SATURDAY 07 MARCH 2026
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002rst0)
Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610
From the Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm, La fonte musica performs Vespro della Beata Vergine. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Vespro della Beata Vergine
La fonte musica, Michele Pasotti (director)
01:57 AM
Salamone Rossi (1570-1630)
Sinfonia grave a 5 for violin, viols, double harp and lute
Ensemble Daedalus, Roberto Festa (conductor)
02:01 AM
Johann Stadlmayr (c.1580-1648)
Ave Maris Stella
Capella Nova Graz, Otto Kargl (director)
02:07 AM
Marin Marais (1656-1728)
Deuxieme Suite de Pieces en Trio in G minor
La Petite Bande
02:31 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Piano Quartet no 3 in C minor, Op 60, 'Werther'
Håvard Gimse (piano), Stig Nilsson (violin), Anders Nilsson (viola), Romain Garioud (cello)
03:06 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Dichterliebe for voice and piano, Op 48
Ian Bostridge (tenor), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
03:35 AM
Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894)
Espana - rhapsody
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis (conductor)
03:42 AM
Jacques Ibert (1890-1962)
Trois Pieces Breves
Academic Wind Quintet
03:50 AM
Frederick Schipizky (b.1952)
Elegy for solo harp (1980)
Rita Costanzi (harp)
03:57 AM
Duri Sialm (1891-1961)
La Ventira (Happiness)
Chor da concert Grischun, Alvin Muoth (director)
04:03 AM
Johan Svendsen (1840-1911)
Romance for violin & orchestra Op 26 in G major arr. for violin & choir
Borisas Traubas (violin), Polifonija (Lithuanian State Chamber Choir), Sigitas Vaiciulionis (conductor)
04:12 AM
Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (1805-1900)
Etudes instructives, Op 53 (1851)
Nina Gade (piano)
04:22 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op.3'9, RV.230
Fabio Biondi (violin), Europa Galante
04:31 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Finlandia, Op 26
BBC Philharmonic, John Storgårds (conductor)
04:40 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Ballade no 3 in A flat major, Op 47
Nelson Goerner (piano)
04:48 AM
Petko Stainov (1896-1977)
Horsemen, ballad for men's choir
Kaval Men's Choir, Mikhail Angelov (conductor)
04:55 AM
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Invocacion y danza
Sean Shibe (guitar)
05:04 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Sonata in G minor, HWV 360
Bolette Roed (recorder), Allan Rasmussen (harpsichord)
05:12 AM
Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824)
Duo concertante in G major
Alexandar Avramov (violin), Ivan Peev (violin)
05:21 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Louis Schwizgebel (piano)
05:47 AM
Jan van Gilse (1881-1944)
String Quartet (Unfinished, 1922)
Ebony Quartet
05:57 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Symphony no 2 in B flat major D.125
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Staffan Larson (conductor)
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002s4sw)
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 (m002s4sy)
The perfect classical soundtrack to start the weekend!
Sara Mohr-Pietsch sits in for Tom Service, with the best classical music and guests to start your Saturday. As part of the BBC's AI week (2nd-8th March), throughout the morning Sara explores the multi-faceted impact of AI on classical music, from copyright issues facing the industry, to the pros and cons of AI in musical composition, and potential roles for AI in music and health settings.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002mw2q)
Jools with music for Saturday lunchtime
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 guest is the lyricist, songwriter and musician Richard Stilgoe who introduces music he loves by Gluck, Winifred Atwell and Bach.
To listen on most smart speakers just say, "Ask BBC Sounds to play Earlier with Jools Holland".
SAT 13:00 Music Matters (m002s4t0)
Turning the Page
3. The physical challenge
Violinist Tasmin Little speaks to artists about leaving the world of performance behind. This week's focus is on the taboo of injury and the pressure of expectation for soloists.
Cellist Matthew Barley shares his story of a long emotional and physical journey back from a shoulder injury. After visiting 16 doctors in six different countries, he still could not play and was beginning to feel that all hope was lost. Tasmin and Matthew talk about the discipline musicians have developed to achieve their ambitions, and that this mindset can be the enemy when you need to stop and rest.
Katherine Butler, a physiotherapist who specialises in Performing Arts Medicine talks through hyper-mobility and musician's dystonia, two conditions that disproportionally affect musicians and can have a devastating impact.
Produced by Rebecca Gaskell for BBC Audio North.
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002s4t2)
Handel's Dixit Dominus in Building a Library with Mark Lowther & Andrew McGregor
Andrew McGregor with the week's best new classical releases.
2.10pm
Andrew is joined by guest reviewer mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately, who picks four new releases that have caught her ear.
3pm
Building a Library: Mark Lowther surveys some of the many recordings of Handel's Dixit Dominus HWV.232, and makes a personal top recommendation.
Completed in Rome in April 1707, during Handel's 3-year stay there in his early twenties, Dixit Dominus is scored for five solo voices, a five-part chorus, and a string orchestra, also in five parts. It reflects the vitality, vivid colours, landscape, art, music and architecture which captivated Handel during his time in Italy.
3.50pm
Record of the Week: Andrew picks a new release that has most impressed him this week.
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m002s4t4)
Edith speaks to Anthony Willis
Your weekly journey through the world of exceptional film soundtracks and cinematic music, hosted by Edith Bowman.
This week, Edith is joined by American composer and arranger Richard Niles for Harmonising Hollywood, exploring the music of Dave Grusin and one of his standout scores from the 1970s. Presenter Katie Derham also drops in with her Pick of the Flicks, celebrating the music of John Barry. We'll also be speaking with composer Anthony Willis about his score to Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights.
And we’ll be spotlighting some of cinema’s most acclaimed female composers ahead of International Women’s Day, alongside our usual blend of new releases and timeless movie classics.
SAT 17:00 This Classical Life (m002f783)
Jess Gillam with... Lizzie Ball
Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the violinist, singer, educator and event producer Lizzie Ball. Ahead of International Women's Day there is music by Hildegard of Bingen, Missy Mazzoli, Florence Price, Lauryn Hill and Mariana Martines as well as Schubert, Nitin Sawhney and Chopin. Lizzie chats to Jess about her new venture bringing classical music to the iconic jazz club, Ronnie Scott's, and swaps stories about working with industry greats from The Sixteen to Brian Wilson.
To listen on most smart speakers just say, "Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3”.
SAT 18:00 Opera on 3 (m002s4t6)
Verdi's Otello
Another chance to hear Jonas Kaufmann singing the title role of Verdi's Otello from the Royal Opera House, recorded in 2017
Verdi's great Shakespearean tragedy of revenge, this gripping drama about the human psyche pushed to the limits by jealousy stars Jonas Kaufmann as the great general brought low by the evil schemes of his ensign Iago, sung by Marco Vratogna. Maria Agresta is Otellos's innocent and falsely accused wife, Desdemona, in Keith Warner's new production which emphasises the claustrophobia of this all-too-human tragedy. The Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, are conducted by Antonio Pappano. James Naughtie presents this performance, recorded in July 2017, and his guest in the box is Flora Willson.
Otello ..... Jonas Kaufmann (tenor)
Desdemona ..... Maria Agresta (soprano)
Iago ..... Marco Vratogna (baritone)
Cassio ..... Frédéric Antoun (tenor)
Roderigo ..... Thomas Atkins (tenor)
Emilia ..... Kai Rüütel (mezzo-soprano)
Montano ..... Simon Shibambu (bass)
Lodovico ..... In Sung Sim (bass)
Herald ..... Thomas Barnard (bass-baritone)
Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra
Antonio Pappano (conductor).
SAT 21:30 Music Planet (m002s4t8)
Palestinian nay and percussion
Lopa Kothari presents a special solo session with Palestinian nay virtuoso Faris Ishaq, whose new album Jasad explores the sonic possibilities of this ancient Middle Eastern flute. Accompanied by a leg-mounted frame drum and percussion, Faris's approach to his main instrument makes use of extended techniques, creating percussive sounds, multi-phonics and ethereal melodies that serve the central theme of his practice: the dialogue between breath, body and environment.
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 (m002s4tb)
Shiva Feshareki's DIVINE FEMININE
Kate Molleson introduces Shiva Feshareki's DIVINE FEMININE, hot from its world premiere a couple of nights ago.
For her latest project, Shiva Feshareki has joined forces with the librettist, Karen McCarthy Woolf, choreographer Rebecca Namgauds and creative producer and singer Emma Tring to create DIVINE FEMININE, an immersive spatial opera which invokes ancient feminine deities.
As they sing and recite, the voices of the characters of the opera are transformed electronically on turntables and via a live‑sculpted 360° soundscape of “divine” geometric spatialisation.
Drawing on the duplexities of the Goddess, ancient vocal, and folk traditions from Iran, pre-Christian Ireland, Native America, West and Central Africa, Nordic Europe, Gregorian Europe, Bulgaria, Byzantium, and Assyrian Mesopotamia, the work is a trance-led invocation of transformation and connection to nature and the cosmos.
Karen McCarthy Woolf's libretto includes ballads, anonymous Afghan women's landays and incantatory ghazal from Persia.
As she says: "... In The Divine Feminine we are using our voices to reach up and out, to an inclusive pantheon of deities from a plethora of cultures around the world, in the hope that this connection might do something to correct the patriarchal mess in which we find ourselves!"
