregor; Anton Lukoszevieze of Apartment House; biographer Ian Penman; electronic pioneer John Foxx; synth pop legend Gary Numan; Guitarist and former member of prog rock band Genesis, Steve Hackett; Brian Bath of the KT Bush Band; musicologist and John Cage expert James Pritchett; Japanese producer Yoshio Ojima and Pianist Satsuki Shibano.
Snippets of previously unbroadcast KT Band demo tapes are included with kind permission from Kate Bush.
Producer: Victoria Ferran
Exec Producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 20:00 Brass Banding with Hannah Peel (m002f072)
New Beginnings
With a look to the future, Hannah discovers the University Brass scene with a piece composed, conducted, and played by students. A triumphant underdog story takes us to Gloucester where Gregor Spence, the young band manager of Flowers Band, talks about his vision for the future of banding and recommends a piece. Plus Hannah pays a visit to Yorkshire with a piece inspired by artist and sculptor Barbara Hepworth, and The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain plays a celebratory piece marking their 70th birthday.
Produced by Olivia Swift
A Reform Radio production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002f074)
Radigue: The slow search for sound within sound
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, Kate explores the subtle, slowing-morphing music of Eliane Radigue, leading to full performance of her early synthesizer masterpiece Geelriandre. On the way, we’ll pay a visit to the artistic worlds of Marcel Duchamp, Yves Klein, and Agnes Martin, find a pianist who left his own blood splattered on the keyboard, and discover the “love at first sight” which would define Radigue’s life.
Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 22:00 Ultimate Calm (m002bjpb)
Hania Rani: Series 4
Grounded sounds of belonging ft Alvaro Barrington
Polish composer, pianist, and vocalist Hania Rani believes that belonging can be found not only in people and places but also through sound. In this episode, she shares musical selections that explore connection and rootedness - from Karol Szymanowski’s folk-imbued piano to Julius Eastman’s powerful minimalism.
She reflects on how music carries personal and collective stories across generations and borders.
And we’re transported to the musical safe haven of artist Alvaro Barrington, who shares his thoughts on memories and community.
Produced by Silas Gray
A Reduced Listening production
SUN 23:00 The Night Tracks Mix (m0018h52)
Music for late night listening
Sara Mohr-Pietsch with a magical sonic journey for late-night listening. Subscribe to receive your weekly mix on BBC Sounds.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002f076)
The Prophet of Ambient Music
Elizabeth Alker presents three new commissions inspired by the music and the ideas of Erik Satie (1866-1925). Best known today for iconic, laconic piano pieces like the Gymnopédies and the Gnossiennes, Satie often entered into experimental and expansive territory. He pioneered the idea of “furniture music” - compositions that were intended not to be listened to, so paving the way for the ambient genres that have followed; and his Vexations, which lasts for hours, asks a solo piano player to play a single theme 840 times without a break.
To close Radio 3’s weekend of Satie celebrations, Unclassified presents three new pieces created exclusively for the show courtesy of Manchester’s purveyor of playful electronic music Carmel Smickersgill, Yorkshire pianist-improviser Matthew Bourne and guitarist-composer Rafiq Bhatia of Son Lux.
"Before I compose a piece, I walk around it several times, accompanied by myself.”
~ Erik Satie
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 30 JUNE 2025
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002f078)
Mahler's Fourth Symphony from Slovenia
The RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra performs Mahler's Symphony no 4 with soprano Beti Bratina in a version for chamber orchestra. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), arr. Iain Farrington
Symphony no 4 in G major (vers. for chamber orchestra)
Beti Bratina (soprano), RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Jerica Kozole (conductor)
01:25 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Piano Quartet in A minor
Marianna Shirinyan (piano), Nevena Tochev (violin), Alessandro D'Amico (viola), Rafael Rosenfeld (cello)
01:37 AM
Blaz Arnic (1901-1970)
Suita O Vodnjaku (Suite about the well), Op 5
RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Lovrenc Arnic (conductor)
02:08 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Estampes
Hinko Haas (piano)
02:23 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), arr. Andrzej Bauer
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (Rückert Lieder)
Agata Zubel (soprano), Warsaw Cellonet Group, Andrzej Bauer (director)
02:31 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Dixit Dominus, HWV.232
Hana Blazikova (soprano), Alena Hellerova (soprano), Kamila Mazalova (contralto), Vaclav Cizek (tenor), Tomas Kral (bass), Jaromir Nosek (bass), Collegium Vocale 1704, Collegium 1704, Vaclav Luks (conductor)
03:02 AM
Edward Elgar (1857-1934), orch. Gordon Jacob
Organ Sonata in G major, Op 28
Argovia Philharmonic, Douglas Bostock (conductor)
03:28 AM
Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez (1897-1948)
Second Suite Brasiliera
Cristina Ortiz (piano)
03:34 AM
Marin Marais (1656-1728)
Tombeau pour Monsr. de Lully
Ricercar Consort, Henri Ledroit (conductor)
03:42 AM
Henriette Bosmans (1895-1952)
Allegro maestoso, from 'Cello Sonata in A minor'
Friedrich Thiele (cello), Amadeus Wiesensee (piano)
03:50 AM
Toivo Kuula (1883-1918)
Prelude and Fugue for orchestra, Op 10
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Pertti Pekkanen (conductor)
04:00 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Flute Quartet no 4 in A major, K 298
Dae-Won Kim (flute), Yong-Woo Chun (violin), Myung-Hee Cho (viola), Jink-Yung Chee (cello)
04:12 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Recitative and aria "O du mein holder Abendstern" from Tannhäuser (Act 3)
Allan Monk (baritone), Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
04:17 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto in F major (RV.574) for violin, 2 oboes, 2 horns, bassoon & cello
Zefira Valova (violin), Anna Starr (oboe), Markus Muller (oboe), Anneke Scott (horn), Joseph Walters (horn), moni Fischaleck (bassoon), Les Ambassadeurs, Alexis Kossenko (director)
04:31 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), arr. Sergey Rachmaninov
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Scherzo)
Valerie Tryon (piano)
04:36 AM
Franz Schreker (1878-1934)
Fantastic Overture, Op 15
BBC Philharmonic, Vassily Sinaisky (conductor)
04:46 AM
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Serenata in vano, FS 68 (for clarinet, horn, bassoon, cello & double bass)
Festival Ensemble of the Festival of the Sound, James Campbell (conductor)
04:53 AM
Traditional, Francois Campion (c.1685-1747)
El cant dels ocells; Les Ramages
Zefiro Torna
05:01 AM
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
V prirode (In Nature's Realm), Op 63
Danish National Radio Choir, Stefan Parkman (conductor)
05:14 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Violin Concerto no 1 in D major, Op 19
David Oistrakh (violin), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink (conductor)
05:36 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Four Nocturnes: Op 27 no 1; Op 27 no 2; Op 37 no 1; Op 37 no 2
Dubravka Tomsic (piano)
05:59 AM
Francesco Mancini (1672-1727)
Missa Septimus
Claire Lefilliatre (soprano), Marnix De Cat (alto), Han Warmelinck (tenor), Currende, Erik van Nevel (director)
06:25 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. unknown
Prelude from Partita no 3 in E major (BWV.1006) arr. for 2 harps
Myong-ja Kwan (harp), Hyon-son La (harp)
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002f0d0)
Roll out of bed into classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
MON 09:30 Essential Classics (m002f0d2)
The ideal mix of classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with 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.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
MON 13:00 Classical Live (m002f0d4)
The Maisky Piano Trio live from Wigmore and Mendelssohn symphonies
Elizabeth Alker introduces a week of specially recorded and live music including an eavesdrop on the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Maisky Piano Trio live from Wigmore Hall. Also in today's programme the start of a series of highlights from recitals given at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - and concert performances of Mendelssohn symphonies from top orchestras across Europe.
