SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2026
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002sdh5)
Poulenc Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings
The RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra under Oscar Jockel plays Bach and Mozart's 'Jupiter' Symphony. Organist Olivier Latry and timpanist Petra Vidmar join the ensemble for Poulenc's mighty concerto for organ, timpani and strings. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Anton Webern
Ricercar a 6, from The Musical Offering, BWV 1079
RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Oscar Jockel (conductor)
12:40 AM
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings in G minor, FP 93
Olivier Latry (organ), Petra Vidmar (timpani), RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Oscar Jockel (conductor)
01:03 AM
Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897)
Toccata, from Suite gothique, Op 25 (encore)
Olivier Latry (organ)
01:08 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Symphony no 41 in C major, K.551 'Jupiter'
RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Oscar Jockel (conductor)
01:42 AM
Josef Suk (1949-2011)
Elegy Op 23 arr. for piano trio
Trio Lorenz
01:49 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Syrinx for solo flute
Boris Campa (flute)
01:53 AM
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)
Cuba (Suite espanola no 1, Op 47 no 8)
Tomaž Rajterič (guitar)
01:59 AM
Otto Nicolai (1810-1849)
Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in D major
Irena Baar (soprano), Mirjam Kalin (alto), Branko Robinsak (tenor), Marco Fink (bass), RTV Slovenia Chamber Choir, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Marko Munih (conductor)
02:31 AM
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Violin Sonata no 1 in F minor, Op 80
Petterli Iivonen (violin), Philip Chiu (piano)
03:01 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Oboe Concerto in C major, K.285d/314a
Heinz Holliger (oboe), ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam (conductor)
03:22 AM
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Quatre pièces fugitives, Op 15
Diana Ketler (piano)
03:34 AM
Grace Williams (1906-1977)
Sea Sketches
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Roy Goodman (conductor)
03:53 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Toward the Unknown Region
BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis (conductor)
04:05 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Three pieces for Clarinet Solo
Martins Circenis (clarinet)
04:09 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Prelude, theme and variations for horn and piano
Mindaugas Gecevicius (horn), Ala Bendoraitiene (piano)
04:20 AM
Dorothy Howell (1898-1982)
Two Pieces for Muted Strings
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Michael Collins (conductor)
04:31 AM
Anonymous
Worldes blis ne last no throwe
Sequentia, Benjamin Bagby (harp)
04:43 AM
Mel Bonis (1858-1938)
Salome, Op 100
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Rumon Gamba (conductor)
04:48 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
Nocturne for piano no 6 in D flat major, Op 63
Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
04:57 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Concerto Grosso in F major, Op 6 no 2, HWV 320
European Union Baroque Orchestra, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor)
05:09 AM
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Adios nonino
Musica Camerata Montréal
05:19 AM
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
Verklärte Nacht, Op 4 arr. for string sextet
Aronowitz Ensemble
05:48 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Alles redet itzt und singet, TWV
20:10
Barbara Schlick (soprano), Stephen Varcoe (bass), Michael Schneider (recorder), Konrad Hünteler (recorder), Hans-Peter Westermann (oboe), Pieter Dhont (oboe), Michael McCraw (bassoon), Das Kleine Konzert, Hermann Max (conductor)
06:17 AM
Georg Muffat (1653-1704)
Sonata for solo violin and bass continuo
Sabine Lier (violin), Salzburger Hofmusik, Wolfgang Brunner (director)
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002srl3)
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 (m002srl5)
Conductors Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Vasily Petrenko on the power of live performance
Tom Service with guests, stories and the perfect classical soundtrack for the weekend!
Yannick Nézet-Séguin talks to Tom about the power of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde as he conducts a new production at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He explains what it means to him personally to be performing this work at the Met and how discovering this opera as a youngster made him realise that Wagner was the composer he wanted to conduct most in opera.
We continue our focus on Creators with the composer, vocalist and artistic director Laura Bowler, who talks to Tom about grief and music, including her recent piece "The White Book", which explores loss, memory and survival, written after the death of her mother and inspired by the poetry of Korean writer Han Kang.
Tom meets conductor Vasily Petrenko, who discusses why we need to embrace human music not AI, how the concert experience can change lives and why we all need some Mahler right now.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002srl7)
Jools and Tracey Emin talk music
Jools shares his lifelong passion for classical music and the beautiful connections with jazz and blues. With fascinating guests each week, who bring their own favourite music and occasionally perform live in Jools's studio.
Today, Jools's choices include music by Beethoven, Gounod and Ravel, with performances by Steven Isserlis and the Nash Ensemble. His guest is the artist Tracey Emin who talks about her relationship to classical music which began with a chance encounter with Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. She also chats to Jools about why classical music belongs to everyone and what it meant to put together her new Tate Modern exhibition "A Second Life", which looks at her life and work before and after her cancer diagnosis. She introduces music she loves by Gabriel Faure, Ennio Morricone and Brian Eno.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Earlier with Jools Holland".
SAT 13:00 Music Matters (m002srl9)
Mark Radcliffe's Choral Odyssey 1
In the first of two programmes, broadcaster Mark Radcliffe begins his choral odyssey.
As a child, he was taken by his father to see the Hallé Orchestra with full chorus performing Handel’s Messiah, and he was struck by the majesty and power of the human voice. We hear Surely, He hath borne our griefs from Handel's work.
Over the years, Mark's interest grew and diversified, and this is reflected in his choices of works such as Duruflé's Requiem, James MacMillan's O Radiant Dawn and Tallis's soaring Spem in Alium, through to Enigma's 1990 song Sadeness, which features plainsong.
With music from Harry Christophers' The Sixteen and Gorecki's heart-breaking Symphony No 3, Sorrowful songs, Mark takes us on the first part of his journey through the choral canon.
Presenter: Mark Radcliffe
Producers: Ben Collingwood & Elizabeth Foster
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002srlc)
Vaughan Williams' 'A London Symphony' in Building a Library with Kate Kennedy and Andrew McGregor
Andrew McGregor with the week's best new classical releases.
2.10pm
Andrew is joined by guest reviewer Chris O'Reilly, who picks four new releases that have caught his ear.
3pm
Building a Library: Kate Kennedy surveys recordings of Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 2, 'A London Symphony', and makes her personal top recommendation.
Written shortly before the First World War, Vaughan Williams dedicated 'A London Symphony' to fellow composer George Butterworth, who lost his life in the war. Between the chimes of Big Ben, a busker's harmonica, and vibrant nightlife, it is a portrait of London as he knew it, capturing the hustle and bustle of the capital while finding peace and quiet in which to reflect.
Top choice:
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins (conductor)
Hyperion CDA68190 (recorded London 2016)
3.50pm
Record of the Week: Andrew picks a new release that has most impressed him this week.
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m002srlf)
Edith speaks to Danny Elfman
Join Edith Bowman for the ultimate weekly round-up of top-tier film scores and movie soundtracks. This week, Edith will be speaking to composer Danny Elfman about one of his latest projects - Gus Van Sant's Dead Man's Wire - and also about his hugely prolific and eclectic career. We'll also be welcoming back Scottish composer Craig Armstrong, who'll be talking about his score to the 2006 film World Trade Center in this week's Harmonising Hollywood.
And British saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch chooses his Pick of the Flicks, featuring the music of Terence Blanchard.
Plus newly released music from films currently streaming and in UK cinemas, as well as a selection from some classic movie music.