Performed at the church of St-Martin-in-the-Fields by the upper voices of the BBC Singers, turntabalist Shiva Fesharekia and singers Emma Tring, Karin de Fleyt, Mary Pearce, with Vox Next Gen conducted by Lucy Goddard.
Co-commissioned by BBC Radio 3.
SUNDAY 08 MARCH 2026
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002s4td)
International Women's Day
Celebrating women in classical music with a concert from the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. They play Louise Farrenc's Symphony no 1 and Clara Schumann's Konzertsatz for piano and orchestra. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Konzertsatz in F minor for piano and orchestra
Can Çakmur (piano), Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, Laurence Equilbey (conductor)
12:44 AM
Louise Farrenc (1804-1875)
Symphony no 1 in C minor, Op 32
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, Laurence Equilbey (conductor)
01:15 AM
Valborg Aulin (1860-1928)
String Quartet in F major
Tale String Quartet
01:41 AM
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
Nocturne for flute and piano
Valentinas Gelgotas (flute), Audrone Kisieliute (piano)
01:44 AM
Maria Antonia Walpurgis (Electress of Saxony) (1724-1780)
Sinfonia from 'Talestri, Regina delle Amazzoni' - Dramma per musica
Batzdorfer Hofkapelle, Tobias Schade (director)
01:51 AM
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Alma Redemptoris Mater & Ave Maria, O auctrix vite
Sequentia, Elizabeth Gaver (medieval fiddle), Elisabetta de Mircovich (medieval fiddle)
02:02 AM
Dora Pejačević (1885-1923)
Piano Quintet in B minor, Op 40
Ida Gamulin (piano), Zagreb Quartet
02:31 AM
Grace Williams (1906-1977)
Symphony no 2
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Martyn Brabbins (conductor)
03:12 AM
Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983)
Sonata for harp
Godelieve Schrama (harp)
03:22 AM
Marianne Martines (1744-1812)
Two arias from 'Sant’Elena al Calvario'
Ilona Domnich (soprano), BBC Concert Orchestra, Jane Glover (conductor)
03:36 AM
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729)
Sonata in D major for 2 violins and continuo
Musica Fiorita, Daniela Dolci (director)
03:45 AM
Dobrinka Tabakova (b.1980)
Pirin for viola
Maxim Rysanov (viola)
03:54 AM
Ruth Watson Henderson (b.1932)
Gloria for SSAA, brass quintet, timpani & percussion
Elmer Iseler Singers, Robert Venables (trumpet), Robert Devito (trumpet), Linda Broncesky (horn), Ian Cowie (trombone), Marc Bonang (tuba), Graham Hargrove (percussion), Nicolas Coulter (percussion), Lydia Adams (conductor)
04:00 AM
Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929)
Concert Overture in D major
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Chloé van Soeterstèd (conductor)
04:12 AM
Rhona Clarke (b.1958)
A Song for St Cecilia's Day
Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Marcus Creed (conductor)
04:18 AM
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Lied (Lenau): Larghetto; Wanderlied: Presto Op 8 nos 3 & 4
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
04:24 AM
Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677)
"Begl'occhi, bel seno" Costumo de grandi for soprano, 2 violins and continuo
Susanne Ryden (soprano), Musica Fiorita, Daniela Dolci (director)
04:31 AM
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Overture in C major
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, Lionel Bringuier (conductor)
04:41 AM
Francesca Caccini (1587-1640)
Maria, dolce Maria - from Il primo libro delle musiche a una, e due voci
Suzie Le Blanc (soprano), Tragicomedia, Stephen Stubbs (director)
04:44 AM
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
Psalm XXIV, LB 36 'La terre appartient à l'Éternel'
Ilker Arcayürek (tenor), Basler Madrigalisten, Babette Mondry (organ), Basel Symphony Orchestra, Ivor Bolton (conductor)
04:49 AM
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Flute Concertino, Op 107
Maria Filippova (flute), Ekaterina Mirzaeva (piano)
04:57 AM
Vivian Fung (b.1975)
Baroque Melting
Bern Symphony Orchestra, Gemma New (conductor)
05:04 AM
Ester Mägi (1922-2021)
Ballad 'Tuule Tuba' (House of Wind)
Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli Akadeemiline Meeskoor [Academic Male Choir of Tallinn T, Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer (conductor)
05:12 AM
Augusta Holmès (1847-1903)
Roland Furieux, Symphony after Ariosto
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Valentina Peleggi (conductor)
05:39 AM
Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940)
Piano Trio in A minor, Op Posth
Gould Piano Trio
06:08 AM
Ruth Gipps (1921-1999)
Wind Sinfonietta, Op 73
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Jonathan Bloxham (conductor)
06:26 AM
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
March of the Women
Isabel Pfefferkorn (mezzo-soprano), Jenny Högström (soprano), Amadeus Wiesensee (piano)
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002s4z4)
Roll out of bed into classical music
Mark Forrest presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say, 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’.
SUN 09:00 Sunday Morning (m002s4z6)
Three hours of classical sparkle
It’s International Women’s Day! Today, Sarah celebrates music by women composers, from nostalgic film music by Rachel Portman, to strident brass in Ruth Gipps’s Knight in Armour and music written especially for a Sunday morning by Margaret Bonds.
There’s also a chance to hear the whole of Louise Farrenc’s soaring first symphony, and music from Caroline Shaw’s Pulitzer Prize winning Partita for 8 Singers is today’s Choral Reflection.
Plus, we travel back to medieval times with Kassia and Hildegard of Bingen…
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3.
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002ggzg)
Penny Woolcock, film director
The writer and film-maker Penny Woolcock can’t be pigeonholed: she’s worked as a director at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and made a film about warring drug gangs on the streets of Birmingham.
A passion for storytelling has driven her career, along with a rebellious streak, perhaps because she’s something of an outsider and never went to university or film school. She often uses non-professional actors in her work, including a staging of Bach’s St Matthew Passion with people who had experienced homelessness. And after completing her movie about rival gangs in Birmingham, she found herself helping to broker a peace deal between two of the actual gang leaders.
Her musical choices include Shostakovich, Britten, Bach and Sibelius.
Producer: Katy Hickman
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002k3t7)
Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto
Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores Clara Schumann's virtuosic Piano Concerto, premiered by the composer when she was just sixteen years old, in a concert conducted by Felix Mendelssohn. As part of the map, Sara includes works by other child prodigies, individuals who were both composers and performers, and traces musical lines to pieces which share similarities with Clara Schumann's only full orchestral work.
Producer: Ben Collingwood
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002rsp8)
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Live from the Chapel of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
Introit: The Lord’s Prayer (Lucy Walker)
Responses: Sasha Johnson Manning
Office hymn: Audi, benigne Conditor (plainsong)
Psalms 22, 23 (Camidge, Ives)
First Lesson: Job 1 vv1-22
Canticles: St Paul’s Service (Joanna Marsh)
Second Lesson: Luke 21 v34 – 22 v6
Anthem: Ash Wednesday (Cecilia McDowall)
Hymn: Forty days and forty nights (Aus der Tiefe)
Voluntary: Prelude & Fugue on ‘O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid’ (Smyth)
David Skinner (Director of Music)
Samuel Kemp, Edward Talbot-Ponsonby (Organ Scholars)
To listen on most smart speakers just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002s4z8)
International Women's Day
Alyn Shipton presents jazz records of all styles as requested by you celebrating International Women's Day with music from harpist Dorothy Ashby and vocalists Etta James, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.
Join our community of jazz lovers. Alyn Shipton is waiting for your requests: email jrr@bbc.co.uk or use #jazzrecordrequests on social.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Jazz Record Requests”.
SUN 17:00 The Early Music Show (m002s4zb)
Pioneering women in early music
As part of Radio 3's programming for International Women's Day, Hannah French and guests celebrate some of the leading female protagonists at the beginnings of the early music movement, including violinists Alice Harnoncourt and Marie Leonhardt, harpsichordist Wanda Landowska, lutenist Diana Poulton and multi-instrumentalist Mary Remnant.
There will also be contributions from some of the current leading lights of the early music scene: harpsichordist Carole Cerasi, lutenist Elizabeth Kenny, multi-instrumentalist Amanda Babington and violinist Rachel Podger.
With music by Hildegard of Bingen, Domenico Scarlatti, JS Bach, Francesco Landini, Adam de la Halle and Nicolas Chedeville.
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 (m0014ymh)
Sisters
For there is no friend like a sister, and in this International Women’s Day edition of Words and Music, readings performed by Pippa Nixon and Sarah Amankwah explore the complex relationships between sisters.
From delighting in each other’s company in a poem by Wordsworth to his sister Dorothy and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice; to seething with jealousy in extracts from Arifa Akbar’s Consumed and CS Lewis’s Narnia; to sadness at parting in Diana Hendry’s Parting and Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half. There are many types of sisters: not just blood relatives, but friends, loved ones, and those rallying together to change the world. Emily Dickinson celebrates a sister-in-law, and Rupi Kaur celebrates sisters-in-heart, while Magi Gibson makes a call to arms for sisters in her poem ‘Wild Women of a Certain Age’.
