SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2025
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002hxpg)
Wagner, Liszt and Schumann
The French pianist Alexandre Kantorow performs Liszt's Second Piano Concerto, a work of contrasts with both stunning lyricism and high drama. Kantorow is joined by the WDR Symphony Orchestra, who also perform Schumann's Rhenish Symphony and Wagner's Faust Overture. John Shea presents.
12:31 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Faust Overture, WWV 59
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Petr Popelka (conductor)
12:43 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Piano Concerto No 2 in A, S. 125
Alexandre Kantorow (piano), WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Petr Popelka (conductor)
01:04 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Liebestod, from Tristan und Isolde, S. 447
Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
01:12 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Symphony no 3 in E flat, Op 97 'Rhenish'
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Petr Popelka (conductor)
01:43 AM
Clara Schumann (1810-1856)
Prelude and Fugue in B flat major, Op 16 no 2
Angela Cheng (piano)
01:48 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Mathilde Wesendonck (author)
Wesendonck-Lieder for voice and orchestra
Jane Eaglen (soprano), Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Juanjo Mena (conductor)
02:10 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Cello Suite no 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
Cameron Crozman (cello)
02:31 AM
Malcolm Forsyth (1936-2011)
Songs from the Qu'Appelle Valley
Hannaford Street Silver Band, Stephen Chenette (conductor)
02:48 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony No 29 in A major K.201
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Terje Tønnesen (conductor)
03:09 AM
Srul Irving Glick (1934-2002)
Sonata for oboe and piano
Senia Trubashnik (oboe), Valerie Tryon (piano)
03:27 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV.1043
Sarah Christian (violin), Dmitri Smirnov (violin), CHAARTS Chamber Artists, Maximilian Hornung (conductor)
03:41 AM
Arthur Butterworth (1923-2014)
Romanza for horn and strings
Martin Hackleman (horn), CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
03:51 AM
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Beatus vir, SV 268
Collegium Vocale 1704, Collegium 1704, Václav Luks (conductor)
03:59 AM
Mayas Alyamani (b.1981)
Warda
Shaher Fawaz (tabla), Daria Zappa Matesic (violin), Avi Avital (mandolin), Zürcher Kammerorchester, Willi Zimmermann (conductor)
04:07 AM
Ruth Gipps (1921-1999)
Jane Grey Fantasy, Op 15
Scott Dickinson (viola), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Riveiro Bohm (conductor)
04:19 AM
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
Fantasia in D minor
Freddy Eichelberger (organ)
04:31 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Serenade no 1 in D major, Op 69a
Judy Kang (violin), Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, Jean-François Rivest (conductor)
04:39 AM
Marianne Martines or Marianne von Martinez (1744-1812)
Two arias from 'Sant’Elena al Calvario'
Ilona Domnich (soprano), BBC Concert Orchestra, Jane Glover (conductor)
04:53 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
Royal Academy Soloists, Clio Gould (conductor)
05:07 AM
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
Concerto for Violin and Horn in A major - 1st movt
Anna Agafia Egholm (violin), Tillmann Höfs (horn), Alice Burla (piano)
05:18 AM
Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc (1804-1875)
Symphony no 3 in G minor, Op 36
Berner Kammerorchester, Graziella Contratto (conductor)
05:53 AM
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
4 sacred pieces (SWV.282, SWV.22, SWV.308, SWV.386)
Kölner Kammerchor, Collegium Cartusianum, Peter Neumann (conductor)
06:08 AM
Antoine Dauvergne (1713-1797)
Concert de simphonies à IV parties in F major, Op 3 no 2
Capella Coloniensis, William Christie (director)
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002j61n)
Boost your morning with classical music
Hannah French presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’.
SAT 09:00 Saturday Morning (m002j61q)
Conductor Elim Chan talks Last Night of the Proms
Tom Service with guests, stories and the perfect classical soundtrack to start the weekend!
Tom Service chats to the brilliant conductor Elim Chan. She's been described on the podium as "a superhero bending the sonic environment to her will" and is known for her expressive and exciting performances. She joins Tom on the day she conducts the Last Night of the BBC Proms. Will she reveal any details of the speech she'll give from the podium? Traditionally a chance to reflect on the last year of the music industry, the young conductor will have plenty to say.
The Kanneh-Mason family are the country's most exciting and remarkable musical family - and ahead of the 7 siblings releasing their new album "River of Music". Braimah, Jeneba and Aminata Kanneh-Mason pop into the studio to perform live and talk to Tom about the album, as they describe it "a story about our family and the sources of our music".
And composer Oliver Leith talks about his musical journey so far and his new piece 'Garland' that is getting its premiere at Bold Tendencies in Peckham's multi-storey car park this week. A spectacular procession of sound, music and singing, it includes an orchestra and chorus of 118 performers augmented by a horse, bicycles, car and other pedestrian detritus ‘played’ to create a huge noise inside Peckham's 'concrete concerthall'.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002j61s)
Jools with some of his most-loved recordings
Jools shares his lifelong passion for classical music and the beautiful connections with jazz and blues. With fascinating guests each week, who bring their own favourite music and occasionally perform live in Jools's studio.
Today, Jools's choices include music by Erich Korngold, John Adams and Duke Ellington, including performances from Nicola Benedetti and Hille and Marthe Perl. His guest is the composer Anoesjcka DeLorenzo who introduces music she loves by Smetana and Sibelius.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Earlier with Jools Holland".
SAT 13:00 Music Matters (m0027bzy)
Satire and the Stave
Parody, Homage and Pastiche
In the final episode of this six-part series, writer and satirist Chris Addison (The Thick Of It, Veep) explores how music has long been used as a tool for satire and parody.
Chris has chosen tracks spanning centuries, which have parody and pastiche at their very heart. This programme features music by PDQ Bach, Gustav Mahler, Camille Saint-Saëns, Teresa Carreño, Joseph Haydn and more.
In this series, Chris Addison - himself a classical music devotee, keen amateur choral singer and opera buff - takes listeners on a tour of how composers have used their music to question, parody, and challenge power and ideas over the years. Classical music can amplify power, but it can also undermine it - satirising and thumbing the nose at the status quo. Composers have used classical music to critique, undermine and even lampoon - often in cleverly nuanced, surprising ways that reconnect us to the flawed humans - and shared humanity - beneath the pomposity. Each episode in this series takes a big idea, and illustrates it with a playlist of entertaining and diverse music spanning the entire history of Western classical music.
Josquin des Prez: Missa L’Homme Armé - Kyrie
Oxford Camerata
Jeremy Summerly (director)
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in E flat, Op. 33 No. 2 (The Joke) - 4. Presto
Lindsay String Quartet
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1 – 3: Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein (conductor)
PDQ Bach (Schickele): The Short-Tempered Clavier - I. C major
Christopher O’Reily (piano)
Bela Bartók: Concerto For Orchestra – 4: Intermezzo interrotto
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Boulez (conductor)
Teresa Carreño: Gottschalk Waltz, Op. 1
Alexandra Oehler (piano)
Ernst von Dohnányi: Variations on a Nursery Tune, Op 25 (extract)
Sofja Gülbadamova (piano)
Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz
Modestas Pitrėnas (conductor)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Ein musikalischer Spass – 4: Presto
The English Concert
Andrew Manze (conductor)
Camille Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals - 14. Finale. Molto allegro
Claude Frank, Lilian Kallir (pianos)
Philadelphia Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy (conductor)
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002j61w)
BBC Proms Composer: Mussorgsky with Jonathan Cross and Andrew McGregor
Jonathan Cross picks five key recordings by BBC Proms Composer: Mussorgsky, plus some of the week's new releases
Presented by Andrew McGregor
2.30pm
BBC Proms Composer
Jonathan Cross joins Andrew with five indispensable recordings by this week's BBC Proms Composer, Mussorgsky
3.30pm
Proms Recording
A recent Building a Library recommendation from a composer featured in this year's BBC Proms
Beethoven
Piano Trio in B flat 'Archduke'
Sitkovetsky Trio
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m002j61y)
Endings
With the release of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the final chapter in the Downton Abbey story, Matthew looks at cinematic endings and talks to Downton's composer John Lunn.
SAT 17:00 This Classical Life (m002j620)
Jess Gillam with... Rachel Portman
Jess Gillam shares favourite music with the composer Rachel Portman.
Academy Award-winning composer Rachel Portman joins Jess to share some of her favourite music, on the same day her new work ‘The Gathering Tree’ receives its world premiere at the BBC Proms. Rachel's wide-ranging music choices include Handel, Steve Reich and Joni Mitchell. Jess has music from Tchaikovsky, the mysterious Italian baroque composer Bernardo Storace, and American saxophonist Eddie Barbash.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3”
SAT 18:00 New Generation Artists (m002j622)
2025 Proms season showcase: Beatrice Rana and Johanna Wallroth
A final showcase in this special summer series showcasing members of Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme. Amongst the artists featured are some of the current and recent members of this prestigious young musician scheme who have appeared at this year's BBC Proms. Those artists include the brilliant pianists Beatrice Rana and Mariam Batsashvili, the cellists Anastasia Kobekina and Sterling Elliott and the soprano Johanna Wallroth.