SAT 17:00 Opera on 3 (m002srlh)
Wagner's Tristan and Isolde
From the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Wagner's depiction of the intense, forbidden love between a Cornish knight and an Irish princess.
Tristan has been tasked with transporting Isolde to Cornwall to marry his uncle, King Marke. It's not a good start, as Isolde knows Tristan killed her fiance Morold. She orders her maid to prepare a poison for them both, but Brangäne has other ideas, and substitutes a love potion instead. Wagner's music all stems from the opening 'Tristan chord', using unprecedented chromaticism, tonal ambiguity and harmonic suspension.
Lise Davidsen takes on one of the ultimate roles for dramatic soprano, with Michael Spyres as the love-drunk Tristan. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the work for the first time.
Presented from New York by Debra Lew Harder and Ira Siff.
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde
Isolde ..... Lise Davidsen (soprano)
Tristan ..... Michael Spyres (tenor)
Brangäne ..... Ekaterina Gubanova (mezzo-soprano)
King Marke ..... Ryan Speedo Green (bass-baritone)
Kurwenal ..... Tomasz Konieczny (bass-baritone)
Steersman ..... Ben Brady (bass-baritone)
Melot ..... Thomas Glass (baritone)
Shepherd ..... Jonas Hacker (tenor)
Sailor's Voice ..... Ben Reisinger (tenor)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Chorus and Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor)
SAT 22:30 New Music Show (m002srlk)
Icelandic Chill
Tom Service presents two new recordings of Icelandic music by Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Bara Gisladottir, from February's BBC 'Total Immersion' Icelandic weekend. We also celebrate the 90th birthday of English composer and pianist Mike Westbrook. And we hear the latest in new music releases from around the world.
SUNDAY 22 MARCH 2026
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002srlm)
Mahler and Helen Grime from Cologne
The WDR Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ingo Metzmacher perform Helen Grime's Near Midnight and Mahler's 7th Symphony. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Helen Grime (b.1981)
Near Midnight
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Ingo Metzmacher (conductor)
12:43 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Symphony no 7 in E minor
WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Ingo Metzmacher (conductor)
01:59 AM
Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643)
Canzon seconda à 4, due Canti a due Bassi
Musica Fiata Köln, Roland Wilson (director)
02:04 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Kindertotenlieder
Zandra McMaster (mezzo soprano), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen (conductor)
02:31 AM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
Missa Dei filii (Missa ultimarum secundat) ZWV.20
Martina Janková (soprano), Wiebke Lehmkuhl (contralto), Krystian Adam Krzeszowiak (tenor), Felix Rumpf (bass), Dresdner Kammerchor, Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, Václav Luks (conductor)
03:12 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano trio op.11 in B flat major, 'Gassenhauer-Trio'
Arcadia Trio
03:35 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Ballet music from Otello, Act III
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Ros-Marbà (conductor)
03:41 AM
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968)
Capriccio diabolico for guitar, Op 85
Goran Listes (guitar)
03:50 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto in D minor, RV 128
Arte dei Suonatori, Eduardo Lopez Banzo (conductor)
03:56 AM
Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872)
4 Choral Songs
Polish Radio Choir, Marek Kluza (director)
04:04 AM
Dario Castello (1602-1631)
Sonata IV, for 2 violins and continuo [from Sonate concertarte in stil moderno, Libro primo. Venice 1629]
Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini (director)
04:13 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Fantasia on an Irish song 'The last rose of summer' for piano, Op 15
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
04:22 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Two Waltzes, Op 54 [1.Moderato; 2.Allegro vivace]
Sebastian String Quartet
04:31 AM
Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787)
Symphony in D major, Op 10 no 5
La Stagione Frankfurt, Michael Schneider (conductor)
04:40 AM
Rudolf Tobias (1873-1918)
Sonatina no 2 in C major
Vardo Rumessen (piano)
04:50 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Kyrie from Missa Sancti Henrici (1701)
James Griffett (tenor), Michael Schopper (bass), Regensburger Domspatzen, Collegium Aureum, Herbert Metzger (organ), Georg Ratzinger (conductor)
04:58 AM
Louis Spohr (1784-1859)
Fantasia and Variations on a theme of Franz Danzi in B flat major, Op.81
László Horvath (clarinet), New Budapest Quartet
05:06 AM
Stefan Wolpe (1902-1972)
Three Time Wedding
Alexander Lonquich (piano)
05:15 AM
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (1791-1844)
Songs for Baritone and Piano
Wolf Matthias Friedrich (baritone), Vera Kooper (piano)
05:24 AM
Mieczysław Karłowicz (1876-1909)
Returning waves - symphonic poem
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andrzej Straszynski (conductor)
05:49 AM
Jules August Demersseman (1833-1866)
Concert Fantasy for 2 flutes and piano (Op.36)
Matej Zupan (flute), Karolina Santl-Zupan (flute), Dijana Tanovic (piano)
06:01 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
String Quartet in C major, K.465, "Dissonance"
Casals Quartet, Jonathan Brown (viola), Vera Martínez-Mehner (violin), Abel Tomàs (violin), Arnau Tomàs (cello)
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002srlp)
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 (m002srlr)
Three Hours of Classical Sparkle
Sarah Walker brings you three hours of classical music to reflect, restore, and refresh.
On today's show, Sarah soundtracks your Sunday morning with a range of treats, including Beethoven's complete Moonlight Sonata by the legend Alfred Brendel; another chance to hear part of the Brentano String Quartet's performance last Monday from London's Wigmore Hall; and another Sunday Sequence - 3 pieces of music in a row all with a common link - this one inspired by composer and astronomer William Herschel.
Sarah's choral reflection this week features Mozart's much-loved setting of Ave Verum Corpus in a recording by the Handel & Haydn Society conducted by Harry Christophers, and we pay a visit to Anton Lyadov's fairytale Enchanted Lake.
Also, glorious Haydn recorded live at the Wigmore Hall...
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3.
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002srlt)
Sir Ian Blatchford, Science Museum director
Sir Ian Blatchford has been the Director of the Science Museum in London for more than 15 years – the longest serving director in its history.
He also oversees the National Railway Museum in York, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, Locomotion in County Durham, and the Science and Innovation Park in Wiltshire - all enjoyed by more than four million visitors last year.
He was the first in his family to go to university and his early career was in banking, but his passion was for culture. He combined the two as Finance Director at the V+A, before crossing the road to lead the Science Museum. It’s currently a very challenging time for anyone running a museum, with hard questions about funding, sponsorship and exhibition content.
His musical choices include Elgar, Monteverdi, Wagner and Sarah Vaughan.
Producer: Katy Hickman
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002srlw)
Delius's On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores the vernal landscape that surrounds Delius' joyous ode to spring, including Schubert's Vienna and Takemitsu's Tokyo cherry blossom. There is folk song from England and Norway and avian renditions from Beethoven's "Pastoral" symphony. Along with a nest-hogging concerto by Vivaldi, Sara reveals exactly how to imitate the call of the cuckoo.
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002sdg4)
St Michael’s Church, Barnes, London
From St Michael’s Church, Barnes, London with the choir of Tiffin School.