We also hear about musical sisters Nannerl Mozart and Fanny Mendelssohn, and there are musical figures twisting around one another like sisters in Bach’s Double Concerto and Brahms’s Concerto for Violin and Cello. Our soundtrack also includes piano duets played by the Labeque Sisters, and music from sisters Nadia and Lili Boulanger. We explore jealousy and sadness in songs from Hamilton and by the Unthank Sisters, and celebrate sisterhood with Angelique Kidjo.
Producer: Sofie Vilcins
Image: Susannah Harker (L) and Jennifer Ehle (R) as sisters Jane and Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC's 1996 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice
READINGS:
Christina Rossetti - Goblin Market
William Wordsworth - To My Sister
Spike Milligan - My Sister Laura
Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice
Brit Bennett - The Vanishing Half
Rupi Kaur - It isn’t blood
Emily Dickinson - One Sister Have I In Our House
Colm Tóibín - Brooklyn
Daisy Johnson - Sisters
Diane Hendy - Parting
Vicki Feaver - The Witches
Louisa May Alcott - Little Women
Arifa Akbar - Consumed
CS Lewis - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Letter
Anna Beer - Sounds and Sweet Airs: The Forgotten Women of Classical Music
Cecily Hamilton - Marriage as a Trade
Magi Gibson - Wild Women of a Certain Age
Charlotte Mew - The Peddlar
SUN 19:15 Sunday Feature (m002s4zf)
Richard Strauss and Us
The comedian, actor and keen amateur musician Nick Mohammed charts the ups and down of the UK's relationship with the German composer Richard Strauss. He was first warmly welcomed here as a conductor but within a few years faced censorship by the Lord Chamberlain, who banned his controversial opera Salome until 1907 - and then only allowed a performance of an edited version.
We discover how Strauss's popularity soared and waned according to the politics of the time: the King and Queen eagerly joined huge crowds to see his opera Elektra in London in 1910, and he was awarded an honorary degree from Oxford University in 1914. But with the onset of WWI, MPs objected in parliament to the performance and promotion of German music, and a movement began to support and favour British musicians and composers.
Nick learns how Richard Strauss's position as the "greatest living composer" meant he was courted in the early years of the BBC in the 1920s but how his relationship with the Nazi party led to him being classified as an "alien composer" during WWII and banned from the airwaves. Yet, in October 1947, with London still deeply scarred from German bombing, he returned for a Richard Strauss Festival which concluded with a celebratory concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
We also hear how, after Richard Strauss's death, the Royal Albert Hall was chosen as the site of the world premiere for the Four Last Songs, widely considered one of his most poignant works, written as a profound, intimate farewell to life and art.
The documentary includes new interviews with British soprano Louise Alder, Emeritus Professor of Music at the Royal Academy of Music Raymond Holden, classical music writer Dr Flora Willson, former Radio 3 and Proms controller Nicholas Kenyon, visiting Professor in Music at Royal Holloway Erik Levi, as well as rarely heard archive recordings from conductors Norman Del Mar, Adrian Boult and the singer Lotte Lehmann.
Series Producer: Clare Walker for BBC Audio
With thanks to: actors Sam Swann and Sam Dale, and Louise North at the BBC Written Archive.
SUN 20:00 Record Review (m002s4zh)
Handel's Dixit Dominus
The Building a Library recommended recording from yesterday's Record Review.
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002s4zk)
Lucia Dlugoszewski: Tapping the creative unknown
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 journeys into the unique musical universe of Lucia Dlugoszewski, leading to a full performance of her work for brass and an orchestra of invented percussion instruments 'Tender Theatre Flight Nageire' from the 1970s. We’ll rub shoulders with the avant-garde crowd of New York’s experimental art scene in the 1950s; visit the dance companies of Erick Hawkins and Merce Cunningham; and discover which work John Cage got Dlugoszewski to play to Arnold Schoenberg. Plus, Kate explores Dlugoszewski’s philosophy of musical immediacy.
Produced by Sam Phillips.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3.
To listen on most smart speakers just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play 20th Century Radicals”.
SUN 22:00 Compline (m002s4zm)
Lent 3
A reflective service of night prayer from St John the Evangelist, Hills Road, Cambridge. With words and music for the end of the day, including works by Amy Beach and Amy Summers sung by the University of Cambridge Schola Cantorum.
Introit: Peace I leave with you (Amy Beach)
Preces (Plainsong)
Hymn: O Christ who are both light and day (Plainsong)
Psalm 91 vv1-12 (Plainsong)
Reading: Isaiah 58 vv6-9
Responsory: Into thy hands, O Lord (Plainsong)
Nunc dimittis (Amy Summers)
Lord’s Prayer (Golovanov)
Marian Antiphon: Bogoroditse devo (Kalinnikov)
Graham Walker (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Compline”.
SUN 22:30 Night Tracks (m002s4zp)
Immersive music for after-hours
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack by female composers for late-night listening on International Women's Day, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002b663)
Suzanne Ciani's Listening Chair
Elizabeth Alker welcomes Suzanne Ciani to the Unclassified Listening Chair to share a track that transports her elsewhere. Suzanne is certainly one of the most important figures in the development of electronic music, an early meeting with engineer Don Buchla leading to a long association with the modular synth he developed. Her ongoing work - appearing across five decades in adverts, films and games as well as on albums - has been nominated five times for a Grammy award.
Elsewhere in this programme being broadcast on International Women’s Day, Elizabeth pays tribute to the extraordinary sound pioneer Éliane Radigue, who died in February, having done so much to expand the possibilities of electronic music. Elizabeth also plays new music from Hannah Peel in collaboration with percussionist Bei Bei Wang, and haunting cello loops from Laura Cannell, inspired by 13th-century monophony.
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 09 MARCH 2026
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002s4zr)
BBC Proms 2023: Paradise and the Peri
A rare chance to hear Schumann's opera-oratorio about the child of a fallen angel and a mortal who makes a sequence of offerings to the guardians of Paradise. Simon Rattle conducts the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra and an international cast of soloists. Presented by Penny Gore.
12:31 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Paradise and the Peri, Op 50 - Parts 1 & 2
Lucy Crowe (soprano), Jeanine De Bique (soprano), Magdalena Kožená (mezzo soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Linard Vrielink (tenor), Florian Boesch (bass baritone), London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor)
01:23 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Paradise and the Peri, Op 50 - Part 3
Lucy Crowe (soprano), Jeanine De Bique (soprano), Magdalena Kožená (mezzo soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Linard Vrielink (tenor), Florian Boesch (bass baritone), London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor)
02:00 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Piano Sonata no 1 in F sharp minor, Op 11
Martin Helmchen (piano)
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
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
Trio for piano and strings in D minor, Op 120
Grumiaux Trio, Luc Devos (piano), Philippe Koch (violin), Luc Dewez (cello)
03:27 AM
Christopher Tye (c.1505-1572)
Omnes gentes, plaudite for 5 voices
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
03:32 AM
Mieczysław Karłowicz (1876-1909)
Chant de l'eternelle aspiration
Orchestre Français des Jeunes, Marek Janowski (director)
03:44 AM
Giovanni Benedetto Platti (1697-1763)
Trio in C minor for oboe, bassoon and continuo
Ensemble Zefiro
03:53 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
From "Legends" (Molto maestoso) in C major Op 59 no 4
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kazuhiro Koizumi (conductor)
04:00 AM
Graeme Koehne (b.1956)
Divertissement: Trois pieces bourgeoises
Australian String Quartet
04:12 AM
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)
Plainte d'Armide (from Les Amours deguises)
Isabelle Poulenard (soprano), Ricercar Consort, Henri Ledroit (conductor)
04:20 AM
Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787)
Symphony in C major, Op 10 no 4
La Stagione Frankfurt, Michael Schneider (conductor)
04:31 AM
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
The Bartered Bride - overture
BBC Concert Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth (conductor)
04:38 AM
Johann Strauss II (1825-1899), arr. Alban Berg
Wein, Weib und Gesang (Wine, Woman and Song) waltz
Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Raffi Armenian (director)
04:48 AM
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
O clarissima Mater (respond)
Rondellus
04:58 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Dance Intermezzo, Op 45 no 2
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
05:01 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Concerto for 2 violins and string orchestra (BWV.1043) in D minor
Sigiswald Kuijken (violin), Lucy van Dael (violin), La Petite Bande
05:18 AM
Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994)
Dance Preludes for clarinet and piano
Seraphin Maurice Lutz (clarinet), Eugen Burger-Yonov (piano)
05:28 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
4 Notturni
Vancouver Chamber Choir, Wesley Foster (clarinet), Nicola Tipton (clarinet), William Jenkins (bass clarinet), Jon Washburn (director)
05:36 AM
Dinu Lipatti (1917-1950)
Satrarii, Suite for Orchestra, Op 2
Romanian National Radio Orchestra, Horia Andreescu (conductor)
06:01 AM
Charles Mouton (1626-1710)
Pièces de Lute in C minor
Konrad Junghänel (11 string lute)
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002s3nd)
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 (m002s3ng)
Your perfect classical playlist
Ian Skelly 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 (m002s3nj)
A clarinet recital live from Wigmore Hall
Linton Stephens brings you an afternoon of exclusive music-making including exclusive performances from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, this week's featured musicians. Today, conductor Emilia Hoving leads the orchestra in two romantic works - Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s Ballade and Rachmaninov’s great swan-song - his Symphonic Dances. There is also a focus in this week’s programmes on chamber music by Ravel and Haydn and Linton brings us recent performances from the acclaimed young Dutch piano duo, Lucas and Arthur Jussen who perform a masterpiece by Schubert.