SAT 19:00 BBC Proms (m002j624)
2025
Last Night of the Proms 2025
Soprano Louise Alder and trumpeter Alison Balsom join the BBC Singers, Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with Elim Chan, including world premieres by Rachel Portman and Camille Pépin.
Presented by Georgia Mann and Petroc Trelawny, live from the Royal Albert Hall, London
Modest Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain (original version, 1867)
Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E flat major
Arthur Benjamin arr. Herrmann: Storm Cloud Cantata (from ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’)
Franz Lehár: The Merry Widow – Vilja Song
Charles Gounod: Faust – ‘Ah, je ris de me voir’ (Jewel Song)
Camille Pépin: Fireworks (BBC commission: world premiere)
Paul Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
c.
8.35pm During the interval Georgia and Petroc chat with the actor and comedian Nick Mohammed and the pianist Nicholas McCarthy, whose sumptuous performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand we heard in the opening weekend of the season.
9pm
Dmitry Shostakovich: Festive Overture
Rachel Portman: The Gathering Tree (BBC commission: world premiere)
Trad. arr. Wood: Fantasia on British Sea-Songs
Thomas Arne arr. Sargent: Rule, Britannia!
Edward Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major, ‘Land of Hope and Glory’
Hubert Parry orch. Elgar: Jerusalem
Trad. arr. Britten: The National Anthem
Trad. arr. P. Campbell: Auld Lang Syne
The biggest night in classical music is back! After eight weeks and over 80 concerts, the 2025 BBC Proms celebrates with a Last Night spectacular, packed with musical surprises and star turns. Elim Chan conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in all the traditional favourites – anthems, folk songs and singalongs – with solo performances by ‘captivating’ soprano Louise Alder and ‘sensational’ trumpeter Alison Balsom. There’s a nod to this season’s Bernard Herrmann celebration, a mischievous sorcerer’s apprentice from Dukas, and premieres by Camille Pépin and Rachel Portman.
SAT 23:00 New Music Show (m002j626)
Anna Zaradny, Tim Parkinson, Salvatore Sciarrino
Tom Service presents a live set from the Polish sound artist and composer Anna Zaradny, recorded at at this year's Eavesdropping festival at Cafe Oto in London. We'll also hear the London Sinfonietta with a modern classic by Salvatore Sciarrino, his ghostly, shimmering ...da una Divertimento, from 1970; and GBSR Duo perform Tim Parkinson's Project 9000 for piano, percussion and backing track, described by the composer as "a sunset that's been photographed, laminated and pinned on the wall of a disused office".
To listen using most smart speakers, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play New Music Show”
SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2025
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002j628)
For the tongues of angels and souls purified by fire
The German Radio Philharmonic and Munich Radio Choir join forces in the ornate Ottobeuren Abbey for Bruckner's Te Deum, a work that the composer deemed the 'pride of his life.' Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Symphony no 9 in C major, D.944 'Great'
German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Saarbrucken Kaiserslautern, Pietari Inkinen (conductor)
01:20 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Te Deum
Meredith Wohlgemuth (soprano), Marie Henriette Reinhold (mezzo soprano), Matthew Swensen (tenor), Manuel Winckhler (bass), Munich Philharmonic Choir, German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Saarbrucken Kaiserslautern, Pietari Inkinen (conductor)
01:44 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Impromptu no 4 in A flat major - from 4 Impromptus (D.899) for piano
Sook-Hyun Cho (piano)
01:50 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Concerto for violin and orchestra (Op.77) in D major
Sarah Chang (violin), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Juraj Valcuha (conductor)
02:31 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Serenade to music
Bette Cosar (soprano), Delia Wallis (mezzo soprano), Edd Wright (tenor), Gary Dahl (bass), Alexander Skwortsow (violin), Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Pullan (conductor)
02:44 AM
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)
String Quartet no 12 in F major 'American', Op 96
Prague Quartet
03:08 AM
Dinu Lipatti (1917-1950)
Aubade for wind quartet
Nicolae Maxim (flute), Radu Chisu (oboe), Valeriu Barbuceanu (clarinet), Mihai Tanasila (bassoon)
03:28 AM
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
3 Preludes for piano
Donna Coleman (piano)
03:36 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Symphony no 1 in D major, Op 25 'Classical'
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Michel Tabachnik (conductor)
03:51 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Partita for solo violin No.1 in B minor, BWV.1002
Rachel Podger (violin)
04:06 AM
Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)
Havanaise for violin and orchestra, Op 83
Moshe Hammer (violin), Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kazuhiro Koizumi (conductor)
04:16 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Song and chorus 'Sound Fame' from Act IV of 'Dioclesian', Z.627
Paul Elliott (tenor), Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet), David Staff (trumpet), Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)
04:22 AM
Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979)
3 Pieces for cello and piano
Zoltan Despond (cello), Vesselin Stanev (piano)
04:31 AM
Uuno Klami (1900-1961)
Overture: Nummisuutarit (The Cobblers on the Heath)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
04:39 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Variations in E major on a German National Air (op.posth)
Ludmil Angelov (piano)
04:47 AM
Mel Bonis (1858-1938)
Suite Orientale, Op 48 no 2: Prelude & Danse d'almees
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Rumon Gamba (conductor)
04:54 AM
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury for 3 trumpets
Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble
04:57 AM
Anonymous, Christian Gregor (orchestrator)
2 Moravian Chorales
American Brass Quintet
05:00 AM
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-c.1678)
O quam bonus es - motet for 2 voices
Cappella Artemisia
05:11 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in B minor, K. 87
Chen Halevi (clarinet), Daniel Borovitzky (piano), Gringolts Quartet, Agustin Diassera (percussion)
05:19 AM
William Walton (1902-1983)
Variations on a theme by Hindemith
BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena (conductor)
05:41 AM
Augusta Holmes (1847-1903)
La vision de la reine
BBC Singers Women's Voices, Morwenna Del Mar (cello), Alison Martin (harp), Annabel Thwaite (piano), Hilary Campbell (conductor)
05:59 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
String Quartet in F major
New Helsinki Quartet
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002j4nw)
Start the day with classical music
Mark Forrest presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’.
SUN 09:00 Sunday Morning (m002j4ny)
Your perfect Sunday soundtrack
Sarah Walker with three hours of classical music to reflect, restore and refresh, after the highs of last night’s triumphant Proms finale!
Sarah shares music by some of her favourite artists from this year’s Proms season, and reflects on the Last Night of the Proms. Her choices today include a range of music chosen to help revitalise you. And her Choral Reflection takes her back to a spine tingling Prom from the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
Plus, devilish music from a landmark new release reissuing a classic recording from David Oistrakh…
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002j4p0)
Mark Kermode
Mark Kermode began reviewing films 40 years ago, and has established himself as one of our most foremost critics, both in print and on air. He co-presents Screenshot on Radio 4 and the podcast Kermode and Mayo’s Take, with his long-term collaborator Simon Mayo.
He’s said he goes to every screening hoping it will be the next Citizen Kane – but he’s also renowned for his energetic rants against the films he finds most disappointing.
Music is another lifelong love – and for nearly 30 years he’s played double bass in The Dodge Brothers, a skiffle band who have also performed live soundtracks for silent movies.
And film music is the subject of his most recent book, Mark Kermode’s Surround Sound, examining the complex relationship between what we hear and what we see.
Mark's music includes Mica Levi, Strauss and Jelly Roll Morton.
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002j4p2)
A journey to Ethel Smyth's Concerto for Violin, Horn and Orchestra
Sara Mohr-Pietsch plots a course towards the Concerto for Violin, Horn and Orchestra by Ethel Smyth, a composer best known for her support of the women's suffrage movement in the early twentieth century - she spent two months in prison for her activism. On the way, we hear music from other composers who were in prison, including a prelude by JS Bach, and a movement from Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, written in a Second World War prisoner-of-war camp. Smyth's concerto was composed in 1927, and there's other music from that year, including an early recording by Louis Armstrong; and we make a stop at a recording by one of the original concerto soloists, the violinist Jelly d'Aranyi.
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Map.'
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002j4p4)
Holy Sepulchre, London
Live from Holy Sepulchre, London, to mark the end of the BBC Proms.
Introit: None other lamb (Dan Forrest) (world premiere)
Responses: Peter Asprey
Office Hymn: Lift high the cross (Crucifer)
Psalms 110, 150 (Turle Stanford)
First Lesson: Isaiah 63 vv1-16
Magnificat Octavi Toni (Palestrina)
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1 vv18-25
Nunc dimittis (Victoria)
Anthem: The Beatitudes (Arvo Pärt)
Hymn: Praise my soul, the King of heaven (Lauda anima)
Voluntary: Symphony No 1 in D minor (Final) (Vierne)
Peter Asprey (Director of Music)
Joshua Ryan (Organist)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002j4p6)
Jazz for a Sunday Afternoon
Alyn Shipton presents a selection of your jazz requests including tracks from Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Cleo Laine, Sheila Jordan, Kai Craig and more.
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 (m002j4p8)
The Medici Popes - Part 1: Cousins in arms
In this first of two programmes, Hannah French explores the lives of two 16th Century Popes: Leo X and Clement VII, and the music that surrounded them.