Live from Wigmore Hall, introduced by Hannah French:
Clara Schumann
3 Romances Op. 22
Robert Schumann (arr. Maisky)
Dichterliebe Op. 48 –
‘Im wunderschönen Monat Mai’
‘Ich will meine Seele tauchen’
‘Hör’ ich das Liedchen klingen’
‘Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen’
Myrthen Op. 25 -
‘Widmung’
Johannes Brahms
Piano Trio No. 1 in B major Op. 8
Maisky Piano Trio
Misha, Lily and Sascha Maisky
Pres: Hannah French
*****
c
14:00’00
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sinfonia Concertante in Eb for violin and viola K. 364
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin)
Michael Barenboim (viola)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Lahav Shani (conductor)
Felix Mendelssohn (arr. J Widmann)
Clarinet Sonata in E flat - Andante
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne
Jörg Widmann (conductor)
Constantin Silvestri
Three Pieces for Piano Solo, Op. 204 - 'Bacchanale'
Franz Liszt
Hungarian Rhapsody no.12
Daniel Ciobanu (piano)
Johann Strauss (II) Emperor Waltz, op. 437 (arr. Schoenberg for chamber ensemble)
Members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op. 11
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne
Jörg Widmann (conductor)
MON 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002f0d6)
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Gymnopédiste
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie, the inventor of “furniture music”, whose innovations delighted and divided France. Satie's compositions – and their peculiar annotations – were a revolution, paving the way for a new generation of musical rebels, including Les Six. He was just as odd in his day-to-day life, known for his quirky fashion and dramatic outbursts, he always kept a hammer in his pocket for fear of muggers and once even founded his own church.
In this episode, Donald explores Satie’s early life, following him from the sleepy seaside town of Honfleur, to the centre of Paris’s bohemian quarter and a club with the manifesto: “Shock the bourgeoisie!”. Along the way he meets Satie’s eccentric uncle ‘Sea-Bird’ and the mysterious ‘Monsieur Le Pauvre’.
Allegro
Alessandro Simonetto, piano
Valse-ballet
Anne Queffélec, piano
Fantaisie-valse
Anne Queffélec, piano
Chanson hongroise
Alessandro Simonetto, piano
Untitled (Première pensée Rose+Croix)
Alessandro Simonetto, piano
Ogives
Reinbert de Leeuw, piano
Sarabandes
Reinbert de Leeuw, piano
Gymnopédies
Noriko Ogawa, piano
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002f0d8)
Classical artists live in the studio
Petroc Trelawny introduces live music from violinist Bojan Cicic and harpsichordist Stephen Farr, who perform with the Academy of Ancient Music at the York Early Music Festival. Plus composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman and dancer Ed Watson have a new ballet based on Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m001r2cg)
Half an hour of the finest classical music
A serene string quartet by the Irish composer Ina Boyle forms the centrepiece of this mix, which begins and ends with orchestral blockbusters from Georges Bizet and film composer John Williams. There's a piece for harp and electronics by Graham Fitkin, plus Haydn in his sunniest mood.
Producer: Roger Short
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002fdxc)
Sibelius and Piazzolla
Finnish bandoneon player Henrik Sandas is the soloist in a suite of pieces he's made from Astor Piazzolla's music. The BBC Concert Orchestra and Chief Conductor Anna-Maria Helsing pair that with Sibelius and a new Radio 3 commission, inspired by tango, from Swedish composer Johan Ullen.
Presented by Ian Skelly.
Sibelius: Night Ride and Sunrise
Piazzolla, arr Sandas: Suite Angeles y Diablos - 1. Introduccion al ángel; 2. Tango del diablo; 3. Milonga del ángel; 4. La muerte del ángel
INTERVAL
Sibelius: Kuolema: Valse Triste
Piazzolla, arr Sandas: Suite Angeles y Diablos - 5. Romance del diablo; 6. Vayamos al diablo; 7. Resurreccion del ángel
Johan Ullén One Last Tango (Apocalypse) BBC commission, first performance
Bandoneon Henrik Sandas
BBC Concert Orchestra
Conductor Anna-Maria Helsing
MON 21:45 Between the Ears (m002f0dh)
Miniatures
Into the Mire
Five audio-makers from around the world take over The Essay to offer a series of Radio 3's innovative Between the Ears features in miniature. Each edition inspired by a different aspect of the weather.
In this edition, Miyuki Jokiranta sinks into a mire near the arctic circle, discovering weather has a memory. Miyuki is a creative audio maker who is in awe of the environment. She believes in the transformative power of acts of listening to foster care for the world around us. Jarkko Kela is Helsinki-based sound designer, sound editor and experimental musician. He has widely collaborated with filmmakers, visual artists, poets, dancers.
Produced by Miyuki Jokiranta and Jarkko Kela
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 3
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002f0dm)
Immersive music for late night listening
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 (m0026nt8)
Xhosa Cole’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 heritage acts.
Fellow Birmingham resident Xhosa Cole is Soweto's guest this week. Xhosa’s newly released album “A Modern Genius (Vol.1)” is devoted to the life and personality of Thelonious Monk and marks another explorative chapter in Xhosa’s musical journey. From Monday to Thursday, Xhosa is highlighting some of the fellow musicians that have influenced him, in a section of the show called Flowers.