Introit: The Blackthorn Carol (Oliver Tarney)
Responses: Neary
Office hymn: The growing limbs of God the son (Gonfalon Royal)
Psalm 132 (Wesley)
First Lesson: Hosea 11 vv1-9
Canticles: New College Service (Howells)
Second Lesson: Luke 2 vv41-52
Anthem: Like as the hart (Howells)
Hymn: Cross of Jesus (Cross of Jesus)
Voluntary: Rhapsody No 3 in C sharp minor (Howells)
James Day (Director of Choral Music)
Richard Gowers (Organist)
Recorded 13 March.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002srly)
Frank Zappa to Nancy Wilson & beyond!
Alyn Shipton presents jazz records of all styles as requested by you including music from saxophonists Melissa Aldanni & Chris Potter, vocalists Betty Bennett & Nancy Wilson & Frank Zappa.
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 (m002srm0)
Echoes
Mark Seow explores the subject of echoes, from Ovid's Roman myth of Echo to the echo effects employed by Gabrieli at St Mark's in Venice and the science behind echoes themselves.
Including music by Lawes, Schutz, Monteverdi, Gabrieli, Couperin, Handel and Lassus.
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 (m002srm2)
An English countryside calendar
Few artists evoke the British landscape so unforgettably as John Constable, with paintings like The Haywain, The Cornfield and A Country Lane bringing to mind the timeless cycle of the seasons. And so we celebrate English rural life in honour of Constable's birth 250 years ago with the actor and farmer Martin Clunes and The Archers actor Louiza Patikas. Their readings will connect us with rural bliss in John Clare’s Farm Breakfast, with the starker realities of life in the country in Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm and the unalloyed beauty of the land with John Keats, Gillian Clarke and Thomas Hardy. There is music tracking the seasons and celebrating sowing, growth and harvest, from Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze to Chaminade's Automne to Vaughan Williams' Pastoral Symphony.
Your readers are the actor and farmer Martin Clunes and Louiza Patikas, who plays Helen in The Archers on BBC Radio 4.
READINGS:
Anthony Bailey - John Constable: A Kingdom of His Own
Virgil - Georgics
William Wordsworth - Lines Written in Early Spring
Thomas Hardy - Jude the Obscure
John Clare - Farm Breakfast
Christina Rossetti - Spring
Edna St Vincent Millay - April
Anthony Bailey - John Constable: A Kingdom of His Own
Flora Thompson - Lark Rise to Candleford
Joe Dunthorn - Wild Abandon
Bella Bathurst - Field Work
Henry David Thoreau - Walden
Mimi Khalvati - The Black and White Cows
DH Lawrence - The Rainbow
George Eliot - Adam Bede
Anthony Bailey - John Constable: A Kingdom of His Own
Gillian Clarke - Plums
AG Street - Farmer’s Glory
John Keats – To Autumn
Andrew Miller - The Land in Winter
Emily Bronte - Spellbound
Stella Gibbons - Cold Comfort Farm
Helen McDonald - H is for Hawk
Gerard Manley Hopkins - Spring
Produced in Salford by Olive Clancy
SUN 19:15 Between the Ears (m002srm4)
Elephant Voices
In Between the Ears: Elephant Voices, science journalist Laura Spinney explores a unique archive of elephant calls and behaviour with its creator, Joyce Poole, a world authority on elephant communication. They listen to moments of birth, joy, mating, danger and death from the perspective of the elephants – as well as hearing Joyce's field note recordings from her studies.
Elephant Ella is in labour and her family are trumpeting and rumbling in ceremony. Angelina watches in despair as one of her twin calfs floats seemingly lifeless down a stream. Edwina goes missing whilst her family call for her. Toni grieves over her dead calf. And is Malaika really mimicking a truck?
This is elephant domesticity in audio form, except that there is nothing domesticated about these elephants. They belong to one of the 60-odd families who roam wild in Kenya's Amboseli National Park, and whom Joyce Poole has studied and recorded for nearly 50 years. The clip belongs to a remarkable online archive of elephant calls and behaviour, the Elephant Ethogram, that she and her husband Petter made public in 2021.
The Amboseli Elephant Research Project founded by Cynthia Moss in 1972 and still run by her is the longest running of its kind, and much of what we know about elephant communication comes from it. It's thanks to Ella, Angelina, Edwina, Toni, Malaika and their families that we know elephants can communicate over staggeringly long distances, using beautiful, body-shaking calls below the audible range, that elephants address each other by name - being of the very few species besides humans to do so.
Joyce Poole in conversation with Laura Spinney
Music Composed by Nick Romero
Flute - Carla Rees
Producer Julian Mayers
A Yada-Yada Production
SUN 19:45 Sunday Feature (m0026nml)
New Generation Thinkers: At Home with Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas
Sophie Oliver takes us inside the remarkable home of the American novelist, poet and playwright Gertrude Stein and her partner Alice Toklas in Paris to look at the material objects they cherished - from an embroidered waistcoat that Alice made for Gertrude to a fabric sculpture of their pet poodle, Basket, that Picasso made for Gertrude by way of an apology.
Using the objects, she takes listeners inside Stein’s artistic and literary world; her queer life with Alice; and her object-obsessed poetry. She reflects on what these objects meant to Gertrude and Alice and how they built a life with them, and she considers if the home is always a place of refuge.
Contributors
Victoria Avery, Keeper of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Laynie Brown, poet, prose writer, artist, editor and teacher at University of Pennsylvania.
Liesl Olson, author of Modernism and the Ordinary (Oxford, 2009) and Director of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Hannah Roche, Senior Lecturer in Twentieth-Century Literature and Culture at the University of York.
Music by Tom Parkinson
Objects courtesy of Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, and Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University
Producer
Mohini Patel
SUN 20:00 Record Review (m002srm6)
Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'
The Building a Library recommended recording from yesterday's Record Review.
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002srm8)
Claude Vivier: Imaginary worlds
Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present BBC Radio 3's series exploring the pivotal 'modern' musical works of the 20th century, the groundbreaking composers who created them, and the radical cultural and artistic movements which gave rise to them. In this episode, Kate explores the many imaginary worlds of Claude Vivier, leading to a full performance of his work Zipangu from 1980. We’ll enter the musical universe of sound poetry, find out who it was who got to extended techniques before John Cage, and embark upon journeys to Japan, Iran and Bali.
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 (m002srmb)
Easter: A Seasonal Journey... Lent 5
A reflective service of night prayer from the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tetbury. With words and music for the end of the day, including works by Gibbons, Byrd and Anerio, sung by St Martin's Voices.
Introit: Jesu, grant me this, I pray (Gibbons, arr. Philip Moore)
Preces (Plainsong)
Hymn: Glory be to Jesus (Caswall)
Psalm 130 (Plainsong)
Reading: Lamentations 3 vv19-24
Responsory: Into thy hands, O Lord (Plainsong)
Nunc Dimittis: Fauxbourdon Service (Byrd)
Anthem: Christus factus est (Anerio)
Andrew Earis (Conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Compline”.
SUN 22:30 Night Tracks (m002srmd)
Music for the darkling hour
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002q404)
Tune into Nature
From birdsong to rainfall and the sounds of the soil - open your ears for selections that celebrate the natural world as Elizabeth Alker announces the winner of this year's Tune into Nature Prize. We'll also hear some of the shortlisted entries as we journey through late-night landscapes of ambient and experimental music.
Produced by Connor Gani
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Unclassified”.