Giovanni & Giulio were cousins, brought up together in the wealthy and influential Florentine household of the Medicis. Giovanni's father, Lorenzo "The Magnificent" and his brother Giuliano were the rulers of the Florentine Republic. In 1478, though, Giuliano de Medici was murdered in Florence Cathedral as part of the Pazzi Conspiracy. As a result, young Giulio was brought up by his uncle. Both boys were guided into a career in the church, and because of the financial and political backing that came with the Medici name, it was clear they were both destined for high office.
In 1513, Giovanni de Medici was elected as Pope Leo X. He made Rome a strong political power, and as a generous patron of the arts, he helped writers, poets, painters and musicians of the High Renaissance to flourish. But, his lavish tastes depleted the papal treasury, and made many enemies who accused him of being "engrossed in idle and selfish amusements". By 1517, would-be reformers in northern Europe had had enough of papal excesses, and Martin Luther published his 95 theses which were to be the start of the Protestant Reformation.
The young Giovanni de Medici was said to have had a fine ear and a melodious voice, and "loved music to the pitch of fanaticism". It's possible he learned from the great Heinrich Isaac, who was the shining musical light in late 15th Century Florence. As Pope Leo X he expanded the Sistine Chapel choir, and procured the services of professional singers, instrumentalists and composers from all over Europe.
SUN 18:00 Words and Music (m002j4pb)
Genius, Polymaths and Prodigies
From teenage compositions by Mozart to fictional images of Professors and boffins, via artists, scientists and star performers - today's programme explores ideas about genius.
Our readers are Django Bevan and Sasha McCabe.
Producer: Ruth Watts
SUN 19:15 Between the Ears (m002j4pd)
The Thousand Voices of Cathy Berberian
An immersive audio dive into the life and voice of the iconic singer Cathy Berberian, who was born 100 years ago this year.
Cathy Berberian was a singer like no other. She was an incredible virtuoso with a 3 octave range, but also a fantastic actress, a comedienne, a mimic, a composer, a multi-linguist and a fearless experimenter. She was known as "Magnifi-Cathy" because she had a thousand voices.
Despite starting out as a 'square' classical opera singer, her firm belief that the voice could do anything meant she became one of the most important voices in contemporary music.
Berberian was nicknamed the "Callas of the Avant-Garde", as composers queued up to write for her and she pushed the boundaries of what the voice can do to its very limits: from her avant-garde collaborations with her husband, the composer Luciano Berio, to her own iconic piece Stripsody where she experimented with the sounds of comic book strips. Berberian was also one of the great stage performers - charming and magnetic, at times breathtaking, at others goofy - and able to have an audience in the palm of her hand whether she was singing contemporary music, French chansons or songs by the Beatles.
With recordings of Cathy from the BBC archives, we also hear the voices of Berberian scholars Francesca Placanica and Pamela Karantonis, soprano Héloïse Werner, plus conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and mezzo soprano Linda Hirst, who knew Cathy in the 1970s.
Producer: Hannah Thorne
Sound engineer: Callum Lawrence
For BBC Audio
BBC Archive:
Desert Island Discs (1978), Saturday Live (1982), Meridian (1982)
SUN 19:45 Sunday Feature (m002j4pg)
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Paul Laurence Dunbar
Music historian Leah Broad hears about the meeting in London in 1897 between the African American poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar and the British composer of Sierra Leonean descent, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. The men became friends with Coleridge-Taylor setting a number of Dunbar's poems to music. Their collaboration also set a template for Black poets and composers of the twentieth century. Leah is joined by Samantha Ege, author pianist and music historian and by Justin Tackett, an academic who specialises in transatlantic literature to explore The African Romances.
Presenter: Leah Broad
Producer: Ruth Watts
SUN 20:00 Record Review (m002j4pj)
A complete performance of a new release of Finnish composer Kalevi Aho's evocative Double Concerto for viola, percussion and orchestra, his "Moonlight Concerto", plus other key recent recordings of the week.
Aho: Double Concerto for Viola, Percussion and Orchestra "Moonlight Concerto"
Hiyoli Togawa (viola)
Alexej Gerassimez (percussion)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002j4pl)
Witold Lutoslawski: fate, struggle and controlling chance
Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present BBC Radio 3's series exploring the pivotal 'modern' musical works of the 20th century, the groundbreaking composers who created them, and the radical cultural and artistic movements which gave rise to them. In this episode, Gillian explores the beautiful, fractious musical world of the Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski, leading to a full performance of his 3rd Symphony. We will explore the underground radical art of Poland created during a period of martial law in the 1980s, chance upon an out-of-tune masterpiece born from the loft scene in 1960s Manhattan, and travel back to the revolutionary music of Beethoven via the lens of a 20th-century Hungarian visionary.
Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 22:00 Night Tracks (m002j4pn)
Bewitching sounds for after dark
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002j4pq)
Spectral Fields
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.
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 15 SEPTEMBER 2025
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002j4ps)
Verdi Requiem
The Berlin Radio Chorus joins the German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin, conductor Eva Ollikainen and soloists in Verdi's Requiem. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Anna Thorvaldsdóttir (b.1977)
Heyr þú oss himnum á
Berlin Radio Chorus, Julia Selina Blank (director)
12:35 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Messa da Requiem
Krassimira Stoyanova (soprano), Yajie Zhang (mezzo soprano), Gregory Kunde (tenor), Kostas Smoriginas (bass baritone), Berlin Radio Chorus, Julia Selina Blank (director), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
01:56 AM
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Toccata in A minor for harpsichord
Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord)
02:00 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Piano Trio in G major 'Premier Trio'
Grumiaux Trio
02:23 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Ballet music from Otello, Act III
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Ros-Marbà (conductor)
02:31 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Piano Quintet in A major, Op 81
Nadja Saminskaja (piano), Ronny Spiegel (violin), Yuta Takase (violin), Daphne Unseld (viola), Fedor Saminski (cello)
03:10 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Symphony no 4 in A major, Op 90 'Italian'
Munich Chamber Orchestra, Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor)
03:38 AM
Imogen Holst (1907-1984)
Leiston Suite for brass quartet
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins (conductor)
03:45 AM
John Thomas (1826-1913)
The minstrel's adieu to his native land for harp
Rita Costanzi (harp)
03:53 AM
Toivo Kuula (1883-1918)
Sinfonia for orchestra (Op 36) "Jupiter"
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jorma Panula (conductor)
03:59 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Aria 'O let me weep' from the Fairy Queen
Irena Baar (soprano), Tomaž Lorenz (violin), Maks Strmčnik (organ)
04:07 AM
Alessandro Stradella (1639-1682)
Sinfonia in D minor
The Private Music
04:15 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Ballade no 2 in F major, Op 38
Anastasia Vorotnaya (piano)
04:22 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Rondo concertante in B flat major, K 269
Benjamin Schmid (violin), Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Ádám Fischer (conductor)
04:31 AM
Albertus Groneman (c.1710-1778)
Concerto in G major for solo flute, two flutes, viola & basso continuo
Jed Wentz (flute), Marion Moonen (flute), Cordula Breuer (flute), Musica ad Rhenum
04:39 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Ballade no 3 in A flat major, Op 47
Anika Vavic (piano)
04:47 AM
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Madrigal: "Altri canti d'Amor" à 6
Suzie Le Blanc (soprano), Kristina Nilsson (soprano), Daniel Taylor (counter tenor), Rodrigo del Pozo (tenor), Josep Cabre (baritone), Bernard Deletre (bass), Tragicomedia, Stephen Stubbs (conductor), Concerto Palatino, Bruce Dickey (conductor)
04:57 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Phantasiestucke Op 73 for clarinet & piano
Marten Altrov (clarinet), Holger Marjamaa (piano)
05:07 AM
Barrière, Jean (1705-1747)
Sonata No 10 in G major for 2 cellos
Duo Fouquet (duo)
05:16 AM
Darius Milhaud (1892-1974), arr. Timothy Kain
Scaramouche
Guitar Trek
05:26 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony no 104 in D major, 'London', Hob.
1.104
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Philippe Entremont (conductor)
05:54 AM
Clara Schumann (1810-1856)
Variations on a theme by Robert Schumann for piano in F sharp minor, Op 20
Angela Cheng (piano)
06:03 AM
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
The Golden cockerel - suite
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Uri Mayer (conductor)
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002j4ly)
Wake up your senses 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’
MON 09:30 Essential Classics (m002j4m0)
A classical soundtrack for your morning
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
MON 13:00 Classical Live (m002j4m2)
Live from London's Wigmore Hall
Linton Stephens showcases the best performances by BBC orchestras, choirs, ensembles and other great performing groups from Europe and around the globe.
The week begins with a live concert from London’s Wigmore Hall given by violinist Daniel Hope and pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips who present a programme of two superlative works by English composers, both infused with profound melancholy and dramatic tension.
Throughout the week, there will be highlights from this summer's Edinburgh International Festival. Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble perform Bach, the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra and director Alexander Sitkovetsky play Bartok, and Canadian pianist Ryan Wang draws from Chopin's stylishly crafted collection of Mazurkas.