But the programme begins at London's Wigmore Hall with clarinettist Michael Collins and pianist Wu Qian. They open with Gerald Finzi’s quintessential English Bagatelles, before embracing the Sonatina by Martinů, written in post-war New York yet infused with the vitality of pre-war Paris, and music by two members of Les Six. The programme ends with the lyrical Clarinet Sonata by Arnold Cooke, a Cambridge-educated Yorkshireman who studied with Paul Hindemith in Berlin in the 1920s.
Live from London's Wigmore Hall, introduced for Classical Live by Hannah French:
Gerald Finzi
5 Bagatelles Op. 23
Bohuslav Martinu
Sonatina for clarinet and piano
Darius Milhaud
Duo concertante Op. 351
Germaine Tailleferre
Arabesque
Arnold Cooke
Sonata in B flat for clarinet and piano
Michael Collins (clarinet)
Wu Qian (piano)
***
Maurice Ravel
Menuet sur le nom de Haydn, M. 58
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Jan Lisiecki (conductor)
Joseph Haydn
Keyboard Trio No. 45 in E flat, Hob. XV:29
Esther Hoppe (violin)
Christian Poltéra (cello)
Ronald Brautigam (piano)
Samuel Coleridge Taylor
Ballade
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Thomas Sondergard (conductor)
Franz Schubert
Fantasie in F minor for Piano Four-Hands, D. 940
Jussen Piano Duo
Sergei Rachmaninov
Symphonic Dances
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Emilia Hoving (conductor)
Maurice Ravel
Violin Sonata No 2 in G major
Johan Dalene (violin)
Charles Owen (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 (m002s3nl)
New Zealand Composers
Grandfather of New Zealand Music
Donald Macleod explores five classical composers from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand, focusing today on the life and music of Douglas Lilburn. Often called the Grandfather of New Zealand music, Macleod delves into Lilburn’s influence, and his call for composers to develop a distinctive New Zealand voice.
Symphony No 1 (excerpt)
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
James Judd, conductor
Aotearoa
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
James Judd, conductor
Elegy (excerpt)
Paul Whelan, baritone
David Harper, piano
Sings Harry (No 5, Flowers of the Sea)
Harry Grigg, tenor
Bradley Wood, piano
Symphony No 3
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
James Judd, conductor
Three Inscapes, No 1
Douglas Lilburn, electro-acoustic
17 Pieces for Guitar (excerpt)
Gunter Herbig, guitar
Symphony No 2 (Prelude)
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
James Judd, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock.
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002s3np)
Live performance and interviews from Alisa Weilerstein and Marin Alsop
Alisa Weilerstein and Marin Alsop join Petroc live in the studio ahead of International Women's Day and their concert with the LPO at the Southbank Centre. Also, Petroc is joined by the Hastings International Piano Competition winner.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002s3nr)
Half an hour of the finest classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002sggw)
Poulenc's Gloria
The BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and conductor Michał Nesterowicz perform Poulenc's Gloria. On either side of this exuberant work, the Orchestra perform Górecki's Three Pieces in Old Style, and Dvorák's 8th Symphony.
Presented by Shân Cothi and recorded in Hoddinott Hall on the 8th of February.
Górecki: Three Pieces in Old Style
Poulenc: Gloria
Interval
Dvorák: Symphony No 8 in G major, Op 88/B 163
Sophie Bevan (soprano)
BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
Michał Nesterowicz (conductor)
Polish conductor Michał Nesterowicz makes his debut with the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales in a concert steeped in the past and in nature. The concert begins with Górecki's Three Pieces in Old Style, a work which is stylistically saturated with the music of the renaissance and marked the beginning of a more simple and evocative style for the Polish Composer. Before the interval, the BBC National Chorus of Wales and soprano soloist Sophie Bevan join the Orchestra to perform Poulenc's exuberant Gloria, a work which reimagines the sacred text for modern times. Poulenc wrote the Gloria in the "Vivaldi style", but infused it with his own unique sound of 1960s Paris. The concert finishes with Dvorák's 8th symphony, a joyous work which revels in the joys of nature.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert”.
MON 21:45 The Essay (m002s3nw)
Music Rediscovered
The influential Italian singing master
Music teacher to Bonnie Prince Charlie, Domenico Corri was a musical innovator who arrived in Edinburgh in 1771 and then published A Select Collection of the Most Admired Songs, Duetts, etc. Priced at the equivalent of 31 days' wages for a skilled tradesman, it included 237 songs and used an annotation system which he invented to show off the way fashionable singers were embellishing their performances.
In the first of this week's Essay series, which showcases new insights gained from studying historic documents, Dr Brianna Robertson-Kirkland from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland uses this textbook to demonstrate different singing styles. Her essay links performances by Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera to a Covent Garden favourite, Elizabeth Billington, performing in 1801.
Recorded in Scotland by Minnie Harrop and edited by Robyn Read
The music which begins the Essay is The Bush Aboon Traquair, recorded by Brianna with Claire Haslin on the harpsichord at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3nb)
Reflective music for the day’s end
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
MON 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002kzmf)
Iain Ballamy’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.
This week Soweto’s guest is leading British saxophonist, composer and educator Iain Ballamy. A celebrated part of the UK and European jazz scenes, Iain weaves jazz and classical music influences, and avant garde experimentations into his compositions. He has worked with a range of artists and ensembles including Thomas Strønen, John Taylor, Mike Gibbs, Loose Tubes and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. A formidable bandleader in his own right, Iain has just released his new album titled “Riversphere”. He is also a respected educator, holding teaching positions at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and The Royal Academy of Music.
From Monday to Thursday this week, Iain is sharing some of his best loved records, for 4/4. To begin his week, Iain chooses an album by a legendary jazz pianist and his all-star band.
There is also music from Ernesto Montenegro, Sofia Grant, and Brown Penny.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2026
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002s3ny)
Mendelssohn, Rosauro and Rodrigo from Switzerland
Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana and conductor Alessandro Cadario are joined by marimba player Matthias Würsch in Ney Rosauro's Concerto no 1 for Marimba and String Orchestra. Guitarist Pedro Matéo González joins them for Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Symphony for Strings no 9 in C minor
Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alessandro Cadario (conductor)
12:55 AM
Ney Rosauro (b. 1952)
Concerto no 1 for Marimba and String Orchestra
Matthias Würsch (soloist), Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alessandro Cadario (conductor)
01:15 AM
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Concierto de Aranjuez
Pedro Matéo González (guitar), Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alessandro Cadario (conductor)
01:36 AM
Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Pedro Matéo González (guitar)
01:40 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Lied ohne Worte in D major, Op 109
Miklós Perényi (cello), Zóltan Kocsis (piano)
01:45 AM
Enrique Granados (1867-1916)
Quejas o la maja y el ruisenor (The Maiden and the Nightingale)
Angela Hewitt (piano)
01:52 AM
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999), arr. Peter Tiefenbach
Cuatro madrigales amatorios
Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano), Bryan Epperson (cello), Maurizio Baccante (cello), Roman Borys (cello), Simon Fryer (cello), David Hetherington (cello), Roberta Jansen (cello), Paul Widner (cello), Thomas Wiebe (cello), Winona Zelenka (cello)
02:00 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Piano Trio no 2 in C minor, Op 66
Hiroko Sakagami (piano), Matthias Enderle (violin), Patrick Demenga (cello)
02:31 AM
Česlovas Sasnauskas (1867-1916)
Requiem
Inesa Linaburgyte (mezzo-soprano), Algirdas Janutas (tenor), Vladimiras Prudnikovas (bass), Kaunas State Choir, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Petras Bingelis (conductor)
03:05 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
8 Pieces for Piano, Op 76
Robert Silverman (piano)
03:33 AM
Károly Goldmark (1830-1915)
Scherzo for orchestra in E minor, Op 19
Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Adam Medveczky (conductor)
03:39 AM
Dall'Abaco, Evaristo Felice (1675-1742)
Concerto a piu istrumenti in F major, Op 6 no 3
Il Tempio Armonico
03:47 AM
Ernest Chausson (1855-1899)
Chanson perpetuelle
Lena Hoel (soprano), Bengt-Åke Lundin (piano), Yggdrasil String Quartet
03:55 AM
Peter Warlock (1894-1930)
Serenade (to Frederick Delius on his 60th birthday)
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Roy Goodman (conductor)
04:03 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Duet for viola and cello in E flat major, WoO.32
Milan Telecky (viola), Juraj Alexander (cello)
04:12 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Four Mazurkas, Op 30
Jakub Kuszlik (piano)
04:22 AM
Giuseppe Torelli (1658-1709)
Sonata in D for Trumpet, Strings and Basso Continuo
Sebastian Philpott (trumpet), European Union Baroque Orchestra, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
04:31 AM
Tauno Pylkkanen (1918-1980)
Suite for oboe and strings, Op 32
Aale Lindgren (oboe), Finnish Radio Orchestra, Petri Sakari (conductor)
04:39 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Hungarian Rhapsody no 2 in C sharp minor
Ladislav Fantzowitz (piano)
04:49 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, BWV.228
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Ivars Taurins (conductor)
04:58 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Petite Suite
Royal Academy of Music Brass Soloists
05:06 AM
Robert de Visée (c.1655-1733)
Suite no 9 in D minor
Komalé Akakpo (cimbalom)
05:15 AM
Rene Eespere (b.1953)
Festina lente
Tallinn Music High School Chamber Choir, Evi Eespere (director)
05:23 AM
Josef Suk (1949-2011)
Raduz and Mahulena, Op 16 'A fairy tale suite'
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Smetácek (conductor)
05:52 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), Friedrich Schiller (author)
Hektors Abschied D.312b
Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Andreas Staier (pianoforte)
05:57 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581
Andrzej Ciepliński (clarinet), Royal String Quartet
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002s519)
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 (m002s51c)
Great classical music 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”.