Xhosa’s first bouquet goes to UK pianist, composer and educator Julian Joseph.
Plus, there's music from Jaimie Branch, Audrey Powne and Matt Carmichael.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
TUESDAY 01 JULY 2025
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002f0ds)
Bel Canto Opera from Cēsis, Latvia
Tenors Levy Sekgapane and Lawrence Brownlee share the stage in this opera extravaganza, singing arias by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini among others. The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra join them, playing well-loved overtures. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
Overture to Norma
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Aivis Greters (conductor)
12:37 AM
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
È serbata a questo acciaro
Levy Sekgapane (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
12:43 AM
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
Nel furor...Per te di vane lagrime
Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
12:47 AM
Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
Overture to Philemon et Baucis
LNSO, Aivis Greters
12:51 AM
Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
Ah! Lève-toi, soleil
Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
12:55 AM
Leo Delibes (1836-1891)
Fantaisie aux divins mensonges
Levy Sekgapane (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:01 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Donala a questo cuore
Levy Sekgapane (tenor), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:11 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Overture to La scala di seta
LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:17 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
D'ogni più sacro
Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:22 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Tu seconda il mio disegno
Levy Sekgapane (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:28 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Overture to Guillaume Tell
LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:40 AM
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
Stolto! Ad un sol mio grido
Levy Sekgapane (tenor), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:47 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Ah vieni, nel tuo sangue
Levy Sekgapane (tenor), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:51 AM
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Ah! mes amis… Pour mon âme
Levy Sekgapane (tenor), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), LNSO, Aivis Greters
01:56 AM
Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825-1889), arr. David Stanhope
Fantasy and variations on a Cavatina from 'Beatrice di Tenda' by Bellini
Geoffrey Payne (trumpet), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Halasz (conductor)
02:03 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Reminiscences on Bellini's 'Norma'
Ferruccio Busoni (piano)
02:16 AM
Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)
Concert Suite from the ballet 'Estancia', Op 8a
Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, Christian Vasquez (conductor)
02:31 AM
Leonel Power (1370-1445)
Missa 'Alma redemptoris mater'
Hilliard Ensemble
02:51 AM
Iris Szeghy (b.1956)
Cello Concerto
Andrej Gal (cello), Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marian Lejava (conductor)
03:18 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Piano Trio in A major H.
15.18
ATOS Trio
03:33 AM
Franz Schreker (1878-1934)
Nachtstuck (orchestral interlude) from "Der ferne Klang" (Opera in 3 acts)
BBC Philharmonic, Vassily Sinaisky (conductor)
03:49 AM
Ruth Gipps (1921-1999)
Wind Octet, Op 65
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
04:00 AM
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Concerto Grosso in D minor No. 5 - Sinfonia
Chiave d'Arco Baroque Orchestra, Sigiswald Kuijken (director)
04:08 AM
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
La Belle Excentrique
Pianoduo Kolacny
04:17 AM
August de Boeck (1865-1937)
Fantasy on two Flemish Folk Songs
Flemish Radio Orchestra, Marc Soustrot (conductor)
04:24 AM
Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738)
Carolan's draught for two harps
Julia Shaw (harp), Nora Bumanis (harp)
04:26 AM
Ennio Morricone, arr. Robert Longfield
Gabriel's Oboe, from the film 'The Mission'
Tomoharu Yoshida (oboe), WDR Radio Orchestra, Rasmus Baumann (conductor)
04:31 AM
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
O vis aeternitatis (Responsorium) for female voice
Sequentia, Elizabeth Gaver (fiddle), Elisabetta de Mircovich (fiddle)
04:39 AM
Charles Ives (1874-1954)
Piano Sonata no 1 - IVb (Allegro) (Third verse, chorus)
Donna Coleman (piano)
04:42 AM
Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704)
Sonata Prima a 4 (Opera Decima Sesta)
Maniera
04:52 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Horn Concerto No.4 in E flat, K.495
James Sommerville (horn), CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
05:09 AM
Augusta Holmes (1847-1903)
Roland Furieux, Symphony after Ariosto
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Valentina Peleggi (conductor)
05:37 AM
Ole Edvard Antonsen, Leif Strand (1942-2021), Frode Alnaes (b.1959), arr. Oivind Westby
Landscapes / Men gar jag över engarna / Vitae Lux
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Ole Edvard Antonsen Band, WDR Radio Orchestra, Rasmus Baumann (conductor)
06:21 AM
Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)
Catalunya; Sevilla - from Suite Espanola no 1
Sean Shibe (guitar)
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002f0f5)
The best classical music wake-up call
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 (m002f0f7)
Refresh your morning with classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with 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.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
TUE 13:00 Classical Live (m002f0f9)
Mendelssohn's great symphonic 'Hymn of Praise' plus music from Scotland
Mendelssohn's epic symphony 'Lobgesang' from Vienna makes up part of this afternoon's offering alongside concert recordings from Frankfurt, London, Manchester and Glasgow. Introduced by Elizabeth Alker.
Mendelssohn's 'Hymn of Praise', sometimes numbered as his Second Symphony, is the most ambitious of his set lasting nearly twice as long as any of his other symphonies. It was the first symphony to feature a chorus after Beethoven's Ninth. In a week that foregrounds concert recordings of the Mendelssohn symphonies from great orchestras across Europe, Elizabeth turns her focus on Vienna and the Vienna Philharmonic. Also in today's programme, Bartok from Frankfurt with one of the most acclaimed musicians of our time, violist Tabea Zimmermann; and more highlights from a chamber series given at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland by the Maxwell Quartet and pianist Daniel Ciobaru.
Also, a specially commissioned tribute the Queen Elizabeth II from Thea Musgrave as part of the Radio 3 series '25 for 25'.
Antonin Dvorak
Carnival Overture
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Anna Handley (conductor)
Bêla Bartok
Viola Concerto
Tabea Zimmermann (viola)
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach (conductor)
Trad. (arr. Maxwell Quartet) Folksongs from Scotland –
‘Campbell's March’
‘Hector the Hero’
‘MacIntosh's Lament’
‘Auld Foula Reel’
‘Oot and In Da Harbour’
Maxwell Quartet
Colin Scobie (violin)
George Smith (violin)
Elliot Perks (viola)
Duncan Strachan (cello)
25 FOR 25
New R3 commissions to mark the first twenty-five years of the century.
2022 - Thea Musgrave pays tribute to and celebrates the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Thea Musgrave
In Memoriam 2022
Nicholas Daniel (oboe)
Johan Dalene (violin).