Plus, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will perform music by Dmitri Shostakovich, marking 50 years since his death. Today, the dramatic and colourful Symphony No 12 "The Year 1917" conducted by John Storgards.
Live from London's Wigmore Hall, presented by Hannah French:
Edward Elgar
Violin Sonata in E minor Op. 82
William Walton
Sonata for violin and piano
Daniel Hope (violin)
Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano)
***
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No 12 "The Year 1917"
BBC Philharmonic
John Storgards (conductor)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concerto No 1 in A Minor, BWV. 1041
Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble
Franz Schubert
Das Fischermädchen (Schwanengesang D957, No. 10)
Brindley Sherratt (bass)
Julius Drake (piano)
Bela Bartok
Divertimento for String Orchestra
Nicola Benedetti (violin)
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
Alexander Sitkovetsky (director and violin)
Frédéric Chopin
3 Mazurkas, Op. 59
Ryan Wang (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
MON 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002j7g9)
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
An Emerging Genius
Donald Macleod delves into the early successes of Broadway giant, Richard Rodgers, including his initial collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart. Donald explores the composer's musical roots within his family, and charts Rodgers and Hart's rise to popularity through the 1920s.
The Sound of Music Prelude
Julie Andrews, vocalist
Studio orchestra
Irwin Kostal, conductor
The Lady is a Tramp (Babes in Arms, Act 2)
Shirley Bassey, vocals
Johnnie Spence and his Orchestra
My favourite things (The Sound of Music)
Julie Andrews, vocalist
Studio orchestra
Irwin Kostal, conductor
Any Old Place with You (A Lonely Romeo)
Bob Shaver, vocalist
The John Morris Trio
Sentimental Me (Garrick Gaieties, Act 1)
Louise Carlyle, vocalist
Bob Shaver, vocalist
The John Morris Trio
Manhattan (Garrick Gaieties, Act 2)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Fred Hersch, piano
Mountain Greenery (1926 Garrick Gaieties)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Fred Hersch, piano
Carousel Orchestra Suite
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Erich Kunzel, conductor
Here in my Arms (Dearest Enemy, Act 1)
Doris Day, vocalist
Axel Stordahl and his Orchestra
The Page Cavanaugh Trio
Bye and Bye (Dearest Enemy, Act 2)
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano
London Symphony Orchestra
John McGlinn, conductor
Blue Room (The Girl Friend, Act 1)
Ella Fitzgerald
Studio Ensemble
Atlantic Blues (Lido Lady, Act 3)
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano
London Symphony Orchestra
John McGlinn, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002j4m4)
Live music and news from the world of classical
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002j4m6)
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002j4m8)
Bizet and Strauss from the Edinburgh International Festival
Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky brings the virtuoso string players of his NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra to the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival.
As part of the festival’s celebration of Polish culture the orchestra showcase the Concerto for String Orchestra by the ‘first lady of Polish music’, Grażyna Bacewicz; Richard Strauss’ intense and brooding 'Metamorphosen'; and film composer Wojciech Kilar’s mountain-scape inspired 'Orawa'.
And they are joined by a quintet of Scottish percussionists for an idiosyncratically technicolour adaptation of Bizet’s music from Carmen by Rodion Shchedrin.
Recorded at The Usher Hall, Edinburgh, as part of the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival
Presented by Stephen Broad
Grażyna Bacewicz: Concerto for String Orchestra
Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen
Wojciech Kilar: Orawa
George Bizet/Rodion Shchedrin: Carmen Suite
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
Alexander Sitkovetsky, violinist and conductor
MON 21:45 The Essay (m002j4mb)
Symphony of the Wild
1. Noise Meets Music
Music is thought to be a phenomenon unique to humans. But does it echo much deeper into the story of life on earth? Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of East Anglia is on a mission to uncover a world of unexpected rhythm and melody across nature and in doing so, question our assumptions about the boundaries of musical expression and its role.
From melodic songbirds, to frogs chirping through the night, to whales mournfully calling across the oceans, nature is full of fantastic music. Not all of it sounds pleasant to the human ear, yet it's hard not to admire the way animals make such complex and astounding noises. In his search to discover if musicality is something with a long evolutionary history that we share with other animals, Ben begins by exploring the blurred line where noise meets music, cacophony slips into melody and racket is replaced by rhythm.
With contributions from naturalist and musician Prof. David Rosenberg from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Dr Emily Doolittle, Athenaeum Research Fellow and lecturer in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Written and presented by Professor Ben Garrod
Produced by Adrian Washbourne
Mixed by Julian Mayers
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
A YadaYada Production for BBC Radio 3
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002j4mf)
A meditative moonlight soundtrack
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 (m002j4mh)
Cécile McLorin Salvant's 4/4
‘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.
From Monday to Thursday this week, Soweto is joined by French-American composer, singer, visual artist and master storyteller Cécile McLorin Salvant. Cécile is internationally celebrated for her vocal dexterity and daring, her compositional inventiveness, and is recognised as one of contemporary jazz’s leading singers. Among her many accolades Cécile has won three Grammy Awards, the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2010, and is a MacArthur Fellow.
Her music weaves a broad range of influences including jazz, baroque, folkloric music and vaudeville, always with humour and inquisitiveness. A multi-linguist, Cécile sings in French and English, as well as Occitan and Haitian Kreyòl.
Cécile’s new album “Oh Snap” is out this Friday 19th September.
To begin her week as Soweto’s 4/4 guest, Cécile chooses to spotlight a record by a vocalist, poet, and an early champion of bebop.
There’s also music tonight from J.A.M. String Collective, Fabia Mantwill Orchestra, and Sloth Racket.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
TUESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2025
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002j4mk)
Shostakovich and Mahler from the Lucerne Festival
Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra and conductor Paavo Järvi. The second half of the concert features Mahler's Symphony no.1 'Titan'. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Cello Concerto no 1 in E flat major, Op 107
Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi (conductor)
01:00 AM
Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996)
Sarabande, from '24 Preludes for Cello Solo', Op 100 no 18
Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello)
01:04 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Symphony no 1 in D major, 'Titan'
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi (conductor)
02:00 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Valse Triste, from 'Kuolema, Op 44'
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi (conductor)
02:06 AM
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975), arr. Levon Atovmyan (arranger)/Bläserserenaden Zurich
5 works for violin and piano arr. for flute, bassoon and harp
Andrea Kollé (flute), Maria Wildhaber (bassoon), Sarah Verrue (harp)
02:16 AM
Duri Sialm (1891-1961)
La Ventira (Happiness)
Chor da concert Grischun, Alvin Muoth (director)
02:22 AM
Henry Eccles (c.1675-1745)
Sonata undecimo in G minor
Ilia Korol (violin), Jermaine Sprosse (harpsichord)
02:31 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony no 22 in E flat major, 'The Philosopher', H.
1.22
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Marc Minkowski (conductor)
02:51 AM
Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)
String Quartet no 5
Silesian String Quartet
03:17 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Andreas Staier/Tobias Koch
Vom Himmel hoch - canonic variations BWV.769 arr piano
Andreas Staier (piano), Tobias Koch (piano)
03:30 AM
Bo Holten (b. 1948)
Nordisk Suite
Hanne Hohwü (soprano), Birgitte Moller (soprano), Det Jyske Kammerkor, Mogens Dahl (conductor)
03:41 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken, Marcello Viotti (conductor)
03:52 AM
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Prelude for guitar no 3 in A minor
Norbert Kraft (guitar)
03:59 AM
Willem De Fesch (1687-1761)
Violin Concerto in C minor, Op 5 no 5
Manfred Kraemer (violin), Musica ad Rhenum
04:09 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Four Mazurkas
Ashley Wass (piano)
04:19 AM
Joseph Kuffner (1776-1856)
Clarinet Quintet (Introduction, theme and variations) in B flat major, Op 32
Jože Kotar (clarinet), Slovene Philharmonic String Quartet
04:31 AM
Henry Charles Litolff (1818-1891)
Scherzo - Concerto Symphonique no 4, Op 102
Arthur Ozolins (piano), Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
04:39 AM
Anonymous
Ave Potentissima, Geistliches Konzert for soprano, 2 violins
Kamila Zajícková (soprano), Musica Aeterna Bratislava, Peter Zajicek (director)
04:47 AM
Ludomir Różycki (1883-1953)
Symphonic Poem: Mona Lisa Gioconda, Op 31
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wojciech Czepiel (conductor)
04:57 AM
Martin Vogt (1781-1854)
Six Short Pieces for Organ
Jürg Neuenschwander (organ)
05:03 AM
Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)
Les Larmes de Jacqueline
Hee-Song Song (cello), Myung-Seon Kye (piano)
05:10 AM
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Hamlet - fantasy overture, Op 67
BBC Philharmonic, Vassily Sinaisky (conductor)
05:28 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
String Quartet in D major, D.74
Quartetto Bernini
05:52 AM
Francesco Mancini (1672-1727)
Missa Septimus
Claire Lefilliâtre (soprano), Marnix De Cat (alto), Han Warmelinck (tenor), Currende, Erik van Nevel (director)
06:18 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Une Barque sur l'ocean (no 3 from Miroirs)
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Aadland (conductor)
06:26 AM
Carl Czerny (1791-1857)
Etude in G flat major
Stefan Lindgren (piano)
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002j695)
The finest classical music to elevate your morning
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 (m002j697)
The very best of classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
TUE 13:00 Classical Live (m002j699)
Elgar, Chopin and Bach from the Edinburgh International Festival
Highlights from this summer's Edinburgh International Festival plus Shostakovich from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and John Storgards, introduced by Linton Stephens.