MONDAY 23 MARCH 2026
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002srmg)
Dvořák, Widmann and Stravinsky from Stockholm
Soloist Stefan Dohr joins the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Daniel Harding in Jörg Widmann's Horn Concerto plus works by Dvořák and Stravinsky. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
The Wild Dove op 110
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding (conductor)
12:53 AM
Jörg Widmann (b.1973)
Horn Concerto
Stefan Dohr (horn), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding (conductor)
01:33 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Petrushka (1947 version)
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding (conductor)
02:09 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971), arr. Igor Stravinsky
Concerto in E flat 'Dumbarton Oaks' arr. for two pianos
James Anagnoson (piano), Leslie Kinton (piano)
02:24 AM
Česlovas Sasnauskas (1867-1916)
Little Blue Dove
Virgilijus Noreika (tenor), Vilnius String Quintet
02:31 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Violin Sonata in A major, Op 47 'Kreutzer'
Geir Inge Lotsberg (violin), Einar Steen-Nøkleberg (piano)
03:08 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV.42 - cantata
Voces Suaves, Cafebaum
03:36 AM
Sigismond Thalberg (1812-1871)
Variations on 'Home, sweet home' for piano, Op 72
Dennis Hennig (piano)
03:42 AM
August de Boeck (1865-1937)
Fantasy on two Flemish Folk Songs
Vlaams Radio Orkest [Flemish Radio Orchestra], Marc Soustrot (conductor)
03:50 AM
Johan Halvorsen (1864-1935), George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Passacaglia after Handel
Byungchan Lee (violin), Cameron Crozman (cello)
03:57 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
'Agrippina'; overture
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ondrej Lenárd (conductor)
04:04 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
Fantasy for flute and piano
Lóránt Kovács (flute), Erika Lux (piano)
04:09 AM
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), arr. R.Klugescheid
My Heart At Thy Sweet Voice, arr. for piano trio
Moshe Hammer (violin), Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi (cello), William Tritt (piano)
04:13 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Keyboard Sonata in A minor, Wq 57 no 2
Pavel Kolesnikov (piano)
04:22 AM
Franz Schreker (1878-1934)
Scherzo for String Orchestra
Festival Strings Lucerne, Daniel Dodds (conductor)
04:31 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto in D minor, Op 3 no 11, from 'L'Estro Armonico'
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Jeanne Lamon (conductor)
04:40 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
3 Studies for piano, Op 104b
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
04:48 AM
Johann Caspar Kerll (1627-1693)
Exulta satis - Offertorium for countertenor, tenor, two violins, viola and bc
Hassler Consort
04:58 AM
Antonio de Cabezón (1510-1566)
3 works for Arpa Doppia
Margret Köll (arpa doppia)
05:07 AM
Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)
Italian Serenade
Ljubljanski Godalni Quartet [Ljubljana String Quartet]
05:15 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Quadro in G minor, TWV 43:g4
Bolette Roed (recorder), Arte dei Suonatori
05:25 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony no 92 in G major, 'Oxford' (H.
1.92)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Heinz Wallberg (conductor)
05:50 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Muhseligen, Op 74 no 1
Hover State Chamber Chorus of Armenia, Sona Hovhannisyan (conductor)
06:01 AM
Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940)
Piano Trio in A minor, Op Posth
Gould Piano Trio
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002sq5x)
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 (m002sq5z)
Your perfect classical playlist
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 (m002sq61)
Schubert’s F minor Fantasie live from Wigmore Hall
A showcase of great performances from the UK and abroad including a focus on Czech music and live music-making from Wigmore Hall in London from pianists Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy. Also in today's programme, highlights from the recent series of concerts given at LSO St. Luke's exploring the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries
LIVE FROM WIGMORE HALL
Introduced for Classical Live by Hannah French
Pavel Kolesnikov (piano)
Samson Tsoy (piano)
Franz Schubert
Fantasie in F minor D. 940
Leoš Janačék
Piano Sonata 1. X. 1905 ('From the Street')
Aleksander Scriabin
Vers la flamme Op. 72
Ludwig van Beethoven
Grosse Fuge Op. 134
*****
14:00
Presented by Mark Forrest
Bedřich Smetana
Má vlast (My Homeland) - Vltava (The Moldau)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)
Avril Coleridge-Taylor
Sussex Landscape, Op. 23
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Andrews (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Four Poems by Fredegond Shove
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
Serge Prokofiev
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D, Op. 19
Tsukushi Sasaki (violin)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Jan Sedláček (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Grace Williams
Violin Sonata
Geneva Lewis (violin)
Sam Armstrong (piano)
Bedřich Smetana
Má vlast (My Homeland) - Vysehrad
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)
MON 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002sq63)
Thomas Adès
A Meteoric Rise
Donald Macleod talks to Thomas Adès about the music that first propelled him to stardom, while still in his twenties - the composer’s first opera, Powder Her Face.
They also discuss Adès's early years and the influence of his parents on his his creative path, and Thomas recalls the emotional impact of his very first encounter with opera in the music of Bizet’s Carmen.
Hotel Suite from Powder Her Face (Overture)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Collon, conductor
Gefriolsae Me, Op 3B
Choir of King’s College Cambridge
Robert Quinney, organ
Stephen Cleobury, director
Arcadiana (excerpt)
Calder Quartet
Chamber Symphony
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Thomas Adès, conductor
…but all shall be well
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Adès, conductor
Powder Her Face (Act 1, excerpt)
Valdine Anderson (Waitress), soprano
Almeida Ensemble
Thomas Adès, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002sq66)
Pianist Siqian Li and Unicorn Theatre Artistic Director Rachel Bagshaw
Pianist Siqian Li performs live in the studio and chats with Petroc about her new album "Voyage Among Fragments", and the Unicorn Theatre's Artistic Director, Rachel Bagshaw, talks Petroc through their new season.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002sq68)
Your daily classical soundtrack
Wind down at the end of a busy day with half an hour of back to back classical music, including a lyrical prelude by Rachmaninov, an atmospheric seascape by Anna Clyne, and a haunting theme tune to a popular, long-running TV crime drama series by John Harle. As the Spring equinox nudges us into a new season, there are echoes of winter in music by Vivaldi and Lars-Erik Larsson, French melody from Claude Debussy and a film score by Georges Delerue. Also in the sequence is a profoundly moving choral work by the Scottish composer James MacMillan, written in memory of the victims of the Dunblane massacre 30 years ago this month.
Producer: Helen Garrison
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002sq6b)
Elgar’s Enigma Variations
A concert of masterpieces from three contrasting contemporaries of the last century forms the programme from the Sinfonia of London given as part of its residency at the Glasshouse in Gateshead, conducted by recent RPS Award winner John Wilson. The French pianist Alexandre Kantorow joins the orchestra for Prokofiev’s fiendishly virtuosic 3rd Piano Concerto, and the concert is bookended by musical portraits from Elgar and Richard Strauss. Introduced by Mark Forrest.
Richard Strauss - Don Juan, Op. 20
Sergei Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No 3 in C major, Op. 26
(Alexandre Kantorow, piano)
Interval
Edward Elgar - Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 (‘Enigma’)
Sinfonia of London
John Wilson (conductor)
MON 21:45 The Essay (m002sq6g)
Erland Cooper's Cities of the Imagination
Kitezh: The Invisible City Beneath the Waves
In his third series for The Essay, composer Erland Cooper turns his attention once again to the mythical world. This time, he embarks on five imaginary journeys to cities. Accompanying him are writers, academics and storytellers who know all about these legendary locations. Each episode is scored by Erland's own music.