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach (arr. Mehldau)
Three Pieces After Bach, No1. - Rondo
Daniel Ciobaru (piano)
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 2 in Bb, Op. 52 ‘Lobgesang’
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert Blomstedt (conductor)
Jennifer Higdon
Colour Through
Lark Piano Trio
TUE 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002f0fc)
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Rosicrucian
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie, the inventor of “furniture music”, whose innovations delighted and divided France. Satie's compositions – and their peculiar annotations – were a revolution, paving the way for a new generation of musical rebels, including Les Six. He was just as odd in his day-to-day life, known for his quirky fashion and dramatic outbursts, he always kept a hammer in his pocket for fear of muggers and once even founded his own church.
In this episode, Satie meets three like-minded eccentrics: a young Debussy, a beautiful (but spoken for) painter, and a very unusual priest. But Satie’s relationships were rocky at best and, as Donald learns, the composer was fond of making a scene.
Vexations
Alessandro Deljavan, piano
Trois Gnossiennes
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Le Fils des étoiles
Aldo Ciccolini, piano
Danses gothiques
Alessandro Simonetto, piano
Sonneries de la Rose+Croix: 1. Air de l'Ordre
Reinbert de Leeuw, piano
Prélude de la porte héroïque du ciel
Reinbert de Leeuw, piano
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002f0ff)
Live music and chat with classical artists
Petroc Trelawny is joined by soprano Claire Booth, violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and pianist Christopher Glynn, who perform together at the Ryedale Festival. And tenor Mark Le Brocq performs Peter Grimes with up and coming singers from British Youth Opera.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002f0fh)
Half an hour of the finest classical music
Half and hour of back to back classical music to help wind down at the end of a busy day. Today's eclectic mix beings with one of Rachmaninov's most ecstatic piano preludes, followed by a poignant guitar arrangement of a song by Paul Simon and performed by Milos. Also in the sequence you can hear a very well known piece of J.S. Bach, a hypnotic piece of string writing by Caroline Shaw, Piazzolla's "Oblivion", and a beautiful Renaissance lament by Thomas Tomkins. If you listen closely, you might also catch a familiar TV theme.
Producer: Helen Garrison
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002f0fk)
Verdi from King's
Director of Music Daniel Hyde conducts a performance of Verdi's popular and dramatic Requiem in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. Verdi wrote it to commemorate the important Italian writer and philosopher Alessandro Manzoni and it was first performed with Verdi himself conducting on the first anniversary of Manzoni's death in May 1874.
Presented by Martin Handley.
Verdi: Requiem
Francesca Chiejina (soprano)
Claire Barnett-Jones (mezzo soprano)
David Junghoon Kim (tenor)
James Platt (bass)
City of London Choir
Choir of King’s College
BBC Concert Orchestra
Conductor Daniel Hyde
TUE 21:45 Between the Ears (m002f5yl)
Miniatures
Weathering
Five audio-makers from around the world take over The Essay to offer a series of Radio 3's innovative Between the Ears features in miniature. Each edition inspired by a different aspect of the weather.
In tonight's edition, produced by the audio artist Phoebe McIndoe, Lucy Edwards explores what it means to sense the changing seasons through sound and touch.
Produced by Phoebe McIndoe
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 3
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002f0fm)
Dissolve into a nocturnal soundworld
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 (m0026nxj)
Fresh Auntie Flo
'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's guest this week is saxophonist Xhosa Cole. Xhosa is celebrating the unsung heroes and living legends that have inspired him. Tonight he has chosen saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins.
Plus, we hear music from Josephine Davies and Tomeka Reid. There's also time for a piece from the soundtrack of Gatsby in Harlem - BBC Radio 3’s new drama, which re-imagines F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, and has an original score composed by Tomorrow’s Warriors. Search on BBC Sounds to hear it.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
WEDNESDAY 02 JULY 2025
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002f0fr)
Trumpet Concerto Double Bill
Ole Edvard Antonsen delivers virtuoso performances of the Trumpet Concertos by Haydn and Tartini. He's accompanied by the Argovia Philharmonic conducted by Rune Bergmann. The orchestra also performs Debussy's Petite Suite and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), arr. Henri Büsser
Petite Suite
Argovia Philharmonic, Rune Bergmann (conductor)
12:45 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Trumpet Concerto in E flat major
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Argovia Philharmonic, Rune Bergmann (conductor)
01:01 AM
Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770), arr. Oivind Westby
Trumpet Concerto in D major
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Argovia Philharmonic, Rune Bergmann (conductor)
01:12 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)
01:18 AM
Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881), orch. Maurice Ravel
Pictures at an Exhibition
Argovia Philharmonic, Rune Bergmann (conductor)
01:53 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Brandenburg Concerto no 2 in F major, BWV.1047
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Alexis Kossenko (recorder), Erik Niord Larsen (oboe), Elise Batnes (violin), Risor Festival Strings, Knut Johannessen (harpsichord)
02:04 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), arr. Nancy Allen
Arabesque no 2
Mojca Zlobko (harp)
02:08 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Trio élégiaque no 1 in G minor
Esther Hoppe (violin), Christian Poltera (cello), Hiroko Sakagami (piano)
02:22 AM
Leonel Power (1370-1445)
Salve Regina
Hilliard Ensemble
02:31 AM
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), arr. Ann Kuppens
Variations on a rococo theme for cello and string orchestra, Op.33
Gavriel Lipkind (cello), Brussels Chamber Orchestra
02:53 AM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
Sinfonia concertante a 8, ZWV 189
Katharina Heutjer (violin), Xenia Loffler (oboe), Gabriele Gombi (bassoon), La Cetra Baroque Orchestra Basle, Maurice Steger (conductor)
03:16 AM
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594), arr. Francesco Soriano
Missa Papae Marcelli arr. Soriano for double choir (orig. 6 vv)
BBC Singers, Bo Holten (conductor)
03:42 AM
Ivo Parac (1890-1954)
Andante amoroso for string quartet
Zagreb Quartet
03:49 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Largo from 5 Klavierstücke, Op 3 no 3
Ludmil Angelov (piano)
03:58 AM
Andreas Schencker (18th C)
Symphony no 5 in B flat major
Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Horia Andreescu (conductor)
04:06 AM
Marcel Tournier (1879-1951)
Au Matin - etude de concert
Mojca Zlobko (harp)
04:10 AM
Stanislaw Moniuszko (1819-1872)
Ballet Music for the Merry Wives of Windsor by Otto Nicolai
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lukasz Borowicz (conductor)
04:20 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
12 Variations on 'Ein Madchen oder Weibchen' for cello and piano, Op 66
Danjulo Ishizaka (cello), Jose Gallardo (piano)
04:31 AM
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Overture to Candide
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Richard Dufallo (conductor)
04:36 AM
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Lied (Lenau): Larghetto; Wanderlied: Presto Op 8 nos 3 & 4
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
04:42 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Duet: Tardo per gli anni, e tremulo (Attila & Ezio) from the prologue to Attila
Nicola Ghiuselev (bass), Vladimir Stoyanov (baritone), Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Boris Hinchev (conductor)
04:49 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto in A major, RV 335, 'The Cuckoo'
Elizabeth Wallfisch (baroque violin), Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer (director)
04:59 AM
Giulio Schiavetto (fl.1562–5, Croatian), transc. Dr Lovro Zupanovic
Canzon
Slovenian Chamber Choir, Vladimir Kranjcevic (director)
05:08 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 23 in D major, K.181
RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Marko Munih (conductor)
05:20 AM
Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940)
Piano Trio in A minor, Op Posth
Gould Piano Trio
05:48 AM
Ivan Zajc (1832-1914)
Symphonic Picture in C minor, Op 394
Croatian Radio-Television Symphony Orchestra, Niksha Bareza (conductor)
06:09 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Grand Motet "Deus judicium tuum regi da" (Psalm 71)
Veronika Winter (soprano), Andrea Stenzel (soprano), Patrick Van Goethem (alto), Markus Schafer (tenor), Ekkehard Abele (bass), Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert, Hermann Max (conductor)
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002f0km)
Birdsong and Bach to banish those morning blues
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
WED 09:30 Essential Classics (m002f0kp)
A classical soundtrack for your morning
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with 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.