TUE 13:00 Classical Live (m002s51f)
Shostakovich's Symphony No 11 from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Linton Stephens brings you an afternoon of exclusive music-making. Today, there is a continuation of the week-long focus on the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor Thomas Sondergard joins the orchestra for a performance of Tchaikovsky's magical Swan Lake Suite and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11. Also in the programme, chamber music composed by Ravel and Haydn. Ravel's Sonatine for piano is played by pianist Tim Horton and the Kleio Quartet plays Haydn's String Quartet in C major, Op.33 No.3, nicknamed "The Bird". Plus the artists in focus are renowned Dutch piano duo, Lucas and Arthur Jussen who join forces with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra to play Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 10 in E flat for Two Pianos.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake Suite
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Thomas Sondergard (conductor)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 10 in E flat for Two Pianos, K. 365
Jussen Piano Duo
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Alain Altinoglu (conductor)
Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in C major, Op.33 No.3, "The Bird"
Kleio Quartet
Maurice Ravel
Sonatine for piano
Tim Horton (piano)
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No. 11
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Thomas Sondergard (conductor)
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 (m002s51h)
New Zealand Composers
Pushing Boundaries
Donald Macleod explores five classical composers from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand, focusing today on the life and music of Jenny McLeod, who had a significant influence upon many composers to follow. McLeod was notorious for her pushing against boundaries as a teacher, and as a composer, and would not be defined by rules and norms but instead went her own way.
Rock Concerto (excerpt)
Eugene Albulescu, piano
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Uwe Grodd, conductor
Hear the Great Ocean (from Childhood, No 4)
Tower New Zealand Youth Choir
Karen Grylls, director
24 Tone Clock (excerpt)
Michael Houston, piano
Rock Concerto (excerpt)
Eugene Albulescu, piano
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Uwe Grodd, conductor
Dolly Bird (Music for Four)
Rae de Lisle, piano
Stephen De Pledge, piano
Eric Renick, percussion
Lenny Sakofsky, percussion
Nā Kui ki a Tama: Te Pūroto Kōpua
Jenny Wollerman, soprano
Jian Liu, piano
Three celebrations
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Uwe Grodd, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock.
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002s51k)
Live interviews with Jean Rondeau, Blasio Kavuma, and Rowan Rutter
Jean Rondeau talks to Petroc live in studio about his Couperin Project album and Wigmore recital. Plus, composer Blasio Kavuma and Rowan Rutter talk about thier upcoming project - The Exoplanets at Hackney Empire.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002l0jm)
Take time out with a relaxing classical mix
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music including Grieg, Mozart and Florence Price.
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002s51p)
Songs of the Auvergne
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under its Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan present an all-French programme of music from the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, which includes Joseph Canteloube's ravishing settings of French folksong, the Songs of the Auvergne, performed with soprano Carolyn Sampson. Also on the programme is music by Maurice Ravel and a rare opportunity to hear the symphony by Paul Dukas, the composer best known for his fantastical and much loved tone poem The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Introduced by Linton Stephens.
Ravel - Suite: Ma mere l'Oye (Mother Goose)
Canteloube - Songs of the Auvergne:
1. Malurous qu'o uno fenno (Series 3 No. 5)
2. Oï ayaï (Series 4 No. 2)
3. Bailero (Series 1 No. 2)
4. Lou boussu (Series 3 No. 3)
5. Brezairola (Series 3 No. 4)
6. Là-haut, sur le rocher (Series 5 No. 3)
7. Lou coucut (Le coucou) (Series 4 No. 6)
INTERVAL
Dukas: Symphony in C major
Carolyn Sampson (soprano)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Domingo Hindoyan (conductor)
TUE 21:45 The Essay (m002s51r)
Music Rediscovered
A Ukrainian Jewish Fiddle player
In 1913 the writer S An-sky and his team visited about 70 towns in the Pale of Settlement, in what is now Ukraine, collecting folktales, folklore, folk and religious music, physical objects, and photographs. Dr Phil Alexander, a klezmer player and music lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, reveals how a transnational online digitisation project is helping to bring this hand-written music, and its mutli-lingual annotations, back into the world after more than a hundred years. This essay, which is part of a series focusing on new research into historical documents, introduces us to Motl Reyder's tunebook of traditional Jewish line dances, goodnight tunes for newlyweds, and more
Recorded in Edinburgh by Minnie Harrop and edited by Robyn Read
With music performance by Phil Alexander on his accordion and with the trio Triptic
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3s7)
A bewitching night-time soundtrack
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
TUE 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002npwj)
A live track from Ellen Beth Abdi, The Hallé Orchestra and Youth Choir
‘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, saxophonist, composer and educator Iain Ballamy returns with his second 4/4 album pick of the week. This time he chooses an album by one of jazz’s vocal greats, who he has a personal connection to.
Also, there is music from Donovan Haffner and Alex Ho, Andrea Vicari and Mark Lockheart, and Atlantis DuBois.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2026
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002s51t)
Rachmaninov and Strauss from Shanghai
The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra joins the internationally renowned pianist Xiang-Dong Kong, who has recently returned to the stage after time away from performing, in Rachmaninov's third piano concerto. The concert concludes with Liszt's symphonic poem Mazeppa, adapted from a poem by Victor Hugo telling of the escapades of the Ukrainian Ivan Stepanovich Mazepa-Koledinsky. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Overture to 'The Barber of Seville'
Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Liang Zhang (conductor)
12:39 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto no 3 in D minor, Op 30
Xiang-Dong Kong (piano), Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Liang Zhang (conductor)
01:29 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Mazeppa, S.100 Symphonic poem no 6
Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Liang Zhang (conductor)
01:46 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Etude no 4 in D minor 'Mazeppa'
Emil von Sauer (piano)
01:53 AM
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Symphony no 6, FS.116 'Sinfonia semplice'
Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard (conductor)
02:31 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Hail, Bright Cecilia: Ode for St Cecilia's Day, Z.328
Grace Davidson (soprano), Alex Potter (countertenor), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass), Damien Guillon (countertenor), Peter Kooij (bass), Samuel Boden (tenor), Collegium Vocale, Philippe Herreweghe (director)
03:23 AM
Paule Maurice (1910-67)
Tableaux de Provence - 5 pieces for saxophone and orchestra
Julia Nolan (saxophone), CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
03:38 AM
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Prelude and Fugue in B flat major, Op 16 no 2
Angela Cheng (piano)
03:42 AM
Eugene Ysaye (1858-1931)
Sonata for solo violin in D minor, Op 27 no 3
Byungchan Lee (violin)
03:49 AM
Johannes Le Febure (?-c.1609/12)
Motet: Isti sunt viri sancti
Currende, Herman Stinders (organ), Erik van Nevel (conductor)
03:53 AM
Mayas Alyamani (b.1981)
Warda
Shaher Fawaz (tabla), Daria Zappa Matesic (violin), Avi Avital (mandolin), Zürcher Kammerorchester, Willi Zimmermann (conductor)
04:01 AM
Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Nun freut euch lieben Christen g'mein – Chorale Fantasy (BuxWV.210)
Theo Jellema (organ)
04:15 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 5 in B flat major, K.22
Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Ernest Bour (conductor)
04:22 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Gestillte Sehnsucht, for alto, viola and piano, Op 91 no 1
Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano), Lise Berthaud (viola), Christian Ihle Hadland (piano)
04:31 AM
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
Iphigenie en Aulide, Overture
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Štefan Róbl (conductor)
04:43 AM
Anonymous
Greensleeves, to a Ground with Divisions
Elizabeth Wallfisch (baroque violin), Linda Kent (harpsichord), Rosanne Hunt (cello)
04:49 AM
Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979)
3 Pieces for cello and piano
Zoltán Despond (cello), Vesselin Stanev (piano)
04:56 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Pilgrims Chorus from "Tannhauser" (arr. for organ)
David Drury (organ)
05:02 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op 34 for piano
Boris Berman (piano)
05:16 AM
Alban Berg (1885-1935)
Drei Bruchstücke aus Wozzeck (Three fragments from Wozzeck) Op 7
Dunja Vejzovic (mezzo-soprano), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Gerd Albrecht (conductor)
05:37 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
String Quartet in D major, Op 44 no 1
Tankstream Quartet
06:04 AM
Augusta Holmès (1847-1903)
La vision de la reine
BBC Singers Women's Voices, Morwenna Del Mar (cello), Alison Martin (harp), Annabel Thwaite (piano), Hilary Campbell (conductor)
06:22 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Flute Sonata in G major, Wq.133/H.564 'Hamburger Sonata'
Wilbert Hazelzet (flute), Andreas Staier (fortepiano)
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002s3vt)
Kick-start 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 (m002s3vy)
The best classical morning 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”.