Throughout the week, Classical Live is featuring specially recorded highlights from this summer's Edinburgh International Festival. The NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra and director Alexander Sitkovetsky perform the much loved Serenade by Elgar, Canadian pianist Ryan Wang performs Chopin, the Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble perform concertos by Bach and violinist Bomsori Kim reflects on Faure with pianist Thomas Hoppe.
Plus, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra continues its exploration of the music of Dmitri Shostakovich, marking 50 years since his death. Today, cellist Istvan Vardai joins the orchestra to perform Cello Concerto No. 2, conducted by John Storgards.
We will also hear soprano Carolyn Sampson join forces with pianist James Middleton to perform two melodious works by Franz Schubert - Wiegenlied and Du Bist Die Ruh.
Edward Elgar
Serenade for Strings, Op. 20
Nicola Benedetti (violin)
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
Alexander Sitkovetsky (director & violin)
Frédéric Chopin
Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op. 35
Ryan Wang (piano)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concerto No 2 in E major, BWV1042
Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble
Gabriel Faure
Violin Sonata No 1 in A major, Op. 13
Bomsori Kim (violin)
Thomas Hoppe (piano)
Dmitri Shostakovich
Cello Concerto No. 2
Istvan Vardai (cello)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgards (conductor)
Franz Schubert
Wiegenlied (Wie Sich Der Auglein Kindlicher Himmel) D867
Carolyn Sampson (soprano)
James Middleton (piano)
Franz Schubert
Du Bist Die Ruh D776
Carolyn Sampson (soprano)
James Middleton (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
TUE 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002j69c)
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
A Love Story
Donald Macleod explores the the life and work of American music-theatre giant, Richard Rodgers. Today, Rodgers meets the woman who'll become his wife and we see his partnership with lyricist Lorenz Hart flourish, with new commissions arriving from Broadway and Hollywood.
With a song in my Heart (Spring is here)
José Carreras, tenor
Los Angeles Music Centre Opera Chorus
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Zubin Metha, conductor
Isn’t it romantic (Love me tonight)
Ella Fitzgerald, vocals
Studio orchestra
Buddy Bergman, conductor
My Heart Stood Still (A Connecticut Yankee, Act 1)
Mario Lanza, vocals
Studio orchestra
Thou Swell (A Connecticut Yankee, Act 1)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
David Garrison, vocals
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor
Richard Rodgers, arr. Angela Morley
Lover (Love me tonight)
The Boston Pops Orchestra
John Williams, conductor
Richard Rodgers, arr. Angela Morley
My Funny Valentine (Babes in Arms, Act 1)
The Boston Pops Orchestra
John Williams, conductor
Ten Cents A Dance (Simple Simon)
Ruth Etting, vocalist
Studio orchestra
Dancing On The Ceiling (Ever Green)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor
A Ship Without A Sail (Heads Up)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor
You Are Too Beautiful (Hallelujah, I’m a Bum)
Cannonball Adderley, saxophone
Studio Orchestra
Richard Hayman, conductor
It’s Easy To Remember (Mississippi)
Dean Martin, vocals
Studio Orchestra
Gus Levene, conductor
My Romance (Jumbo)
Tony Bennett, vocals
Ruby Braff, cornet
George Barnes, guitar
Wayne Wright, guitar
John Giuffrida, bass
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (On Your Toes)
New York Philharmonic
Richard Rodgers, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002j69g)
In session with stellar classical artists
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002j69j)
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002j69l)
Edinburgh International Festival: Ian Bostridge and Antonio Pappano
Ian Bostridge, Antonio Pappano & Members of the LSO perform Britten, Vaughan Williams and Elgar at the Edinburgh International Festival 2025.
With conductor and pianist Antonio Pappano at the piano, one of the most notable singers of today, Ian Bostridge, first performs Benjamin Britten’s collection of songs, Winter Words, which set eight poems by Thomas Hardy and in turn bringing one of Britten’s most personal and heartfelt compositions to life.
This is followed by Ralph Vaughan Williams 1909 song Cycle, On Wenlock Edge, which sets poems by AE Houseman and the “French Polish” of his recent lessons with Maurice Ravel can be heard in this sophisticated composition for string quartet, piano and voice.
In the second half the LSO String players and Antonio Pappano perform Elgar’s Piano Quintet in A Minor from 1918. Composed at the end of World War I, and one of Elgar’s final works, it is a powerful and very human response to the horrors of the previous years.
Recorded at the Queens Hall Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh International Festival on 13th August 2025.
Presented by Donald MacLeod
Britten Winter Words, Op.52
Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge (1909)
Interval
Elgar Piano Quintet in A Minor, Op.84 (1918–19)
Tenor - Ian Bostridge - Tenor
Piano - Sir Antonio Pappano
Members of the LSO Strings:
Benjamin Gilmore - Violin 1, Julián Gil Rodríguez - Violin 2
Eivind Ringstad - Viola, David Cohen - Cello
TUE 21:45 The Essay (m002j69n)
Symphony of the Wild
2. Singing, Humming and Strumming
Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of East Anglia is on a mission to uncover a world of unexpected rhythm and melody across nature. In doing so, he questions our assumptions about the boundaries of musical expression and its role. Is musicality something with a long evolutionary history that we share with other animals?
There's more to animal calls than just taking a deep breath and hollering. Some animals play their bodies like instruments, and others make sounds that we as humans need sensitive technology to decipher. Ben explores hard percussive patterns intricate skipping and melodious song that opens our minds to nature’s capacity to create musical forms. In crossing the sound barrier into a world of sonorous calls from humpback whales, he explores how, like us, animal-produced music is subject to culture, trends and regional dialects.
With contributions from naturalist and musician Prof. David Rosenberg from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Dr Emily Doolittle, Athenaeum Research Fellow and lecturer in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Presented by Professor Ben Garrod
Produced by Adrian Washbourne
Mixed by Julian Mayers
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
A YadaYada Production for BBC Radio 3
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002j69q)
Music for the darkling hour
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 (m002j69s)
One from Melba Liston
‘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.
Maverick French-American singer and composer Cécile McLorin Salvant is back with her second 4/4 pick of the week. Tonight she chooses an album by a jazz giant, which includes a track that regular listeners will be very familiar with by now.
Also in the programme, music from Sons of Kemet, Laura Cole, and Alice Zawadzki.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2025
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002j69v)
Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bacewicz and Mozart from Stockholm
Cellist Nicolas Altstaedt joins the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Maxim Emelyanychev in Grażyna Bacewicz's Cello concerto no 2 plus works by Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Mozart. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Love for Three Oranges op 33a - Suite
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
12:47 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
12:57 AM
Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)
Cello Concerto no 2
Nicolas Altstaedt (cello), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
01:14 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 41 in C K 551 'Jupiter'
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
01:55 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Sonata no. 1 in F minor Op.80 for violin and piano
Petterli Iivonen (violin), Philip Chiu (piano)
02:25 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Rag-time for 11 instruments
Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Raffi Armenian (director)
02:31 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
24 Preludes, Op 28
Krzysztof Jablonski (piano)
03:08 AM
Franjo von Lucic (1889-1972)
Missa Jubilaris
Ivan Goran Kovacic Academic Chorus, Croatian Army Symphony Wind Orchestra, Unknown (organ), Mladen Tarbuk (conductor)
03:37 AM
Toivo Kuula (1883-1918)
Sorrow for cello and orchestra
Arto Noras (cello), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jorma Panula (conductor)
03:43 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Abegg variations Op 1 for piano
Annika Treutler (piano)
03:51 AM
Erik Satie (1866-1925), arr. Darius Milhaud
Jack-in-the-box pantomime
CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
03:58 AM
Giovanni Rovetta (c.1595-1668), Torquato Tasso (author)
La bella Erminia - from Madrigali concertati a 2.3.4 & uno a sei voci
Consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley (director)
04:06 AM
Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817-1890)
Ved solnedgang (At sunset) for choir and orchestra, Op 46
Danish National Radio Choir, Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Roman Zeilinger (conductor)
04:13 AM
Josef Suk (1949-2011)
Elegy Op 23 arr. for piano trio
Trio Lorenz
04:21 AM
Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762), arr. Johann Georg Pisendel
Sonata a 4 in C minor
Andrea Buccarella (harpsichord), Kore Orchestra
04:31 AM
Fredrik Pacius (1809-1891)
Overture from the Hunt of King Charles
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
04:38 AM
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
Polish Dances
Jerzy Godziszewski (piano)
04:47 AM
Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782)
Quintet for flute, oboe, violin, viola & basso continuo in G major, Op 11 no 2
Les Adieux
04:56 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Laudate Pueri - motet, Op 39 no 2
Polyphonia, Ivelina Ivancheva (piano), Ivelin Dimitrov (conductor)
05:05 AM
Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)
Concertino in E flat, Op 26
Arthur Stockel (clarinet), Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, Paweł Kapuła (conductor)
05:15 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Samuil Yevgenyevich Feinberg
Largo from Trio Sonata in C major (BWV.529) arr. for piano
Sergei Terentjev (piano)
05:25 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony no 1 in C major, Op 21
Danish Radio Chamber Orchestra, Ádám Fischer (conductor)
05:51 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Sonata for piano 4 hands in D major, K 381
Vilma Rindzeviciute (piano), Irina Venckus (piano)
06:01 AM
Antoine Reicha (1770-1836)
Oboe Quintet in F major, Op 107
Les Adieux
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002j6hm)
Kickstart your day with the best classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
WED 09:30 Essential Classics (m002j6hs)
Relax into the day with classical
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
WED 13:00 Classical Live (m002j6hx)
BBC Philharmonic perform Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony
Specially recorded highlights from this summer's Edinburgh International Festival plus an exploration of the music of Shostakovich from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, introduced by Linton Stephens.