In this episode, we journey into the dense forests of central Russia to uncover the legend of Kitezh. Known as the "invisible city," Kitezh is said to have vanished beneath the pearl-shaped waters of Lake Svetloyar to escape marauding medieval invaders According to legend, God "disappeared" the city in response to the prayers of its righteous citizens, leaving the attackers to find nothing but an empty lakeshore.
Accompanying Erland is Dr. Jane Costlow, an expert in environmental studies and Russian literature who has herself travelled to Lake Svetloyar.
Forest field recordings made by composer Andrew Philippov
Reader: Molly Gromadzki
Producer: Victoria Ferran
Exec producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002sq6m)
Immersive music for late-night listening
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
MON 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002q4mp)
Jamie Cullum sits in
This week, broadcaster and jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum is sitting in for Soweto.
From Monday to Thursday, Jamie is joined by leading UK pianist Neil Cowley. A celebrated jazz artist, and classically trained musician, Neil is well known for his 'Neil Cowley Trio', with their signature mix of jazz and rock, and engaging live performances. Neil is also a first-call pianist for other artists, including with seminal R&B, funk and soul bands the Brand New Heavies and Zero 7, and with Adele, Emeli Sandé, and Michael Kiwanuka. After a 7-year hiatus from the trio to pursue solo projects, Neil reunited with them in 2024. His most recent album is a celebration of one of his key and early influences, titled Built on Bach.
From Monday to Thursday, Neil is giving Flowers to some of the contemporary artists that he admires. To start his selections, Neil picks a drummer and vocalist whose musical approach he appreciates.
There is also music from DJ Harrison and Yazmin Lacey, Elliot Galvin, and Nina Simone.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
TUESDAY 24 MARCH 2026
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002sq6p)
Brahms, Mendelssohn and Dvořák from Vilnius
Violinist Anne Luisa Kramb joins the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and conductor Luis Toro Araya in Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and the orchestra plays Brahms's Tragic Overture and Dvořák's 7th Symphony. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Tragic Overture, Op 81
Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Luis Toro Araya (conductor)
12:45 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64
Anne Luisa Kramb (violin), Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Luis Toro Araya (conductor)
01:13 AM
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
Leicht bewegte Viertel, from 'Sonata no 2, Op 31'
Anne Luisa Kramb (violin)
01:16 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Symphony no 7 in D minor, Op 70
Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Luis Toro Araya (conductor)
01:53 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Lieder ohne Worte - book 2 (Op.30), no.6; Venetianisches Gondellied in F# minor
Leonora Armellini (piano)
01:56 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
String Quartet no 1 in C minor, Op 51 no 1
Casals Quartet
02:31 AM
John Carmichael (b.1930)
Trumpet Concerto (1972)
Kevin Johnston (trumpet), West Australian Symphony Orchestra, David Measham (conductor)
02:56 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Piano Sonata in A minor D.845, Op 42
Louis Schwizgebel (piano)
03:32 AM
Giuseppe Martucci (1856-1909)
Noveletta for orchestra, Op 82 no 2
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nello Santi (conductor)
03:39 AM
Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)
Part-song book - 4 madrigals for mixed chorus
Danish National Radio Choir, Stefan Parkman (conductor)
03:48 AM
Giacomo Facco (1676-1753)
Sinfonia no.9 in C minor for cello and basso continuo
La Guirlande
03:59 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886), Eduard Lassen (librettist)
Löse Himmel, meine seele, S.494
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
04:05 AM
Alexander Albrecht (1885-1958)
Quintet for piano, flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Pavol Kovac (piano), Bratislava Wind Quintet
04:13 AM
Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967)
Adagio for viola and piano in C major
Morten Carlsen (viola), Sergej Osadchuk (piano)
04:23 AM
Georges Auric (1899-1983), arr. Philip Lane
Suite from 'Passport to Pimlico'
BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba (conductor)
04:31 AM
Frederick the Great (1712-1786)
Sonata in C minor for flute and basso continuo
Konrad Hünteler (flute), Wouter Möller (cello), Ton Koopman (harpsichord)
04:40 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), arr. Edvard Grieg
Sonata for piano in C major, K545
Julie Adam (piano), Daniel Herscovitch (piano)
04:49 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Cantata, 'O Jesu Christ, mein's Lebens Licht', BWV.118
Collegium Vocale, Collegium Vocale Gent Orchestra, Philippe Herreweghe (conductor)
04:58 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
2 Hungarian Dances - no 11 in D minor, no 5 in G minor
Sinfonia Varsovia, Robert Treviño (conductor)
05:06 AM
Giles Farnaby (c. 1563 - 1640), arr. Elgar Howarth
Fancies, Toyes and Dreams
Brass Consort Köln
05:15 AM
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Partite Sopra Follia
Enrico Baiano (harpsichord)
05:23 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony No.99 (H.
1.99) in E flat major
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, James Clark (conductor)
05:50 AM
François Couperin (1668-1733)
Treizieme concert à deux violes
Violes Esgales (duo)
06:01 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Gloria in D major, RV.589
Ann Monoyios (soprano), Matthew White (counter tenor), Colin Ainsworth (tenor), Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Ivars Taurins (conductor)
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002sq90)
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 (m002sq93)
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 (m002sq95)
Dvorak's 3rd Symphony from Prague
Mark Forrest introduces specially made recordings of orchestral music from Prague and chamber music from Vaughan Williams and some of his great contemporaries recorded at LSO St. Luke's in London
Including:
Bedřich Smetana
Má vlast (My Homeland)
Z ceských luhu a háju (From Bohemia's Fields and Forests)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)
Henriette Bosmans
Concertstuk for violin an orchestra
Benjamin Nabarro (violin)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
George Vass (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Elizabeth Maconchy
In Fountain Court
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Elizabeth Maconchy
Ophelia’s Song
The Woodspurge
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 10
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Jan Sedláček (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Rebecca Clarke
Piano Trio
Nash Ensemble
Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano)
Stephanie Gonley (violin)
Eivind Ringstad (viola)
Adrian Brendel (cello)
From LSO St. Luke’s
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Four Last Songs
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
Jessie Montgomery
Strum
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Delyana Lazarova (conductor)
Richard Strauss
Burleske in D minor for piano and orchestra
Mao Fujita (piano)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)
TUE 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002sq97)
Thomas Adès
Influences and Inspiration
Donald Macleod talks to Thomas Adès about his second opera, based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and the unique creative process of writing for the stage.
They also discuss the impact of the immense acclaim that followed the success of his first opera, Powder Her Face, and the the significant influence of another composer upon Adès - the Hungarian György Kurtág.
Living Toys (Angels)
London Sinfonietta
Markus Stenz, conductor [shtents]
Still Sorrowing (excerpt)
Thomas Adès, piano
Powder Her Face (Act 2, excerpt)
Jill Gomez (Duchess), soprano
Roger Bryson (Hotel Manager), bass-baritone
Almeida Ensemble
Thomas Adès, conductor
Asyla
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Simon Rattle, conductor
Concerto Conciso (excerpt)
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Thomas Adès, conductor
The Tempest (Act 2, excerpt)
Simon Keenlyside (Prospero), baritone
Ian Bostridge (Caliban), tenor
Philip Langridge (The King of Naples), tenor
Donald Kaasch (Antonio), tenor
David Cordier (Trinculo), countertenor
Jonathan Summers (Sebastian), baritone
Graeme Denby (Gonzalo), bass
Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Thomas Adès, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002sq99)
Alessio Bax, Paul Watkins, Radovan Vlatković and Robert Hollingworth
Petroc introduces live music from Alessio Bax, Paul Watkins and Radovan Vlatković ahead of appearing at the London Festival of Chamber Music.