1230 Album of the Week.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
WED 13:00 Classical Live (m002f0kr)
Mendelssohn's homage to Scotland plus the composer of 'Warhorse'
Elizabeth Alker continues her tour through the ever colourful symphonies of Felix Mendelssohn, today his Symphony No. 3, the 'Scottish'; plus chamber music from Scotland itself performed in concert by the Maxwell Quartet and clarinettist Maximiliano Martin; and music by theatre composer Adrian Sutton who has produced scores for hit theatre shows such as 'Coram Boy', 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night' and the music featured today, the hugely successful 'Warhorse'.
Gioachino Rossini
William Tell Overture
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach (conductor)
Johannes Brahms
Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op. 115
Maximiliano Martin (clarinet)
Maxwell Quartet
Adrian Sutton
War Horse Suite
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Seal (conductor)
Trad. (arr. Maxwell Quartet) Folksongs from Scotland –
‘Master Francis Sitwell’
‘The Marquis of Tulibardine’ ‘Miss Cameron of Balvenie’
Maxwell Quartet
Colin Scobie (violin)
George Smith (violin)
Elliot Perks (viola)
Duncan Strachan (cello)
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 ‘Scottish’
Ulster Orchestra
David Danzmayr (conductor)
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002f0kt)
Portsmouth Cathedral
Live from Portsmouth Cathedral.
Introit: Christus vincit (Martin Baker)
Responses: Philip Moore
Psalm 139 (Parry)
First Lesson: Isaiah 35 vv1-10
Canticles: Stanford in C
Second Lesson: Hebrews 10 v35-11 v1
Anthem: The Lord is my light and salvation (John Rutter)
Hymn: Thomas, holy blissful martyr (Becket New)
Voluntary: Dance-Rondo (Philip Moore)
David Price (Organist and Master of The Choristers)
Sachin Gunga (Sub-Organist)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002f0kw)
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Humourist
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie, the inventor of “furniture music”, whose innovations delighted and divided France. Satie's compositions – and their peculiar annotations – were a revolution, paving the way for a new generation of musical rebels, including Les Six. He was just as odd in his day-to-day life, known for his quirky fashion and dramatic outbursts, he always kept a hammer in his pocket for fear of muggers and once even founded his own church.
In this episode, Satie gets sick of being called a farceur and resolves to go back to school, against the protestations of his friend Debussy. Finally reaching his full orchestral powers, he pens a surreal cycle inspired by sports and "amusements".
Pièces froides
Klára Körmendi, piano
Je te veux
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Juliette Noureddine, voice
La Diva de l’Empire
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Juliette Noureddine, voice
Trois morceaux en forme de poire
Alain Planès and François Pinel, piano
En habit de cheval
Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Michel Plasson
Sports et divertissements
Anne Queffélec, piano
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002f0ky)
Ease into your evening with classical music
Petroc Trelawny has live music from french horn player Ben Goldscheider and pianist Richard Uttley. Plus, Ivor Novello award nominated composer Ed Carter has a new installation commemorating 25 years of the Millennium Seed Bank.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002f0l0)
Classical music to inspire you
A beautiful soundscape of classical music including Delius's Cuckoo in Spring, Luise Adolpha Le Beau's piano concerto, a Beethoven piano trio and a calming Concertante by Louis Spohr for violin, harp and orchestra.
Produced by Zerlina Vulliamy.
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002f0l2)
Mahler's Third Symphony
Mahler described his Third Symphony as a "great hymn to the glory of every aspect of creation", and the music entrances and humbles us as we travel on an epic journey; through meadows and through the animal and human kingdoms to "the love of God". However, the rough and tumble of life is also part of this world; we hear a military march, a children's song and fragments of a folk dance too.
Contralto Jess Dandy joins the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for the awestruck fourth movement, which Mahler titled "What night tells me (mankind)", setting a poem by Nietzsche who searches desperately to make sense of the grief and joy of the world. The Hallé Choir and the CBSO Youth and Children's choirs join the orchestra to bring us chiming bells and the song of the angels.
Recorded at the Bridgewater Hall on 14 June 2025 and presented by Tom McKinney
Mahler: Symphony No 3 in D minor
Jess Dandy (contralto)
Hallé Choir
CBSO Youth Chorus
CBSO Children's Chorus
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
WED 21:45 Between the Ears (m002f4s1)
Miniatures
Summer Rains and Storms of Songs
Five audio-makers from around the world take over The Essay to offer a series of Radio 3's innovative Between the Ears features in miniature. Each edition inspired by a different aspect of the weather.
In tonight's edition, summer rains, storms of songs and memories encapsulated in the noise of early home recordings on wax cylinders. Adomas Zubė is a radio producer and occasional sound artist, working across radio, theatre, and installation. He is interested in voice and memory.
Featuring Luke Owen, the founder of the label Death Is Not The End.
Produced by Adomas Zubė
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 3
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002f0l4)
Eclectic music for after dark
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 (m0026pb2)
Music from poet Anthony Joseph
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.