Throughout the week, Classical Live brings you specially recorded highlights from the Edinburgh International Festival. Today, the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra and director Alexander Sitkovetsky perform one of Bach's best loved concertos; violinist Bomsori Kim plays music by Wieniawski and Bacewicz with pianist Thomas Hoppe and Canadian pianist Ryan Wang returns with more from the pen of Chopin.
Plus, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra continues its focus on the music of Dmitri Shostakovich, marking 50 years since his death. Today, the powerful and autobiographical Chamber Symphony Op. 110a, the transcription for orchestra of the composer's best known string quartet, conducted by Anna Rakitina.
We will also hear mezzo soprano Sophie Rennert join forces with pianist James Middleton to perform a group of songs by Franz Schubert, recorded at London's Wigmore Hall.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV. 1043
Nicola Benedetti (violin)
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
Alexander Sitkovetsky (direction and violin)
Henryk Wieniawski
Faust Fantasy Op. 20
Bomsori Kim (violin)
Thomas Hoppe (piano)
Frédéric Chopin
Variations on ‘La ci darem la mano’, Op. .2
Ryan Wang (piano)
Dmitri Shostakovich (arr. Rudolf Barshai)
Chamber Symphony Op. 110a
BBC Philharmonic
Anna Rakitina (conductor)
Franz Schubert
Schwestergruß D762
Der Tod und das Mädchen D531
Der Zwerg D771
Auflösung D807
Sophie Rennert (mezzo)
Joseph Middleton (piano)
Grażyna Bacewicz
Kaprys Polski
Bomsori Kim (violin)
Thomas Hoppe (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002j6j2)
Truro Cathedral
From Truro Cathedral.
Introit: Yesu, drudh a hwans an werin (Bach, trans. Poppy Carlton)
Responses: Gabriel Jackson
Psalm 89 (Goss, Day, Battishill)
First Lesson: Judges 4 vv1-10
Canticles: The Truro Canticles (Dobrinka Tabakova)
Second Lesson: Romans 1 vv 8-17
Anthem: Give unto the Lord (Elgar)
Voluntary: Fête (Langlais)
James Anderson-Besant (Director of Music)
Andrew Wyatt (Assistant Director of Music)
Recorded 4 March.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002j6jb)
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
Bliss and Disharmony
Donald Macleod follows the Broadway composer as he looks for a new collaborator. This was a period of increasing disharmony with his current partner, Lorenz Hart, who was becoming consumed by alcoholism. Rodgers set his sights on lyricist, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Oklahoma becomes the first of many 'Rodgers and Hammerstein' hit shows.
There’s a small hotel (On Your Toes)
Kay Coulter, vocals
Bobby Van, vocals
Studio Orchestra
Salvatore Dell’Isola, director
Johnny One-Note (Babes in Arms)
Judy Kaye, vocals
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Evans Haile, conductor
Where or When (Babes in Arms)
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano
London Symphony Orchestra
John McGlinn, conductor
This can’t be love (The Boys from Syracuse)
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano
London Symphony Orchestra
John McGlinn, conductor
Spring is Here (I married an Angel)
Ted McNabb & Co.
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (Too Many Girls)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor
Pal Joey Overture
Studio orchestra
Lehman Engel, conductor
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Pal Joey)
Vivienne Segal, vocals
Studio orchestra
Lehman Engel, conductor
State Fair Orchestral Suite
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Erich Kunzel, conductor
Ev’ry Sunday Afternoon (Higher and Higher)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Studio Orchestra
Eric Stern, conductor
Wait Till You See Him (By Jupiter)
Doris Day, vocals
Andre Previn, piano
Oklahoma! Orchestral Suite
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Erich Kunzel, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002j6jj)
World-class classical music – live
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002j6jn)
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002j6js)
Edinburgh International Festival: Bernstein & Stravinsky
The highly in-demand conductor Karina Canellakis returns to the Edinburgh International Festival to lead this monumental programme with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, characterised by thrilling sounds and ideas of love, divine or human.
The moving symphonic work Les Offrandes Oubliées made Olivier Messiaen's name aged just 22, his devout Catholicism driving this three-part meditation on eternal mysteries and human sin.
When the Dean of Chichester Cathedral commissioned Leonard Bernstein to write the Chichester Psalms in 1965, he hinted they'd be delighted if it had ‘something of the West Side Story’ about it. Bernstein came through. Its jazzy inflections promise a thrilling workout for the Festival Chorus and emotive countertenor Hugh Cutting.
For the finale, Igor Stravinsky's dazzling 1911 ballet Petrushka is brilliantly reorchestrated by the composer in 1947 for the concert platform.
Recorded at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on 21 August 2025, presented by Donald Macleod.
Messiaen: Les offrandes oubliées
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
c.
8:15pm
interval
c.
8.35pm
Stravinsky: Petrushka (1947 version)
Hugh Cutting, countertenor
James Grossmith, chorus Director
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
Karina Canellakis, conductor
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
WED 21:45 The Essay (m002j6jx)
Symphony of the Wild
3. Plant Rhythms
Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of East Anglia is on a mission to uncover a world of unexpected rhythm and melody across the natural world. Might a truly universal sense of musicality exist across nature?
Ben eavesdrops on some of the most primitive sources of wild music. Could plants be the most oldest and most unexpected musicians in nature? From the flora in the tallest towering forests to aquatic plants deep within in ponds and rivers, sounds are being produced in abundance. Some appear passively acoustic whilst others are buzzing and rhythmically popping and creating what some hear as music at a truly fundamental level. It hints at the possibility of an archaic plant based proto-music, an almost constant rhythmic companion throughout the evolutionary journey of life on our planet.
With contributions from palaeobotanist Mary Gagen, Professor of physical geography at Swansea University; David De La Haye, aquatic ecological sound artist.
Presented by Professor Ben Garrod
Produced by Adrian Washbourne
Mixed by Julian Mayers
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
A YadaYada Production for BBC Radio 3
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002j6k1)
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.
WED 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002j6k6)
Brand new from Levitation Orchestra
‘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.
Cécile McLorin Salvant has a third record from her eclectic collection to share tonight. And this time, it’s from the catalogue of one of jazz’s totemic vocalists that showcases the breath of their musical influences.