WED 13:00 Classical Live (m002s3w2)
Haydn’s last symphony live from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Linton Stephens brings you an afternoon of exclusive music-making, including a live concert from the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Nicholas Carter from the Philharmonic Studio at Media City Salford. This is part of the orchestra series of live Wednesday concerts that will take us into Spring. The orchestra begin their programme with Haydn's final symphony, No. 104, his ‘London Symphony’, which first dazzled audiences in 1795. To follow, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, his ‘Unfinished Symphony'. With only two movements, this piece takes the listener on an emotional journey that feels altogether complete.
Elsewhere in the programme, there is a continuation of the week-long focus on music performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Today, Wagner's Overture to Tannhauser is conducted by David Nieman. There is also chamber music composed by Ravel and Haydn, the Leonkoro Quartet perform Haydn's ‘Dream’ Quartet, and pianist Alim Beisembayev plays Ravel's ‘Ondine’. Plus, the artists in focus are renowned Dutch piano duo, Lucas and Arthur Jussen who perform music by Felix Mendelssohn.
Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in F Major Op. 50 No 5, "The Dream"
Leonkoro Quartet
Maurice Ravel
Gaspard De La Nuit ; No.1; Ondine
Alim Beisembayev (piano)
***
Live concert with the BBC Philharmonic
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 104 I Da Major ‘London’
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished'
BBC Philharmonic
Nicholas Carter (conductor)
***
Felix Mendelssohn
Allegro Brillant, Op. 92
Jussen Piano Duo
Richard Wagner
Tannhäuser Overture
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
David Nieman (conductor)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002s3w5)
New College, Oxford
Live from the Chapel of New College, Oxford.
Introit: A hymne to Christ (Imogen Holst)
Responses: Dónal McCann
Psalms 59, 60, 61 (Goss, Wesley, Rimbault, Quinney)
First Lesson: Genesis 9 vv8-17
Office hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (Mighty Savior)
Canticles: Watson in E
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 3 vv18-22
Anthem: To shutt up this circle (Nico Muhly)
Hymn: My spirit longs for thee (Morse)
Voluntary: Suite, Op 5 (Sicilienne) (Duruflé)
Robert Quinney (Organist)
Hugh Rowlands (Assistant Organist)
Marcus McDevitt (Organ Scholar)
To listen on most smart speakers just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002s3w7)
New Zealand Composers
Whale-song and Māori Goddesses
Donald Macleod explores five classical composers from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand, focusing today on the life and music of Dame Gillian Whitehead. Of Ngai Terangi and Tuhoe descent, Macleod in discussion with the composer, explores the influence of Whitehead’s Māori heritage, and the landscape of New Zealand, upon her music.
Hineaukatauri (excerpt)
Bridget Douglas, flutes
Alistair Fraser, taonga pūoro
Tōrua
Hilary Hahn, violin
Cory Smythe, piano
Alice (excerpt)
Helen Medlyn, soprano
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Marc Taddei, conductor
Pūhake ki te Rangi
Richard Nunns, taonga pūoro
New Zealand String Quartet
Lullaby for Matthew
Dan Poynton, piano
Karohirohi
Carolyn Mills, harp
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Marc Taddei, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock.
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002s3w9)
Live performances from Max Bailie, Alasdair Beatson and Mischa Maisky
Max Bailie and Alasdair Beatson join Petroc live in studio to perform ahead of their concert at Kings Place. Also, Mischa Maisky perform live with his son ahead of his upcoming concert with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Plus, Petroc talks to Nicola Benedetti about the upcoming Edinburgh International Festival.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002s3wc)
Expand your horizons with classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002s3wf)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The concert starts in Austria, with Mozart at his finest in the overture to his 1786 opera The Marriage of Figaro.
We then skip across the border to Germany over 100 years later, with virtuoso horn player Felix Klieser, who was born without arms and plays the instrument with his toes, taking the spotlight in Richard Strauss's First Horn Concerto. Written when Strauss was just 18 years old, it is one of the most demanding solo works for the horn.
Then principal conductor Thomas Søndergård and the RSNO embark on one of the greatest adventures in 19th-century music: Bruckner’s colossal Eighth Symphony. It’s been compared to a cathedral in sound and a mighty mountain range. It takes you to the very darkest and very lightest of places, and was the last symphony he completed.
Recorded at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 21st February 2026
Presented by Ian Skelly
Mozart - Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Richard Strauss - Horn Concerto No1
Interval
Bruckner - Symphony No 8
Thomas Søndergård - conductor
Felix Klieser - horn
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
WED 21:45 The Essay (m002s3wh)
Music Rediscovered
A composer's South African journey
One of the passengers on the Comet, the first commercial flight in 1952 between Britain and South Africa, was a 49-year-old composer, Avril Coleridge-Taylor. Feeling sidelined by the English classical music establishment, this mixed-race woman hoped for greater opportunities abroad, and after acclaim from the critics, she became the first woman to guest-conduct the Cape Town Orchestra in September 1952.
Dr Leah Broad has been piecing together Avril Coleridge-Taylor’s life from the letters, scrapbooks and newspaper clippings that were stored in her family’s house after she died in 1998. In this Essay, part of a series showcasing new research into the history of classical music, we hear part of Coleridge-Taylor's piece The Comet Prelude, inspired by that journey, and Leah Broad traces the sad ending to these travels.
Leah Broad's biography of four other female composers, Quartet, won the Royal Philharmonic Society Storytelling Award. Her essay was produced by Kirsty McQuire.
The recordings you hear in the Essay are part of Avril Coleridge Taylor's The Comet Prelude performed by the BBC Philharmonic in a new recording, pianist Samantha Ege playing Avril Coleridge-Taylor's Piano Concerto in F minor performing with the BBC Philharmonic, and an archive interview recorded with Avril Coleridge-Taylor.
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3wk)
Sublime sounds for nightfall
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 (m002nps0)
Fresh from Airelle Besson and Lionel Suarez
‘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.
Iain Ballamy has another album that he deeply admires to share for 4/4, and tonight he selects an album by one of jazz’s most melodic pianists.
Plus there is music from Corinne Bailey Rae, Patricia Brennan, and Hiromi.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2026
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002s3wm)
Brahms's Clarinet Quintet from Denmark
The Nightingale String Quartet and clarinettist Jonas Frølund perform music by Danish composers Rued Langgaard and Bent Sørensen, alongside Brahms's Clarinet Quintet. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Rued Langgaard (1893-1952)
Variations on 'Oh, Sacred Head! Now Wounded'
Nightingale String Quartet
12:47 AM
Bent Sørensen (b.1958)
Moonbeams in Daylight
Jonas Frølund (clarinet), Nightingale String Quartet
01:03 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op 115
Jonas Frølund (clarinet), Nightingale String Quartet
01:41 AM
Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996)
Benedic Domino, anima mea, Op 59a
Danish National Radio Choir, Stefan Parkman (conductor)
01:55 AM
Bo Holten (b. 1948)
Nordisk Suite
Hanne Hohwü (soprano), Birgitte Moller (soprano), Det Jyske Kammerkor, Mogens Dahl (conductor)
02:06 AM
Friedrich Kunzen (1761-1817)
Symphony in G minor
Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Peter Marschik (conductor)
02:25 AM
Milko Lazar (b.1965)
Passacaglia (Largo)
Mojca Zlobko Vaigl (harp), Bojan Gorišek (piano)
02:31 AM
Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901)
Organ Concerto no 1 in F major, Op 137
Antonio García (organ), Berner Kammerorchester, Philippe Bach (conductor)
02:56 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata no 15 in D major, Op 28 'Pastoral'
Ji-Yeong Mun (piano)
03:22 AM
Michelangelo Faggioli (1666-1733)
Marte, ammore, guerra e pace from the opera 'La Cilla'
Pino de Vittorio (tenor), Cappella della Pietà dé Turchini, Antonio Florio (director)
03:31 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), orch. Maurice Ravel
Tarantelle styrienne
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kazuhiro Koizumi (conductor)
03:37 AM
Carlo Ambrogio Lonati (c.1645-c.1712)
Sonata Quinta
Eva Saladin (violin), Daniel Rosin (cello), Johannes Keller (harpsichord)
03:45 AM
Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
The Blue Bird (from 8 Partsongs, Op 119 no 3)
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
03:49 AM
Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
When Mary thro' the garden went (from 8 Partsongs, Op 127 no 3)
BBC Singers, Bob Chilcott (conductor)
03:52 AM
Franz Doppler (1821-1883)
L'oiseau des bois (Bird in the woods) - idyll for flute and 4 horns, Op 21
János Balint (flute), Jenö Keveházi (horn), Peter Fuzes (horn), Sandor Endrodi (horn), Tibor Maruzsa (horn)
03:58 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Divertimento in B flat major, K.137
Orchestra Libera Classica, Hidemi Suzuki (conductor)
04:11 AM
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)
Catalunya; Sevilla - from Suite Espanola no 1
Sean Shibe (guitar)
04:19 AM
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Excerpts from Songs Without Words, Op 6 (1846)
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
04:31 AM
Susan Spain-Dunk (1880-1962)
The Farmer's Boy
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Bell (conductor)
04:38 AM
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Romance for bassoon and piano, Op 62
Maria Wildhaber (bassoon), Alexander Boeschoten (piano)
04:44 AM
Luigi Donorà (1935-2022)
There where Kvarner lies… for viola and strings
Francesco Squarcia (viola), I Cameristi Italiani
04:51 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in A major, Kk.208
Ilze Graubina (piano)
04:55 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in E major, Kk.46
Ilze Graubina (piano)
04:59 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
3 Motets: Ave Maria; Christus factus est; Locus iste
Sokkelund Choir, Morten Schuldt-Jensen (conductor)
05:13 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Violin Concerto no 2 in G minor, Op 63
Arabella Steinbacher (violin), Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Dima Slobodeniouk (conductor)
05:42 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Piano Trio in E major (H.