Acclaimed saxophonist and flautist Xhosa Cole has been selecting a track to play each evening in Flowers - paying tribute to contemporaries, living legends and unsung heroes. Tonight he chooses 'Round Midnight’s very own Soweto!
Plus there are tracks from Henrik Jensen, Judi Jackson and Ian Cleaver.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
THURSDAY 03 JULY 2025
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002f0l8)
A musical trip to America
The WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne with conductor Andris Poga celebrate the music of the USA with composers Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin, where sounds of the West and Jazz are mixed with the traditions of European classical music. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Divertimento
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Andris Poga (conductor)
12:46 AM
Jessie Montgomery (b.1981)
Five Freedom Songs
Julia Bullock (soprano), WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Andris Poga (conductor)
01:04 AM
George Gershwin (1898-1937), Ira Gershwin (lyricist), Edwin Dubose Heyward (lyricist)
Suite from Porgy and Bess
Julia Bullock (soprano), Alfred Walker (baritone), WDR Chorus, WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Andris Poga (conductor)
01:39 AM
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Ya Got Me (from On The Town)
Julia Bullock (soprano), Alfred Walker (baritone), WDR Chorus, WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Andris Poga (conductor)
01:44 AM
Philip Glass (b.1937)
Four Movements for Two Pianos: 4th movement
Katia Labeque (piano), Marielle Labeque (piano)
01:50 AM
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op 35
Veronika Eberle (violin), Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, Lorenzo Viotti (conductor)
02:17 AM
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Le Grand tango for cello and piano
Duo Rastogi/Fredens
02:31 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Antoni Ros-Marba (conductor)
02:50 AM
Domenico Auletta (1723-1753)
Concerto for harpsichord and strings in C major
Enrico Baiano (harpsichord), Cappella della Pieta de'Turchini, Antonio Florio (conductor)
03:08 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Schicksalslied (Song of destiny), Op 54
Oslo Philharmonic Choir, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos (conductor)
03:24 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
String Quartet no 50 in B flat major, Op 64 no 3 (Hob.III:67)
Talisker Quartet
03:44 AM
Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
Pieces de Clavecin:
1. Les Cyclopes; 2. L'entretien des muses; 3. La Poule from Nouvelles suites de clavecin
Andreas Borregaard (accordion)
04:00 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
3 Pieces for piano:
Nocturne for piano (Op.posth) in C sharp minor (1830); Berceuse for piano (Op.57) in D flat major; Fantaisie-impromptu for piano (Op.66) in C sharp minor
Havard Gimse (piano)
04:15 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Overture from Die Zauberflote, K.620
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Christie (conductor)
04:22 AM
John Cage (1912-1992)
Four squared for a capella choir
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
04:31 AM
Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)
Mon coeur s'ouvre from 'Samson et Dalila' (arr for trumpet & orchestra)
Jouko Harjanne (trumpet), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen (conductor)
04:37 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sonata no 2 in B flat major, Z.791
Les Ambassadeurs, Alexis Kossenko (director)
04:44 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Hungarian Rhapsody no 2 for piano in C sharp minor (S.244 No.2)
Jeno Jando (piano)
04:55 AM
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734)
Missa Paschalis
Barbara Janowska (soprano), Wanda Laddy (soprano), Robert Lawaty (counter tenor), Cezary Szyfman (baritone), Michal Straszewski (bass)
05:10 AM
Dame Ethel Mary Smyth (1858-1944)
Concerto for violin and horn in A major
Agata Raatz (violin), Zora Slokar (horn), Bern Chamber Orchestra, Graziella Contratto (conductor)
05:38 AM
Giuseppe Sammartini (1695-1750)
Recorder Concerto in F major
Bolette Roed (recorder), Arte dei Suonatori
05:51 AM
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
Vetrate di Chiesa (Church Windows)
Orchestra of London, Ontario, Uri Mayer (conductor)
06:16 AM
Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)
Miserere mei Deus (Psalm 51) for 9 voices
Camerata Silesia, Anna Szostak (conductor)
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002dyhc)
Launch the day with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
THU 09:30 Essential Classics (m002dyhf)
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 (m002dyhh)
Mendelssohn in Italy, Brahms in Vienna and new music from Bradford
Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, the fourth port of call on Elizabeth Alker's tour of his symphonies. Today's concert recording was made in Frankfurt in a programme that also included Brahms's lyrical Double Concerto - for violin and cello. We hear that today too. From Glasgow, pianist Daniel Ciobanu performs Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire; and Elizabeth looks back on the PRS New Music Festival in Bradford held last month and to an arresting and eclectic piece by composer Halina Rice.
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 4 in A, ‘Italian’ Op. 90
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach (conductor)
John Dowland
‘Behold a Wonder Here’
‘Flow My Tears’
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
Sergio Bucheli (lute)
Adrian Sutton
Violin Concerto
Fenella Humphreys (violin)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Seal (conductor)
Georges Enescu
Carillon Nocturne
Modest Mussorgsky
Pictures at an exhibition
Daniel Ciobanu (piano)
Halina Rice
The Path
Halina Rice (electronics - laptop and synths)
BBC Concert Orchestra
Ellie Slorach (conductor)
Johannes Brahms
Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 102
Augustin Hadelich (violin)
Gautier Capuçon (cello)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Christian Thielemann (conductor)
THU 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002dyhk)
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Socrate
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie, the inventor of “furniture music”, whose innovations delighted and divided France. Satie's compositions – and their peculiar annotations – were a revolution, paving the way for a new generation of musical rebels, including Les Six. He was just as odd in his day-to-day life, known for his quirky fashion and dramatic outbursts, he always kept a hammer in his pocket for fear of muggers and once even founded his own church.
In this episode, Donald finds out how Satie wound up in court, with the help of avant-garde provocateur Jean Cocteau. Together they campaign for music of “simplicity”, or as Satie comes to call it: “furniture music”.