Also tonight, there is music from Kianja, Ami Taf Ra, and Harper Trio.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2025
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002j6kb)
Bach, Biber and Buxtehude from Bucharest
Bach, Biber, Buxtehude with Mira Glodeanu and the SEMPRE baroque music ensemble. Penny Gore presents
12:31 AM
Matthias Weckmann (1616-1674)
Toccata no 10 in D minor
Raluca Enea (harpsichord)
12:34 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Mystery (Rosary) Sonata no 1 'The Annunciation'
Sempre baroque music ensemble
12:41 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Violin Sonata in G BWV 1021
Mira Glodeanu (baroque violin), Sempre baroque music ensemble
12:49 AM
Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Trio Sonata in A minor BuxWV 272
Sempre baroque music ensemble
12:57 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Mystery (Rosary) Sonata no 10 'The Crucifixion'
Sempre baroque music ensemble
01:05 AM
Matthias Weckmann (1616-1674), Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Toccata no 9 in D minor; Mystery (Rosary) Sonata no 16 'The Guardian Angel'
Mira Glodeanu (baroque violin), Raluca Enea (harpsichord)
01:18 AM
Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Trio Sonata in D minor, BuxWV 257
Mira Glodeanu (baroque violin), István Csata (viola da gamba), Sempre baroque music ensemble
01:27 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Musical Offering in C minor, BWV.1079
Nova Stravaganza, Wilbert Hazelzet (flute), Lisa Marie Landgraf (violin), Dimitri Dichtiar (cello), Siegbert Rampe (harpsichord)
02:16 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Crucifixus and Resurrexit (part of Credo) from Missa Sancti Henrici
Regensburger Domspatzen, Collegium Aureum, Herbert Metzger (organ), Georg Ratzinger (conductor)
02:20 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
4 Lieder from the Schemelli songbook (BWV.443, 468, 470 & 439)
Bernarda Fink (mezzo soprano), Domen Marincic (gamba), Dalibor Miklavcic (organ)
02:31 AM
Johan Svendsen (1840-1911)
Symphony no 2 in B flat major, Op 15
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Susanna Mälkki (conductor)
03:05 AM
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
Piano Sonata no 2 in A major, Op 21
Jerzy Godziszewski (piano)
03:34 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
3 Chansons for unaccompanied chorus
BBC Singers, Alison Smart (soprano), Judith Harris (mezzo soprano), Daniel Auchincloss (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
03:41 AM
Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840)
Moses fantaisie (after Rossini) arr. unknown for double bass and piano
Gary Karr (double bass), Harmon Lewis (piano)
03:49 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Concerto in A minor for Two Recorders, TWV.52:a2
Lea Sobbe (recorder), Hojin Kwon (recorder), Jörg-Andreas Bötticher (harpsichord), Schola Cantorum Basiliensis Instrumental Ensemble
03:59 AM
Rudolf Matz (1901-1988)
Ballade for violin, cello & piano
Zagreb Piano Trio
04:07 AM
Bernat Vivancos (b.1973)
Nigra sum
Latvijas Radio Koris, Sigvards Kļava (conductor)
04:16 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Rondo in C minor Wq.59`4 for keyboard
Andreas Staier (fortepiano)
04:21 AM
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
Oboe Concerto in E flat (arr for trumpet)
Geoffrey Payne (trumpet), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Halász (conductor)
04:31 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Prague Waltzes, B.99
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Štefan Róbl (conductor)
04:39 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Four Mazurkas, Op 30
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
04:48 AM
Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927)
Varnatt (Spring Night)
Swedish Radio Choir, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stefan Sköld (conductor)
04:57 AM
Howard Cable (1920-2016)
The Banks of Newfoundland
Hannaford Street Silver Band, Stephen Chenette (conductor)
05:05 AM
Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Introduction and variations on Mozart's 'O cara armonia' for guitar, Op 9
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar)
05:14 AM
Francesco Cavalli (1602-1676)
Lauda Jerusalem (Psalm 147, 'How good it is to sing praises to our God')
Concerto Palatino
05:23 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Cello Sonata in A minor, Op 36
Truls Mørk (cello), Håvard Gimse (piano)
05:51 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata in C major K.545 (1778)
Vanda Albota (piano)
06:02 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), arr. Edmund Rubbra
25 Variations and fugue on a theme by G F Handel, Op 24
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Johannes Fritzsch (conductor)
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002j4mx)
Embrace the morning calm of classical music and birdsong
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 (m002j4mz)
Celebrating classical greats
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
THU 13:00 Classical Live (m002j4n1)
Chopin, Bach and Szymanowski from the Edinburgh International Festival
More specially recorded highlight's from this summer's Edinburgh International Festival plus music from Dmitri Shostakovich written for production of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Introduced by Linton Stephens.
Throughout the week, Classical Live is turning its attention to the recent Edinburgh International Festival brining you specially recorded highlights including Canadian pianist Ryan Wang performing Chopin; Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble performing concertos by Bach; and violinist Bomsori Kim in concert with pianist Thomas Hoppe.
Also in the programme, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra perform music by Dmitri Shostakovich, marking 50 years since his death. Today, the orchestra perform the dark and satirical Suite from the Soviet film version of Shakespeare's Hamlet', conducted by Gergely Madaras.
We will also hear tenor Ilker Arcayurek join forces with pianist Malcolm Martineau to perform much loved songs by Franz Schubert.
Frédéric Chopin
24 Preludes, Op. 28
Ryan Wang (piano)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concerto in G Minor BWV.1056R
Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 in B minor "Unfinished"
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Ben Gernon (conductor)
Karol Szymanowski
Nocturne and Tarantella Op. 28
Bomsori Kim (violin)
Thomas Hoppe (piano)
Franz Schubert
An die untergehende Sonne D457
Ilker Arcayurek (tenor)
Malcolm Martineau (piano)
Dmitri Shostakovich
Suite from 'Hamlet' Op. 32a
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Gergely Madaras (conductor)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
THU 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002j6qj)
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
Reaching New Heights
Donald Macleod explores the early collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, including celebrated Broadway shows: Oklahoma, Carousel and South Pacific. It wasn’t all huge hits for the new dynamic duo though, as the critics and the cast were not keen on their third stage musical, Allegro.
Have you met Miss Jones? (I’d Rather be Right)
Frank Sinatra, vocals
Billy May and his orchestra
Oh what a beautiful morning (Oklahoma, Act I)
Graham Bickley, vocals
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
David Firman, conductor
It Might As Well Be Spring (State Fair, Act I)
Andrea McArdle (Margy Frake), vocals
Studio Orchestra
Kay Cameron, conductor
It’s A Grand Night For Singing (State Fair, Act I)
Original Broadway Company
Studio Orchestra
Kay Cameron, conductor
If I loved you (Carousel, Act I)
Joshua Henry (Billy Bigelow), vocals
Jessie Mueller (Julie Jordan), vocals
Studio orchestra
Andy Einhorn, conductor
You’ll Never Walk Alone (Carousel, Act II)
Renée Fleming (Nettie Fowler), soprano
Studio orchestra
Andy Einhorn, conductor
Allegro (excerpt)
Istropolis Philharmonic Orchestra
Larry Blank, conductor
Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific, Act I)
José Carreras, tenor
London Symphony Orchestra
Jonathan Tunick, conductor
Overture from South Pacific
South Pacific Orchestra
Jonathan Tunick, conductor
I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair (South Pacific, Act 1)
Kelli O’Hara, vocal
South Pacific Chorus
South Pacific Orchestra
Ted Sperling, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002j4n3)
The classical soundtrack for your evening
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002j4n5)
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002j4n7)
Edinburgh International Festival: Mendelssohn's Elijah
Conductor Thomas Søndergård and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra are joined by the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and a host of soloists at the Usher Hall for a performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio- Elijah- the closing concert of this year's Edinburgh International Festival.
Featuring baritone Christopher Maltman in the role of Elijah, soprano Mari Eriksmoen as The Widow, soprano Karen Cargill as An Angel, and tenor Ben Bliss as Obadiah.
Presented by Stephen Broad
THU 21:45 The Essay (m002j4n9)
Symphony of the Wild
4. Wild Soundscapes
Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of East Anglia is on a mission to uncover a world of unexpected rhythm and melody across the natural world. Might a truly universal sense of musicality exist across nature?
In this essay, Ben shifts his focus away from individual birds calling out at dawn, the solo songs of talented humpback whales or the musicality of eerie botanical arias from forests to a wider more collaborative scale. Like any good orchestral piece, is music in nature to be found in a symphony of wild musicians all playing together to create what we might call a musical soundscape?
He examines the dawn chorus to weigh up whether individual singers are all at the mercy of individual selection communicating simply to defend territory and attract a mate. Or is there a more intimate relationship within these wild songs with different species playing alongside one another harmoniously?
With contributions from Simon Butler Professor of Applied Ecology at the University of East Anglia; musician and naturalist Professor David Rosenberg from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Presented by Professor Ben Garrod
Produced by Adrian Washbourne
Mixed by Julian Mayers
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
A YadaYada Production for BBC Radio 3
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002j4nc)
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.
THU 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002j4nf)
Fresh from Ife Ogunjobi
‘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.
All this week composer, singer and visual artist Cécile McLorin Salvant has been selecting some of the albums from her collection that have helped shape her musical journey so far. To conclude her week, Cécile chooses a record by one of Spain’s legendary musicians that is steeped in passion and musical virtuosity.