Petroc also chats to Robert Hollingworth, director and founder of I Fagiolini, about their 40th anniversary, Kings Place residency and latest album.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002sq9c)
Classical music for your journey
A mixtape bursting with classical favourites and lesser-known gems, with music by composers from Chopin and Beethoven to Caroline Shaw and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – plus moving arrangements of traditional spirituals and folk tunes. Produced by Christina Kenny.
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002sq9f)
Berg's Violin Concerto
Ian Skelly presents a concert from the Barbican Hall in London, recorded on 26th February 2026.
Alban Berg's violin concerto is one the composer's most beloved pieces, and it was an intensely personal work serving both as a memorial to the daughter of dear friends and ultimately as the composer's own requiem; he died less than four months after finishing the score.
The first performance of Rachmaninov's youthful First Symphony was such a disaster (thanks to a poorly prepared orchestra and allegedly drunk conductor) that he wrote almost nothing after it for three years, such was the depression he sank into. Now the piece is regarded as a great masterpiece of a talented young composer.
The London Symphony Orchestra with conductor Gianandrea Noseda perform two more great masterpieces, joined by one of the greatest violinists of our time, Patricia Kopatchinskaja.
Debussy: "Nuages" and "Fêtes" (From "Three Nocturnes")
Berg: Violin Concerto
Rachmaninov: Symphony No 1
Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin)
London Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)
TUE 21:45 The Essay (m002sq9h)
Erland Cooper's Cities of the Imagination
The Hunt For Zerzura
In his third series for The Essay, composer Erland Cooper turns his attention once again to the mythical world. This time he embarks on five imaginary journeys to cities. Accompanying him are writers, academics and storytellers who know all about these legendary locations. Each episode is scored by Erland's own music.
In this episode, Erland journies deep into the heart of the Sahara’s Great Sand Sea - one of the most inhospitable landscapes on Earth - to uncover the mystery of Zerzura, a legendary desert oasis said to be filled with enchanted treasure. But as explorer and author Robert Twigger explains, the search for this "lost" city has always been about more than just literal gold.
Singing sands recorded by Professor Trevor Cox
Reader: Molly Gromadzki
Producer: Victoria Ferran
Exec producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002sq9k)
Dissolve into a nocturnal soundworld
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
TUE 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002q52z)
New from Huw Marc Bennett
This week, broadcaster, jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum is sitting in for Soweto. Tonight, pianist and bandleader Neil Cowley has a second bunch of Flowers to give to an artist that he is inspired by, and this time it’s the turn of a harpist, synth player and composer that Neil is continuously impressed by.
Also in the programme, there’s music from Johanna Rose, Bill Frisell, and Talkline.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2026
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002sq9m)
Chaminade, Ravel and Shostakovich from Madrid
Piano trios by Chaminade, Ravel and Shostakovich with the Sitkovetsky Trio. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Piano Trio no 2 in A minor op 34
Sitkovetsky Trio
12:54 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Piano Trio in A minor
Sitkovetsky Trio
01:21 AM
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Piano Trio no 2 in E minor, Op 67
Sitkovetsky Trio
01:50 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924), Paul Verlaine (author)
En sourdine
Karina Gauvin (soprano), Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
01:53 AM
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Semmy Stahlhammer (violin), Roland Pöntinen (piano)
02:15 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), arr. Richard McIntyre
Ma Mere l'Oye (Mother Goose Suite)
Canberra Wind Soloists, Vernon Hill (flute), David Nuttall (oboe), Alan Vivian (clarinet), Richard McIntyre (bassoon), Dominic Harvey (horn)
02:31 AM
Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)
Missa sancta no 1 in E flat major 'Freischutzmesse', J.224
Norwegian Soloist Choir, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Grete Pedersen (conductor)
03:04 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Six Moments musicaux, D.780
Piotr Alexewicz (piano)
03:34 AM
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Festive Overture, Op 96
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Uri Mayer (conductor)
03:41 AM
Miguel Yuste (1870-1947)
Estudio melodico for clarinet and piano, Op 33
Cristo Barrios (clarinet), Lila Gailing (piano)
03:48 AM
Ion Dumitrescu (1913-1996)
Symphonic Prelude
Romanian Youth Orchestra, Cristian Mandeal (conductor)
03:58 AM
Santiago de Murcia (1673-1739)
2 pieces from 'Codex de Saldívar'
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar), Pedro Estevan (percussion)
04:07 AM
Väinö Haapalainen (1893-1945)
Lemminkainen Overture
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Atso Almila (conductor)
04:15 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Arabeske for piano in C major, Op 18
Seung-Hee Kim (piano)
04:22 AM
Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758)
Concerto in B minor, FWV L:h1
Café Zimmermann
04:31 AM
Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872)
Overture to Halka (Original version)
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Łukasz Borowicz (conductor)
04:39 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Rhapsody for piano in B minor, Op 79 no 1
Steven Osborne (piano)
04:49 AM
Ludvig Norman (1831-1885), Nicolaus Hermanni (author)
Rosa rorans bonitatem, Op 45
Eva Wedin (mezzo soprano), Swedish Radio Choir, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gustav Sjökvist (conductor)
04:57 AM
Willem De Fesch (1687-1761)
Concerto for 2 flutes and orchestra in G minor, Op 5 no 2
Jed Wentz (flute), Marion Moonen (flute), Musica ad Rhenum
05:06 AM
Bálint Bakfark (c.1530-1576)
Fantasia; Je prens en gré for lute (after Clemens non Papa)
Jacob Heringman (lute)
05:13 AM
Dall'Abaco, Evaristo Felice (1675-1742)
Concerto a piu istrumenti in F major, Op 6 no 3
Il Tempio Armonico
05:21 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Sinfonia concertante for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and orchestra (K.297b)
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Terje Tønnesen (conductor)
05:51 AM
Carl Czerny (1791-1857)
Fantasie for piano duet in F minor
Stefan Lindgren (piano), Daniel Propper (piano)
06:01 AM
Carolus Antonius Fodor (1768-1846)
Symphony no 3 in C minor, Op 19
Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Anthony Halstead (conductor)
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002sqf7)
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 (m002sqf9)
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 (m002sqfc)
Music for the seasons from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra present a concert to welcome the arrival of Spring inspired by the seasons, plus music by Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries from LSO St. Luke's. Presented by Mark Forrest.
Josef Suk
Tale of a Winter's Evening, Op. 9
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Sky Above the Roof
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
********************
c
13.30
BBC PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA CONCERT
‘Into Spring Series’
Presented for Classical Live by Al Ryan
Lili Boulanger
D’un matin de printemps
Felix Mendelssohn
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Overture, Intermezzo, Nocturne, Scherzo
Edvard Grieg
In Autumn
Kaija Saariaho
Ciel d’hiver
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgards (conductor)
********************
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Rebecca Clarke
Return of Spring
Colour of Life
Tears
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
Maurice Ravel
Violin Sonata No.1, Op. posth. M. 12
Geneva Lewis (violin)
Sam Armstrong (piano)
Rebecca Clarke
The Seal Man
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002sqff)
St Barnabas Church, Ealing
From St Barnabas Church Ealing, London with Imperial College Chamber Choir on the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord.