Enfantillages pittoresques: 1. Petit prélude à la journée
Cristina Ariagno, piano
Descriptions automatiques
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Parade
Nancy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jérôme Kaltenbach
Musique d’ameublement
Ars Nova Copenhagen, conducted by Marius Constant
Socrate: III. Mort de Socrate
Barbara Hannigan, soprano
Reinbert de Leeuw, piano
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002dyhm)
Classical music live from the BBC
Petroc Trelawny introduces live music from the Consone Quartet and visits the National Theatre which has a new sound installation featuring music from Hannah Conway to celebrate 77 years of the NHS.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002dyhp)
Expand your horizons with classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002dyhr)
BBC NOW performs Brahms and Stravinsky
The BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales are joined by their Principal Conductor, Ryan Bancroft, to perform two works by Brahms, and Stravinsky's choral masterpiece, his Symphony of Psalms. The Orchestra begin the programme with Brahms's Second Serenade, a delightful work which he wrote while mustering the courage to compose his First Symphony. Following the interval, we'll be treated to two masterworks of the choral repertoire: Brahms's Song of Destiny, and Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms. For his cantata, his "Schicksalslied", Brahms was inspired by a poem in Friedrich Hölderlin's Hyperion, which highlights the cruel sufferings of humans by contrasting it with the blissful immortality of the eponymous titan. In contrast, Stravinsky's choral symphony is an idiosyncratic, yet deeply moving, offering to the divine in which he sets biblical psalms that brim with exaltation, anger, judgement, and even curses, in a work that never ceases to sound fresh.
Presented by Verity Sharp in BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff, on the 20th June.
Brahms: Serenade No 2 in A major, Op 16
Brahms: Song of Destiny, Op 54
Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
Ryan Bancroft (conductor)
THU 21:45 Between the Ears (m002dyht)
Miniatures
(Eye of) the Storm
Five audio-makers from around the world take over The Essay to offer a series of Radio 3's innovative Between the Ears features in miniature. Each edition inspired by a different aspect of the weather.
In this edition, Kristina Loring explores points of human connection in the eye of the storm. Kristina Loring is a story editor, sound artist, and audio producer, who works across genre and form to create sensorial media experiences and classes you feel in your body.
Produced by Kristina Loring
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 3
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002dyhx)
Meditative music for night owls
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 (m0026qrh)
A classic from Nancy Wilson
'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.
Xhosa Cole has been Soweto's Flowers guest this week selecting contemporaries to celebrate. He has one more bouquet in the basket and he gives it to British tenor and soprano saxophonist Paul Dunmall.
Xhosa's latest album A Modern Genius (Vol.1) is out now, and he will be performing at Brick Lane Jazz Festival in London on Saturday 26th April.
Plus, there's music from Somi, Nik Bärtsch, and Don Glori.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
FRIDAY 04 JULY 2025
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002dyj1)
Mozart's Last Symphonies
The WDR Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ádám Fischer, presents Mozart's symphonies 39, 40 and 41 one after the other in this concert performed in Cologne. The result is a brilliant dramatic arc of captivating fascination and power. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 39 in E flat major, K.543
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Adam Fischer (conductor)
01:01 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 40 in G minor, K.550
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Adam Fischer (conductor)
01:34 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 41 in C major, K.551 'Jupiter'
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Adam Fischer (conductor)
02:14 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), transc. Joseph Petric
Adagio and rondo for glass harmonica/accordion, flute, oboe, vla & vcl, K617
Joseph Petric (accordion), Moshe Hammer (violin), Marie Berard (violin), Douglas Perry (viola), David Hetherington (cello)
02:24 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Aria: 'O wie angstlich, o wie feurig' - from 'Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail'
Michael Schade (tenor), Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Richard Bradshaw (conductor)
02:31 AM
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Cello Sonata in D minor, Op 40
Li-Wei (cello), Gretel Dowdeswell (piano)
03:02 AM
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
Symphony no 3, Op 27 'Song of the Night'
Andrzej Lampert (tenor), Bavarian Radio Chorus, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, Alexander Liebreich (conductor)
03:28 AM
Giovanni Battista Bovicelli (c.1550-1597)
Diminutionen on Palestrina's 'Io son ferito' for cornet and basso continuo
Le Concert Brise, William Dongois (director)
03:34 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Violin Concerto, Op 8 no 12, RV.178
Fabio Biondi (violin), Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi (director)
03:44 AM
Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (1805-1900)
2 pieces caracteristiques, Op 25
Nina Gade (piano)
03:57 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Pelléas et Mélisande - incidental music, Op 46 (excerpts)
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Kolbjorn Holthe (conductor)
04:08 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Fantasia in G major BWV.572 for organ
Tomas Thon (organ)
04:16 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), arr. Duncan Craig
Romance in F major, Op 50 (arr. for viola and piano)
Gyozo Mate (viola), Balazs Szokolay (piano)
04:24 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
"Caro nome" Gilda's aria from Act I, scene ii of Rigoletto
Inese Galante (soprano), Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Aleksandrs Vilumanis (conductor)
04:31 AM
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Fundamenta ejus - motet for 4 voices
Chorus of Swiss Radio, Lugano, Lorenzo Ghielmi (organ), Diego Fasolis (conductor)
04:36 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Clair de lune (no 3 from Suite bergamasque for piano)
Jane Coop (piano)
04:41 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
L'Isle joyeuse
Jane Coop (piano)
04:47 AM
Eivind Groven (1901-1977)
Hjalarljod Overture, Op 38
WDR Radio Orchestra, Rasmus Baumann (conductor)
04:54 AM
Arvo Part (b.1935)
Fratres
Tobias Feldmann (violin), Marianna Shirinyan (piano)
05:06 AM
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)
White-flowering days (A Garland for the Queen), Op 37 no 8
BBC Singers, Bo Holten (conductor)
05:10 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Quartet for flute, viola and continuo in D major
Les Adieux
05:27 AM
Geronimo Gimenez (1854-1923)
La Boda de Luis Alonso
Tornado Guitar Duo
05:33 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Holberg Suite, Op 40
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Aadland (conductor)
05:55 AM
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Sonata for oboe and piano
Roger Cole (oboe), Linda Lee Thomas (piano)
06:09 AM
John Thomas (1826-1913)
Grand Duet for two harps in E flat minor
Myong-ja Kwan (harp), Hyon-son La (harp)
06:23 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Intermezzo in E flat major, Op 117 no 1 "Schlummerlied"
Khatia Buniatishvili (piano)
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002dy5b)
Boost your morning with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
FRI 09:30 Essential Classics (m002dy5d)
Essential Classics at Glastonbury 2025
Georgia Mann with glorious classical music, including a set recorded live at Glastonbury Festival 2025 - featuring electrifying performances from special guest Abel Selaocoe.