There is also music from Balimaya Project, tyroneisaacstuart, and Lynda Dawn.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'
FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2025
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002j4nh)
Carnival - A Musical Portrait of Brahms and Saint-Saëns
Cellist Andrei Ioniţă and friends play Brahms and Saint-Saëns including Carnival of the Animals at a concert in the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Cello Sonata no 1 in E minor, Op 38
Andrei Ioniță (cello), Daria Tudor (piano)
12:54 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Clarinet Sonata in F minor, Op 120 no 1
Anna Hashimoto (clarinet), Florian Mitrea (piano)
01:15 AM
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Danse macabre, Op 40
Daria Tudor (piano), Florian Mitrea (piano)
01:24 AM
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Carnival of the Animals
Andrei Ioniță (cello), Daria Tudor (piano), Anna Hashimoto (clarinet), Florian Mitrea (piano), Valentin Șerban (violin), Elisabeta Nedelciu (violin), Alexandru Spînu (viola), Vlad Silaev (double bass), Ioana Balașa (flute), Ilinca Lorentz (percussion), Bogdan Constantin (percussion)
01:47 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Symphony no 3 in F major, Op 90
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Juanjo Mena (conductor)
02:22 AM
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Saltarelle, Op 74
Lamentabile Consort, Jan Strömberg (tenor), Gunnar Andersson (tenor), Bertil Marcusson (baritone), Olle Sköld (bass)
02:28 AM
François Schubert (1808-1878), arr. Pau Casals
Die Biene (The Bee) or L'Abeille – from 12 Bagatelles, Op 13 no 9
Jan-Erik Gustafsson (cello), Heini Kärkkäinen (piano)
02:31 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Ferruccio Busoni
Keyboard Concerto no 1 in D minor, BWV.1052
Teo Gheorghiu (piano), Musica Vitae Chamber Orchestra
02:51 AM
Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377)
La Messe de Nostre Dame
Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly (conductor)
03:22 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Sonetto 123 di Petrarca (S.158 No.3): Io vidi in terra angelici costumi
Janina Fialkowska (piano)
03:29 AM
Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)
Polovtsian dances (Prince Igor)
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Challender (conductor)
03:40 AM
Carl Ludwig Lithander (1773-1843)
Divertimento no 1 for flute and fortepiano
Mikael Helasvuo (flute), Tuija Hakkila (pianoforte)
03:49 AM
Erkki Melartin (1875-1937)
Aino's aria "Tuli kevat, tuli toivo" - from Aino, Op 50
Aulikki Eerola (soprano), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kari Tikka (conductor)
03:56 AM
Clara Schumann (1810-1856)
Quatre pièces fugitives, Op 15
Diana Ketler (piano)
04:09 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Adagietto, from Symphony no 5 in C sharp minor
Berner Kammerorchester, Philippe Bach (conductor)
04:19 AM
Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770), arr. Øivind Westby
Trumpet Concerto in D major
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Argovia Philharmonic, Rune Bergmann (conductor)
04:31 AM
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), arr. Manuel Barrueco
Cádiz, from 'Suite española, Op 47' (1887)
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar)
04:36 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Two Waltzes, Op 54
Sebastian String Quartet
04:43 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Première rapsodie arr. for clarinet and orchestra
Kari Kriikku (clarinet), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
04:52 AM
Bernhard Molique (1802-1869), Giulio Regondi (transcriber), Joseph Petric (arranger), Erica Goodman (arranger)
6 Songs without words
Joseph Petric (accordion), Erica Goodman (harp)
05:05 AM
Johannes Bernardus van Bree (1801-1857)
Concert Overture in B minor
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jac van Steen (conductor)
05:16 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata no 12 in F major, K.332
Annie Fischer (piano)
05:31 AM
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op 35
Joshua Bell (violin), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
06:06 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
3 Mazurkas, Op 56
Szymon Nehring (piano)
06:19 AM
Lazaro Valvasensi (1585-1661), Giovanni Battista Buonamente (1595-1642)
O quam suavis est Domine spiritus tuus; Sonata decima sopra Cavaletto zoppo
Andrea Inghisciano (cornet), Gawain Glenton (cornet), Giulia Genini (bassoon), Guido Morini (harpsichord), Maria Gonzalez (organ)
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002j6nb)
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’
FRI 09:30 Essential Classics (m002j6nd)
A feast of great music
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”
FRI 13:00 Classical Live (m002j6ng)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra perform Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1
Specially recorded highlights from this summer's Edinburgh International Festival alongside the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in concert with Shostakovich. Presented by Linton Stephens.
Classical Live concludes its week of specially recorded highlights from the Edinburgh International Festival with violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky and the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra performing Andrzej Panufnik's Violin Concerto as part of concert marking the legacy of the great Yehudi Menuhin. South Korean violinist Bomsori Kim is also at Edinburgh, with pianist Thomas Hoppe, performing Polish music, including today, a work by former Polish leader and pianist Ignacy Paderewski. And Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble round up its series of performances of concertos by Bach.
Plus, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra play music by Dmitri Shostakovich, marking 50 years since his death. Today, the orchestra perform the witty and precocious First Symphony, conducted by John Storgards.
Also on the programme, British-Iranian soprano Soraya Mafi and pianist Ian Tindale offer their interpretation of songs by Schubert.
Sergei Prokofiev:
Romeo and Juliet (excerpts)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Gemma New (conductor)
Franz Schubert
Suleika I (Was bedeutet die Bewegung?) D720
Versunken, D715
Soraya Mafi (soprano)
Ian Tindale (piano)
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No. 1
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgards (conductor)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV. 1052R
Kavakos and The Apollon Ensemble
Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Violin Sonata in A Minor, Op. 13
Bomsori Kim (violin)
Thomas Hoppe (piano)
Benjamin Britten
Suite on English folk tunes Op.90 (A time there was...)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth (conductor)
Andrzej Panufnik
Violin Concerto
Alexander Sitkovetsky (direction and violin)
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
FRI 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002j6nj)
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
The Curtain Lowers
Donald Macleod delves into the later career of Broadway giant, Richard Rodgers, including further big hits with Oscar Hammerstein II, such as The Sound of Music and The King and I. After Hammerstein's death in 1960, Rodgers struggles to find the ideal new collaborator for his final five musicals.
I Whistle A Happy Tune (The King and I, Act I)
Julie Andrews (Anna), vocals
Edmund Kingsley (Louis), vocals
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
John Mauceri, conductor
Getting to Know You (The King and I, Act I)
Julie Andrews (Anna), vocals
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
John Mauceri, conductor
I Have Dreamed (The King and I, Act II)
Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone
Orchestra of Opera North
Paul Daniel, conductor
No Other Love (Me and Juliet, Act I)
Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone
Orchestra of Opera North
Paul Daniel, conductor
In my own little corner (Cinderella, Act I)
Julie Andrews (Cinderella), vocals
Studio orchestra
Alfredo Antonini, conductor
I Enjoy Being a Girl (Flower Drum Song, Act I)
Yama Saki (Linda), vocals
London Theatre Orchestra
Robert Lowe, conductor
The Sound Of Music Orchestral Suite
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Erich Kunzel, conductor
Do I Hear a Waltz?
Elizabeth Allen (Leona Samish), vocals
Studio Orchestra
Frederick Dvonch, conductor
The Sweetest Sounds (No Strings, Act I)
Richard Hayman Symphony Orchestra
Away from You (Rex, Act I)
Sarah Brightman, soprano
Studio Orchestra
Harry Rabinowitz, conductor
Climb Ev’ry Mountain - Reprise (The Sound of Music, Act II)
Lesley Garrett (Mother Superior), soprano
London Palladium Cast
London Palladium Theatre Orchestra
Jeremy Sams, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002j6nl)
Live classical music for your commute
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002j6nn)
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
FRI 19:30 Friday Night is Music Night (m002j6nq)
Puttin' on the Ritz
Live from the Lighthouse in Poole. Michael England conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra and West End stars in classic showtunes from the golden age of American musicals.
Presented by Al Ryan.
Gershwin Girl Crazy Overture
Warren The Lullaby of Broadway
Porter I Get A Kick
Gershwin I've Got a Crush on You
Kern I Won’t Dance
Martin The Trolley Song
Berlin Let’s Face the Music & Dance
Youmans Tahiti Trot (Tea for Two)
Berlin Cheek to Cheek
Gershwin The Man I Love
Rodgers The Lady Is A Tramp
Gershwin I’ll Build A Stairway to Paradise
Gershwin Medley
INTERVAL
Rodgers The Girlfriend Overture
Warren I Only Have Eyes for You
Rodgers My Funny Valentine
Porter Well, Did You Evah!
Porter I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Berlin I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
Kern The Way You Look Tonight
Weill Mack the Knife
Berlin Puttin’ on the Ritz
Singers Ashley Day, Haydn Oakley, Bella Brown, Emma Williams
BBC Concert Orchestra
Conductor Michael England
FRI 21:45 The Essay (m002j6ns)
Symphony of the Wild
5. The Hominid Score
Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of East Anglia is on a mission to uncover a world of unexpected rhythm and melody across nature and in doing so, question our assumptions about the boundaries of musical expression and its role.
In this final essay, he draws upon his experiences as a primatologist, having lived and worked alongside monkeys and apes – to understand at which point and why, music features so heavily in our own story. From the practical roles of highly choreographed melodic duets of gibbons to the way creative drumming and calls produced by chimpanzees play in generating emotional states, that shed light on how music has become so influential for us as humans.
With contributions from Dr Dena Clink, bioacoustics researcher at Conell University; Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes, archaeologist, author and honorary research fellow at Universities of Liverpool and Cambridge.
Presented by Professor Ben Garrod
Produced by Adrian Washbourne
Mixed by Julian Mayers
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
A YadaYada Production for BBC Radio 3
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002j6nv)
Journeys in music, ancient to future. The home for adventurous listeners.
FRI 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002j6nx)
Theo Croker in conversation
‘Round Midnight is presented by award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. This weekday late-night show celebrates the thriving UK jazz scene and spotlights the best new music alongside incredible acts from past decades.
Tonight we hear from genre-transcending US trumpeter Theo Croker. Soweto caught up with Theo backstage at the Fire Station in Sunderland ahead of his headline performance at our inaugural ‘Round Midnight Prom in July.
Theo and Soweto discussed everything from the jazz greats he was mentored by, the dissolution of genre, and the power of manifesting.
Also in the programme, Soweto shares more concert highlights from Theo’s ‘Round Midnight Prom performance. Theo was joined by his powerhouse quartet featuring pianist Idris Frederick, bassist Eric Wheeler, and drummer Jeremiah Collier.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight.'