Introit: Ave Maria (Bruckner)
Responses: Rose
Office Hymn: The Angel Gabriel (Trad. Basque)
Psalms 131, 146 (Robin Flower, Pallav Bagchi)
First Lesson: Isaiah 52 vv1-12
Canticles: Gloucester Service (Kerensa Briggs)
Second Lesson: Luke 1 vv26-38
Anthem: A Hymn to the Virgin (Britten)
Prayer Anthem: Jesu the Very Thought of You is Sweet (Wood)
Hymn: For Mary Mother of Our Lord (St Botolph)
Voluntary: Ancient Sunlight (Judith Bingham)
Patrick Allies (Director of Music)
Simon Hogan (Organist)
Recorded 18 March.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002sqfh)
Thomas Adès
Man of Many Talents
Donald Macleod asks Thomas Adès about his forays into performing and taking up roles as music director for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and the Aldeburgh Festival. Thomas also reveals his compulsion to revisit and edit his scores - sometimes years after they were first composed.
Mazurka for piano, Op 27 No 2
Thomas Adès, piano
The Tempest (Act 3, excerpt)
Ian Bostridge (Caliban), tenor
Cyndia Sieden (Ariel), soprano
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Thomas Adès, conductor
Lieux retrouvés (Les champs)
Steven Isserlis, cello
Thomas Adès, piano
Violin Concerto
Christian Tetzlaff, violin
BBC Philharmonic
John Storgårds, conductor
Concert Paraphrase on Powder Her Face (excerpt)
Thomas Adès, piano
In Seven Days (excerpt)
Nicholas Hodges, piano
London Sinfonietta
Thomas Adès, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002sqfk)
Sarah L King trio and pianist Thomas Kelly live in the studio
Jazz singer, composer and lyricist Sarah L King performs music from her new album The Light Ahead with Jim Watson on piano, with Laurence Cottle on electric bass.
Petroc also introduces live music from award-winning British pianist Thomas Kelly.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002kz1t)
A rich musical miscellany for the end of the day
Half an hour of musical delights, including Purcell, MacMillan, piano music by Hélène de Montgeroult and John Williams' haunting theme from Schindler's List.
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002sqfm)
Romeo and Juliet
Love and longing pervade music performed by the BBC Philharmonic under the baton of Ludovic Morlot in tonight's concert.
Music from one of the most ground-breaking operas opens the concert. "Lulu" is a controversial and uncompromising tale of female sexuality and bourgeois hypocrisy. Initially banned in the opera house, Berg tried to circumvent the authorities by creating a set of symphonic pieces from the drama, opening with this Rondo, full of lyrical and rich orchestral writing.
The BBC Philharmonic is joined by Lawrence Power for Cassandra Miller's Viola Concerto "I cannot love without trembling"; the fragility of existence and the nature of distance and separation are explored in her mesmerising work which shows the viola in its most expressive and personal guise. Lyricism and musical space combine in music that creates a unique and powerful atmosphere.
Conductor Ludovic Morlot's selection from Prokofiev's ballet 'Romeo and Juliet' takes us on the emotional journey of Shakespeare's "star-cross'd lovers", drawing on some of Prokofiev's best known and loved music, including that for the feuding houses of Montagues and Capulets.
Recorded at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall on 21 February and presented by Mark Forrest.
Alban Berg: Lulu - Rondo
Cassandra Miller: Viola Concerto "I cannot love without trembling"
Interval
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet - selection of music from the ballet
Lawrence Power (viola)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot
WED 21:45 The Essay (m002sqfp)
Erland Cooper's Cities of the Imagination
The Legend of Kêr-Is
In his third series for The Essay, composer Erland Cooper turns his attention once again to the mythical world. This time, he embarks on five imaginary journeys to cities. Accompanying him are writers, academics and storytellers who know all about these legendary locations. Each episode is scored by Erland's own music.
In this episode of Cities of the Imagination, we travel to the rugged coast of Brittany in search of Ker Ys, a mythical city of extravagant wealth swallowed by the Atlantic.
Local historian Wendy Mewes joins us to recount the dramatic fall of the city. We explore the legend of King Gradlon and his daughter Dahut, whose indulgence and "licentious behaviour" reportedly drew the wrath of God and led to the disappearance of the city beneath the ocean. We uncover how later revisions of the Breton myth transformed Dahut from a symbol of female freedom into a cautionary figure for the Christian church.
Reader: Molly Gromadzki
Producer: Victoria Ferran
Exec producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002sqfr)
Eclectic music for after dark
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
WED 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002q5qs)
Fresh from Tomeka Reid
This week, broadcaster, jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum is sitting in for Soweto Kinch. Neil Cowley has another bouquet to give to an artist that he takes influence from. Tonight, he chooses an American multi-instrumentalist whose solo and joint projects explore avenues of jazz, electronic music, funk and everything in between.
Also in the programme, there’s music from The Willow Trio, Temporary Blessings, and Rosa Brunello.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
THURSDAY 26 MARCH 2026
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002sqft)
Rodrigo, Krek and Schubert from Slovenia
Schubert's Fifth Symphony and Rodrigo's Concierto para una fiesta for guitar and orchestra, alongside Slovenian composer Uroš Krek's Sinfonia per archi, performed by the SNG Maribor Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Uroš Krek (1922-2008)
Sinfonia per archi
SNG Maribor Symphony Orchestra, Mojca Lavrenčič (conductor)
12:52 AM
Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Concierto para una fiesta for guitar and orchestra
Mak Grgić (guitar), SNG Maribor Symphony Orchestra, Mojca Lavrenčič (conductor)
01:22 AM
Miroslav Tadić (b.1959)
Chico
Mak Grgić (guitar)
01:26 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Symphony no 5 in B flat major, D.485
SNG Maribor Symphony Orchestra, Mojca Lavrenčič (conductor)
01:54 AM
Uroš Krek (1922-2008), Joze Udovic (author)
Samotno Ugibanje (Solitary Pondering)
Chamber Choir AVE, Andraž Hauptman (conductor)
01:59 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata no 32 in C minor, Op 111
Tatjana Ognjanovic (piano)
02:27 AM
Jacobus Gallus Carniolus (1550-1591)
Madrigal: Musica noster amor a 6, M 28
Ljubljanski madrigalisti, Matjaz Scek (director)
02:31 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Piano Trio no 1 in B major, Op 8
Trio Wanderer
03:08 AM
Jacques Ibert (1890-1962)
Flute Concerto
Sharon Bezaly (flute), Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Katowice, José Maria Florêncio (conductor)
03:29 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Sonata no 1 à 8, from sonatae tam aris, quam aulis servientes
Collegium Aureum
03:34 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
Nocturne for piano in E flat minor, Op 33 no 1
Livia Rev (piano)
03:42 AM
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
Salieri's Aria from Mozart and Salieri - opera in 1 act, Op 48
Robert Holl (bass), Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Kenneth Montgomery (conductor)
03:51 AM
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Havanaise, Op 83, arr. for violin and piano
Vilmos Szabadi (violin), Marta Gulyas (piano)
03:59 AM
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Overture (Suite) in G minor for oboe & basso continuo, TWV.41:g4
Ensemble of the Eighteenth Century, Susanne Regel (conductor)
04:10 AM
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Impromptu in G flat major, Op 51
Szymon Nehring (piano)
04:16 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Prologue: Dawn music & Siegfried's Rhine journey from Gotterdammerung
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly (conductor)
04:31 AM
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
O Sacrum Convivium!