15.28)
Kungsbacka Trio
05:58 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Suite in E flat major, 'La Lyra', TWV.55:Es3
B'Rock, Jürgen Groß (conductor)
06:17 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen, Op 74 no 1 (motet)
Grex Vocalis, Carl Høgset (director)
06:23 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Intermezzo in A major, Op 118 no 2
Jane Coop (piano)
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002s3xs)
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 (m002s3xv)
The ideal mix 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”.
THU 13:00 Classical Live (m002s3xx)
Haydn's Trumpet Concerto performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Linton Stephens brings you an afternoon of exclusive concert music-making. Today, there is a continuation of the week long focus on the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with a recording by principal trumpeter Chris Hart performing Haydn's Trumpet Concerto, conducted by Thomas Sondergard and Strauss' Alpine symphony. Also in the programme, chamber music composed by Ravel and Haydn. The Kalamos Quintet play a wind arrangement of Ravel's Kaddish, from 'Deux Mélodies hébraïques', the Carducci String Quartet perform Haydn's Quartet in Bb major, nicknamed ‘Sunrise' and violinist María Dueñas joins pianist Evgeny SInaisky in Ravel's Tzigane - Rapsodie de Concert. Plus the artists in focus are renowned Dutch piano duo, Lucas and Arthur Jussen who perform Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos in D minor with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Joseph Haydn
Trumpet Concerto
Chris Hart (trumpet)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Thomas Sondergard (conductor)
Maurice Ravel
Kaddish, from 'Deux Mélodies hébraïques'
Thorwald Jørgensen (theremin)
Kalamos Quintet
Francis Poulenc
Concerto for Two Pianos in D minor, FP 61
Jussen Piano Duo
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Petr Popelka (conductor)
Richard Strauss
Alpine symphony
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Thomas Sondergard (conductor)
Joseph Haydn
Quartet in Bb major op 76, No 4 ‘Sunrise'
Carducci String Quartet
Maurice Ravel
Tzigane - Rapsodie de Concert
María Dueñas (violin)
Evgeny SInaisky (piano)
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 (m002s3xz)
New Zealand Composers
Greek Mythology and Percussion
Donald Macleod explores five classical composers from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand, focusing today on the life and music of John Psathas. Macleod in discussion with the composer, delves into the influences and creative processes for Psathas, not least being inspired by his Greek ancestry, and his passion for percussion.
RealBadNow – V
John Psathas, electronics
Fabian Ziegler, percussion
John Psathas & Arujna Oakes
Craving the World
Arjuna Oakes, vocals and piano
Sam Notman, drums
Harris Lambrakis, Ney
Kyriakos Tapakis, Oud
Vagelis Karipis, percussion
Dimitris Tsekouras, bass
John Psathas
Voices at the End (Mitote)
Dawn Hardwick, piano
John Psathas, electronics
Three Psalms (No 3, Sergei Bk. Ch. 1)
Michael Houston, piano
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Marc Taddei, conductor
Songs for Simon (No 1, His Second Time)
John Psathas, electronics
Donald Nicolson, piano
Helix (No 3, Tarantismo)
New Zealand Trio
The All-Seeing Sky (excerpt)
Fabian Ziegler, percussion
Luca Staffelbach, percussion
Orchestra Wellington
Marc Taddei, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock.
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002s3y1)
Live performance from Kieran White and Cedric Meyer
Sarah Walker talks to Tristan Gurney and Clarence Adoo about RNS Moves. Also, Kieran White and Cedric Meyer perform Dowland live in studio.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002s3y3)
Take 30 minutes out with a relaxing classical mix
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002s3y5)
Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade
Marin Alsop conducts the Philharmonia at the Royal Festival Hall in London, performing Arturo Márquez's Danzón No.2 and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, plus the London premiere of Gabriela Ortiz's Cello Concerto with Alisa Weilerstein.
Broadcast live from the Royal Festival Hall in London, and presented by Ian Skelly.
Arturo Márquez: Danzón No.2
Gabriela Ortiz: Cello Concerto (Dzonot) (London premiere)
Interval
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Philharmonia Orchestra
Alisa Weilerstein (cello)
Marin Alsop (conductor)
Marin Alsop conducts Arturo Márquez's Danzón No.2, which is known as ‘Mexico’s second national anthem’. Márquez himself described the work as 'music full of sensuality, which old Mexican people continue to dance with a touch of nostalgia.
The second work on tonight's programme is an exciting new cello concerto by the Philharmonia’s Featured Composer, the Mexican composer and educator Gabriela Ortiz. She wrote her cello concerto for tonight's soloist, Alisa Weilerstein, and it is inspired by the caves and underground rivers of the Yucatán peninsula. Its four movements, ‘Vertical Light’, ‘Eye of the Jaguar’, ‘Jade’ and ‘The Toh Bird’, pay homage to the remarkable and threatened ecosystem of the peninsula.
Ending tonight's Radio 3 in Concert, Marin Alsop and the Philharmonia perform Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, which tells the story of a clever bride, represented by a beguiling solo violin melody, who spins captivating tales of sailors and shipwrecks, princes and princesses, to keep her husband the Sultan under her spell for 1001 nights.
To listen on most smart speakers just say, "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
THU 21:45 The Essay (m002s3y7)
Music Rediscovered
The English music historian
A General History of Music, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Period was published in late January 1776, dedicated to Queen Charlotte, with a power list of 897 subscribers who had effectively crowd-funded this first history of music written in English. Charles Burney, the author, was born 7 April 1726. An apprentice to Thomas Arne, he was a fan of the Italian opera fashionable at George III's court, and his writings advocated for the professional musicians of his time.
Sophie Coulombeau is a Senior Lecturer at the University of York, and her Essay looks at the writings of this man of letters, whose compositions have recently been recorded for the first time by the baroque musical ensemble Apollo’s Cabinet.
Producer: Luke Mulhall
Music featured in the Essay includes extracts from Georg Friedrich Händel Suite in D minor, HWV 437: III. Sarabande
Thomas Arne's Rule, Britannia performed by Catherine Bott, Joseph Cornwell, and The Parley of Instruments
Johann Adolf Hasse: Canzonette veneziane da battello. Raccolta di gondoliere: Mia cara Anzoletta performed by Jordi Savall and Hesperion XXI
Giulio Sabino Sarti:: Lungi dal caro bene performed by Renata Tebaldi with the New Philharmonia Orchestra
Charles Burney and John Gay's The Despairing Shepherd: I. The sun was sunk beneath the hills performed by Apollo's Cabinet
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3y9)
Harmonious music for night-time listening
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 (m002br0t)
Brand new from NIJI
‘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, Soweto has welcomed British saxophonist, composer and educator Iain Ballamy as his 4/4 guest. Rounding off the week, Iain chooses a fourth and final record that he holds dear, and this time it’s by a totemic Brazilian percussionist that he has long been inspired by.