FRI 13:00 Classical Live (m002dy5g)
Bruckner and Beethoven from the Vienna Philharmonic and Mendelssohn from Glasgow
Bruckner's 8th Symphony and Beethoven's 5th form the greater part of today's programme with Elizabeth Alker, which also includes music by Mendelssohn and Ravel.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Lahav Shani (conductor)
Maurice Ravel
La Valse (2 piano version)
Tamara Stefanovich and Nenad Lečić (pianos)
Felix Mendelssohn
Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66
Lark Piano Trio
Anton Bruckner
Symphony No. 8 in C minor
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Riccardo Muti (conductor)
FRI 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002dy5j)
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Enfant
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie, the inventor of “furniture music”, whose innovations delighted and divided France. Satie's compositions – and their peculiar annotations – were a revolution, paving the way for a new generation of musical rebels, including Les Six. He was just as odd in his day-to-day life, known for his quirky fashion and dramatic outbursts, he always kept a hammer in his pocket for fear of muggers and once even founded his own church.
In this episode, Donald finds Satie caught in the crossfire as tensions rise between the Dadaists and the Surrealists. With the public turning on him, Satie finds hope in the next generation.
Nocturnes
Aldo Ciccolini, piano
Ludions
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Jean Delescluse, tenor
Trois Mélodies
Alain Planès, piano
Marc Mauillon, voice
Mercure
Nancy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jérôme Kaltenbach
Relâche, Pt. 1: No. 10, Final
Nancy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jérôme Kaltenbach
Enfantines: Menus propos enfantins
Klára Körmendi, piano
Enfantines: Peccadilles importunes
Klára Körmendi, piano
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002dy5m)
Live music and news from the world of classical
Petroc Trelawny shares live music and conversation from the Brodsky Quartet and harpist, Milo Harper.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002dy5p)
Take 30 minutes out with a relaxing classical mix
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
FRI 19:30 Friday Night is Music Night (m002dy5r)
Songs from the Shows
It’s a grand night for singing as the BBC Singers bring the West End and Broadway to London's Milton Court.
Georgia Mann introduces two hours of some of the most iconic moments in musical theatre including favourite numbers from Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, Carousel, Company and more. With dazzling choruses and solo numbers all sung by the dynamic BBC Singers and with razor-sharp backing from the BBC Concert Orchestra, this was truly a night to remember. Also taking part were the fifty-strong Bantam of the Opera Choir from Bradford Football Club in their first away fixture who joined all on stage for a heartfelt rendition of Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera.
Rodgers & Hammerstein
State Fair: It’s a Grand Night for Singing
Carousel: Mister Snow
Carousel: If I Loved You
Carousel: June is Bustin' Out All Over
Carousel: You'll Never Walk Alone
Stephen Sondheim
Company: Company (opening ensemble number)
Company: You Could Drive a Person Crazy
Company: Being Alive
Claude-Michel Schönberg
Les Misérables: Master of the House
Les Misérables: Stars
Les Misérables: One Day More
Andrew Lloyd-Webber
The Phantom of the Opera: Masquerade
The Phantom of the Opera: Music of the Night
Stephen Sondheim
Sweeney Todd: The Ballad of Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd: The Worst Pies in London
Sweeney Todd: Not While I’m Around
Lerner & Loewe
My Fair Lady: Why Can't the English?
My Fair Lady: Wouldn’t it be Loverly?
My Fair Lady: Ascot Gavotte
My Fair Lady: I Could Have Danced All Night
My Fair Lady: On the Street Where You Live
My Fair Lady: Get Me to the Church on Time
Jerry Herman
Hello, Dolly! – Put On Your Sunday Clothes
BBC Singers and the BBC Concert Orchestra
Bantam of the Opera Choir
Owain Park (conductor)
FRI 21:45 Between the Ears (m002f4xj)
Miniatures
Monsoon
Five audio-makers from around the world take over The Essay to offer a series of Radio 3's innovative Between the Ears features in miniature. Each edition inspired by a different aspect of the weather.
With original music and field recordings, the writer, musician and audio producer HJ Radia creates a memory space for the monsoon winds. A collage of associations with the Western Indian Ocean trade winds, from the primordial to the personal - a meditative exploration of the polyphonies we carry.
With thanks to Professors Kwame Anthony Appiah and Abdulrazak Gurnah. We also hear the voice of the late Pan-Africanist writer, political commentator and former BBC journalist Ahmed Rajab.
Including extracts from the BBC Sound Archive.
Sarangi excerpt of Raag Jog by Pandit Ramesh Mishra - with thanks to Lyle Wachovsky at India Music Archive.
Music by Sonic Soma - Maitreya & Radia
Produced by HJ Radia
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 3
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002dy5t)
Michaela Turcerová and Theresa Wong in session
Join Jennifer Lucy Allan as she presents the fruits of our latest improvised remote collaboration session, in which the expanded saxophone playing of Michaela Turcerová meets the bubbling cello of Theresa Wong.
Slovakian-born Copenhagen-based composer and saxophonist Michaela Turcerová is an artist that utilises the full body of her instrument. As showcased on her latest album ‘alene et’, Michaela experiments with percussive sounds, multiple mic’ing methods and distortion of breath to draw out the limitless potential of her instrument. She is also a seasoned improvisor and collaborator, leading her own bands and playing in ensembles including the saxophone quartet MMMM.
Michaela is joined in session remotely by cellist, composer and vocalist Theresa Wong, based in the San Francisco Bay area. Her most recent release ‘Journey to the Cave of Guanyin’ displays a similar desire to explore the full sonic texture of her instrument, from droning lengthy bow strokes to skittering textures, alongside percussive techniques. As Theresa herself puts it "how can I rediscover the core of the cello as wood and string and hair, or even simply as a tree?"
With both artists noted for their skilled improvisational technique and for their desire to discover the hidden qualities of their instruments, their pairing for this exclusive Late Junction session seeks to explore the broad possibilities of their instruments both individually and in unison.
Elsewhere in the show, Jennifer shares selections including synthetic panoramas in sound from Finnish musician Olli Aarni's Dimension Scrolling, the return of the uncategorisable Urs Graf Consort and the Chinese sheng’s noise reinvention courtesy of Zhang Meng.
Produced by Alex Yates
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play Late Junction”
FRI 23:30 'Round Midnight (m0026s7z)
Lau Noah live in session
Soweto presents live music by Spanish vocalist and guitarist Lau Noah, recorded live onstage in the Barbican Foyer. Her set was part of 'Round Midnight's curated concert for last year's London Jazz Festival.
During a captivating solo performance, Lau played a set of original compositions, with some from her latest album A Dos.
This is the second in a trio of Friday night programmes spotlighting live performances from that concert. Last Friday’s ‘Round Midnight featured harpist Marysia Osu and bassist Daniel Casimir's Quintet follows next Friday.
You can listen back to all of these programmes after broadcast on BBC Sounds.
There's also time for music by GoGo Penguin, Phil Ranelin and Andy Hay.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'