There is also much from Kokoroko, Helen Sung, and Inyal.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2026
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002s3yc)
Schubert's Trout Quintet in Barcelona
Young chamber musicians perform a selection of chamber works by Schubert in the concert hall of the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
String Trio in B flat, D.471
María Florea (violin), Lara Fernández (viola), Daniel Claret (cello)
12:39 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Adagio and Rondo in F, D.487
María Florea (violin), Lara Fernández (viola), Daniel Claret (cello), Àlex Ramírez (piano)
12:53 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Piano Quintet in A, D.667 'Trout'
María Florea (violin), Lara Fernández (viola), Daniel Claret (cello), Àlex Ramírez (piano), Joaquín Arrabal (double bass)
01:32 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Acht Ländler, D.378
María Florea (violin), Lara Fernández (viola), Daniel Claret (cello), Àlex Ramírez (piano), Joaquín Arrabal (double bass)
01:37 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), arr. Markus Brönnimann
Hungarian Melody in B minor, D.817
Ensemble Pyramide
01:42 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Symphony no 9 in C major, D.944 "Great"
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Juanjo Mena (conductor)
02:31 AM
Maria Herz (1878-1950)
Concerto for Harpsichord or Fortepiano, String Orchestra and Flute, Op 15
Nadja Saminskaja (piano), Ronny Spiegel (violin), Yuta Takase (violin), Daphne Unseld (viola), Fedor Saminski (cello), Nikola Major (double bass), Christian Madlener (flute)
02:59 AM
Arthur Butterworth (1923-2014)
Romanza for horn and strings
Martin Hackleman (horn), CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)
03:09 AM
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Chichester psalms arranged for treble, chorus, organ, harp & percussion
Choeur de Radio France, Unknown (treble), Yves Castagnet (organ), Unknown (harp), Unknown (percussion), Vladislav Chernuchenko (conductor)
03:30 AM
Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760-1812)
Piano Sonata in D major, Op 31 no 2
Andreas Staier (fortepiano)
03:43 AM
Christopher Simpson (c.1605-1669)
Summer (excerpt from The Four Seasons)
Les Voix Humaines, Arparla
04:01 AM
Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)
Overture to Prince Igor
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey (conductor)
04:12 AM
Pavle Dešpalj (1934-2021)
String Whim no 2 for violin solo
Ana Savicka (violin)
04:19 AM
Robert Johnson (1583-1633), William Shakespeare (author)
"Full fathum five" & "Where the bee sucks, there suck I" (from 'The Tempest')
Paul Agnew (tenor), Christopher Wilson (lute)
04:24 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
4th mvt from Piano Trio no 4 in E minor, Op 90 'Dumky'
Delta Piano Trio
04:31 AM
Matthias Schmitt (b.1958)
Ghanaia for percussion
Colin Currie (percussion)
04:38 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Norfolk Rhapsody no 1 in E minor
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Bernard Heinze (conductor)
04:49 AM
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
Magnificat
Cantus Cölln, Johanna Koslowsky (soprano), Graham Pushee (counter tenor), Wilfred Jochens (tenor), Stephan Schreckenberger (bass), Christoph Anselm Noll (organ), Konrad Junghänel (director)
04:54 AM
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Allegro moderato for piano, Op 8 no 1
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
05:00 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sonata no 7 for 2 violins in E minor, Z.796
Simon Standage (violin), Ensemble Il Tempo
05:07 AM
José de Nebra (1702-1768)
Entre cándidos
Maria Espada (soprano), Al Ayre Espanol, Eduardo Lopez Banzo (harpsichord)
05:23 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Quintet in G minor, Op 39
Hexagon Ensemble
05:44 AM
Marcel Tournier (1879-1951)
Sonatine for harp, Op 30
Rita Costanzi (harp)
06:02 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Friedrich Schiller (author)
Nanie Op 82
Oslo Philharmonic Choir, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (conductor)
06:15 AM
Imants Zemzaris (b.1951)
Pastorale for Summer Flute for organ
Talivaldis Deksnis (organ)
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002s44t)
Ease into the day with classical music
Al Ryan 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’
FRI 09:30 Essential Classics (m002s44w)
Refresh your morning with 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”.
FRI 13:00 Classical Live (m002s44y)
Dvořák's New World Symphony from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Linton Stephens brings you an afternoon of exclusive music-making. Today, there is a continuation of the week long focus on the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor Patrick Hahn joins the orchestra in a recording of Dvořák's dynamic and powerful Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World" and soprano Sunyoung Seo sings Wagner's Liebestod from Tristan & Isolde. Also in the programme, chamber music composed by Ravel and Haydn. The Takacs Quartet play a Haydn String Quartet and Ensemble Sésame perform Ravel's Piano Trio. Plus the artists in focus are renowned Dutch piano duo, Lucas and Arthur Jussen who perform Mendelssohn's Concerto for Two Pianos in E with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
Felix Mendelssohn
Concerto for Two Pianos in E, MWV. 5
Jussen Piano Duo
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Collon, (conductor)
Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in C major, Op. 54, No. 2
Takacs Quartet
Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 9 in. E minor, (‘From the New World’)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Patrick Hahn (conductor)
Maurice Ravel
Piano Trio in A minor
Ensemble Sésame
Joseph Haydn
Divertimento in E flat, Hob. XIV:1
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Richard Wagner
Prelude & Liebestod from Tristan & Isolde
Sunyoung Seo (soprano)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
David Nieman (conductor)
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 (m002s450)
New Zealand Composers
Sounds of the Sea and Gamelan
Donald Macleod explores five classical composers from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand, focusing today on the life and music of Gareth Farr. Macleod delves into Farr’s multicultural influences in his music, from Gamelan and the New Zealand landscape, to Māori mythology, and a sideshow of drag. We also hear about Farr's musical development, and his love for percussion.
Pukul (excerpt)
STRIKE
The Horizon from Owhiro Bay
Henry Wong Doe, piano
Tentang Cara Gamelan
Henry Wong Doe, piano
Waipoua
Mary Scott, clarinet
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Young, conductor
Headrush
Gamelan Taniwha Jaya
Te Papa
Mere Boynton, karanga
Virgina-Marie Stack, mezzo-soprano
Simon O’Neill, tenor
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Young, conductor
Kembang Suling (excerpt)
Bridget Douglas, flute
Jeremy Fitzsimons, percussion
Nga Tai Hurihuri
Deborah Wai Kapohe, soprano
Aroha Priest, Kaikaranga
STRIKE
From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs (The Invocation of the Sea)
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Young, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock.
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002s452)
Live performance from Lukas Sternath and the Solas Ensemble
Petroc welcomes Lukas Sternath to the In Tune studio to perform ahead of his concert with the LPO at Brighton Dome. Also, The Solas Ensemble perform live from Edinburgh PQ.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002s454)
Classical music for focus or relaxation
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
FRI 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002s456)
RPS Awards 2026
Andrew McGregor guides us through highlights from last night's annual Royal Philharmonic Society Awards given at the Queen Elizabeth Hall - the "biggest night in UK classical music" - and eavesdrops on events to bring us both music and contributions from this year's winners.
In a ceremony introduced by Radio 3's own Georgia Mann and Petroc Trelawny, the 2026 RPS Awards celebrate the creativity, talent and achievements of some of the most gifted and creative talents in classical music today. Paying tribute to achievements in the world of composition and conducting, through opera and music theatre, to orchestral and ensemble playing - as well as solo instrumentalists and singers - the awards recognise contributions to musical life by both international performers and the often unsung heroes who bring music-making into the nation's communities, and celebrate the many other outstanding classical musical highlights from the past twelve months.
FRI 21:45 The Essay (m002s458)
Music Rediscovered
The lost Ukrainian film score
At the premiere screening for Dziga Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera, in Kiev in January 1929, an orchestra followed the precise musical plans laid out by the director in what is called a conspectus. This recently discovered document, together with hand-written notes by Vertov, give a sense of the musical mosaic which accompanies the images of modern city life projected in this influential experimental documentary.
Dr Leo Geyer is a composer, founder of Constella Music and a lecturer at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. His essay ends this week focused on the way the study of documents are showing us different music histories. Other composers have written their own scores for this silent film, but this essay takes us through Leo Geyer's interpretation of the conspectus, made in collaboration with film historian Richard Bossons for the Dutch film institute – the Eye Filmmuseum.
Producer: Robyn Read
The reworked film score is performed by Constella Music. We also hear short extracts from Matvey Nikolaevsky's Piano music performed by Mikhail Mordvinov with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, some Soviet singing and Cadets of the Guards school performing a song of the Nikolaevskoye Cavalry School.
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002s45b)
Tanya Tagaq’s mixtape
Verity Sharp shares a mixtape crafted exclusively for Late Junction by the internationally renowned artist, avant-garde composer, singer and author, Tanya Tagaq.
Tagaq hails from the Arctic territory of Nanavut and was raised in Cambridge Bay, a remote island town inaccessible by road, where she was introduced by her Inuk mother to one of the local community’s most loved past-times: throat-singing. Traditionally, the music would take the form of good-natured vocal combat in which two women would square off, face-to-face, and produce heaving, guttural vocal sounds aimed in each other’s direction. Tagaq later metamorphosed this community tradition whilst at secondary school, turning it into a solo vocal medium, and has since used it as a vehicle of shattering emotional power, to unleash personal and political expression.
Her work has long been a force which aims straight at the jugular of systems of oppression, bidding for indigenous rights, environmental and colonial justice, and for victims of sexual abuse. She has been awarded numerous honorary doctorates, is a member of Order of Canada, and has been the recipient of prestigious prizes, including Polaris Prize and the Juno Award. She is a best-selling author of It Bears Repeating and the mytho-biography, Split Tooth, which has been transformed into a performance piece in 2026, ‘gathering Inuit throat singers, musicians, and performers within a staged environment'.
Following the release of sixth solo album, called 'Saputjiji', Tagaq makes an exclusive mixtape for Late Junction, a thirty-minute mix which delves into some of the sounds and music that are most meaningful to her.
Produced by Cat Gough.
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 (m002br4g)
Heidi Vogel in concert
‘Round Midnight is presented by award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. This weekday late-night show celebrates the thriving UK jazz scene and spotlights the best new music alongside incredible acts from past decades.
Tonight, Soweto presents concert highlights from widely respected London singer Heidi Vogel, recorded last summer at Austria’s Inntöne festival. As well as being a celebrated solo artist, Heidi has been a singer with The Cinematic Orchestra since 2006, and listeners may recognise her offering sultry backing vocals as part of ESKA’s performance at 'Round Midnight’s London Jazz Festival showcase in November.
For her performance at Inntöne festival, Heidi was joined by pianist Liam Noble, and double bassist Jiri Slavik.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".