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
04:35 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Aria with Variations, HWV.430 'Harmonious Blacksmith'
Marián Pivka (piano)
04:41 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Adagietto, from Symphony no 5 in C sharp minor
Berner Kammerorchester, Philippe Bach (conductor)
04:51 AM
Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Introduction and variations on a theme from Mozart's Magic Flute, Op 9
Ana Vidovic (guitar)
05:00 AM
Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
Suite for flute and piano, Op 34
Katherine Rudolph (flute), Rena Sharon (piano)
05:18 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Symphony no 88 in G major, H.
1.88
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck (conductor)
05:39 AM
Dora Pejačević (1885-1923)
Life of Flowers, Op 19
Ida Gamulin (piano)
06:00 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), orch. Henri Büsser
Printemps - Symphonic Suite
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Jun Märkl (conductor)
06:18 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Romance Op 11 in F minor (vers. for violin and piano)
Mincho Minchev (violin), Violinia Stoyanova (piano)
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002sqj4)
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 (m002sqj6)
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 (m002sqj8)
Shostakovich's 5th Symphony from Prague
Mark Forrest introduces an afternoon of exclusive concert recordings from the Czech Republic plus chamber music by Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries from London's LSO St. Luke's
Richard Strauss
Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
(Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks)
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Tomáš Hanus (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Grace Williams
‘The Billows of the Sea’ -
3. Black-Eyed Susan
Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
William Vann (piano)
Henriëtte Bosmans
Peome for cello and orchestra
Gemma Rosefield (cello)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
George Vass (conductor)
Leonard Bernstein
Divertimento for Orchestra
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Jan Sedláček (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending
Geneva Lewis (violin)
Sam Armstrong (piano)
Geraldine Mucha
Suite, Pictures from the Šumava - Letni Den (Summer Day)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Benjamin Britten
Reveille - Concert study for violin and piano
Geneva Lewis (violin)
Sam Armstrong (piano)
Jean Sibelius
The Oceanides, Op. 73
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša (conductor)
THU 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002sqjb)
Thomas Adès
The Conducting Bug
Thomas Adès tells Donald Macleod about the joys and challenges of conducting his own music, and reveals the inspiration behind one of his favourite orchestral creations.
Tevot (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Adès, conductor
The Four Quarters (excerpt)
Solem Quartet
Totentanz (excerpt)
Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano
Mark Stone, baritone
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Tomas Adès, conductor
Coffee-Spoon Cavatina
Iestyn Davies, countertenor
Joseph Middleton, piano
Alchymia
Mark Simpson, clarinet
Quatuor Diotima
Produced by Luke Whitlock
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002sqjd)
The Katona Twins guitar duo perform live
Petroc welcomes the Katona Twins guitar duo to In Tune ahead of their UK tour.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002sqjg)
Classical music to inspire you
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002sqjj)
An American Overture
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Tomas Djupsjöbacka perform Britten's American Overture, Weber's Second Symphony and Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. Saxophonist Stephen Banks joins the Orchestra as soloist for the UK premiere of Joan Towers' Love Returns.
Presented by Alexandra Humphreys and recorded in BBC Hoddinott Hall on the 12th of March.
Britten: An American Overture
Joan Tower: Love Returns
Interval
Weber: Symphony No.2 in C major, J.51
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber
Steven Banks (Saxophone)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Tomas Djupsjöbacka (conductor)
For his debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conductor Tomas Djupsjöbacka brings a programme that celebrates two very different anniversary years. The first half pays tribute to the 250th anniversary of America's signing of the Declaration of Independence, initially with Britten's so-called American Overture, which he wrote for the Cleveland Orchestra while living in the United States during the Second World War. Following this, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales will be joined by Stephen Banks for the UK Premiere of a saxophone concerto by American Composer Joan Tower, a piece which was co-commissioned by BBC Radio 3. Titled Love Returns, the concerto is set as a theme and variations based on her solo piano piece, Love Letters, which she wrote as a tribute following the death of her husband in 2022.
The second half turns to the music of Carl Maria von Weber, who was born just 10 years after the American Declaration of Independence. To mark his 240th year, the Orchestra play his final symphony, the Second, and Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. Hindemith took themes from Weber's incidental music to Turandot and four of his piano duets, and while Hindemith kept the themes intact, he expanded on them so greatly as to create a work which is inimitably Hindemith.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert"
THU 21:45 The Essay (m002sqjl)
Erland Cooper's Cities of the Imagination
Themiscyra: home of the Amazons (and Wonder Woman)
In his third series for The Essay, composer Erland Cooper turns his attention once again to the mythical world. This time, he embarks on five imaginary journeys to cities. Accompanying him are writers, academics and storytellers who know all about these legendary locations. Each episode is scored by Erland's own music.
In this episode, he explores Themiscyra (or Themyscira), the legendary home of the Amazons. While modern audiences know it as the sun-drenched, marble-clad hidden island home of Wonder Woman, we look back to antiquity to discover the grit and reality behind the myth of these warrior women who were just as fierce and talented in battle as any Greek male warrior.
Historian Adrienne Mayor from Stanford University joins us to locate the "real" Themyscira in the territory of Pontus, on the southeastern coast of the Black Sea in modern-day Turkey. And we examine why the spirit of Themyscira continues to haunt our creative minds today.
Reader: Molly Gromadzki
Producer: Victoria Ferran
Exec producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002sqjn)
Meditative music for night owls
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
THU 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002q6cw)
Piano bliss from Jason Moran
This week, broadcaster, jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum is sitting in for Soweto Kinch. All this week, Jamie has been joined by seminal pianist Neil Cowley as his Flowers guest. To conclude his week, Neil decides to give collective apprecation to a cinematic chamber jazz project that he admires.
There is also music from The Cosmic Tones Research Trio, TC & the Groove Family, and Pedro Ricardo with Ana Margarida Prado.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".
FRIDAY 27 MARCH 2026
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002sqjq)
Joan Cererols' Requiem for 4 voices
From Barcelona, the Cererols Choir, organist Joan Seguí and conductor Marc Díaz perform music by Monteverdi, Cererols, Kerll, Howells, Lassus and Vivancos. Jonathan Swain presents.
12:31 AM
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Domine, ne in furore tuo
Cererols Choir, Joan Seguí (organ), Marc Díaz (conductor)
12:35 AM
Joan Cererols (1618-1676)
Requiem for 4 voices
Cererols Choir, Joan Seguí (organ), Marc Díaz (conductor)
01:17 AM
Johann Kaspar Kerll (1627-1693)
Tocatta III
Joan Seguí (organ)
01:23 AM
Joan Cererols (1618-1676)
Hei Mihi, from 'Motet per l'elevació'
Cererols Choir, Joan Seguí (organ), Marc Díaz (conductor)
01:29 AM
Johann Kaspar Kerll (1627-1693)
Tocatta 4, cromatica con durezze e ligature
Joan Seguí (organ)
01:34 AM
Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Requiem Aeternam
Cererols Choir, Marc Díaz (conductor)
01:39 AM
Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594)
Vide homo
Cererols Choir, Joan Seguí (organ), Marc Díaz (conductor)
01:43 AM
Bernat Vivancos (b.1973)
L'Amour, le temps, from 'Rèquiem'
Cererols Choir, Marc Díaz (conductor)
01:46 AM
Johann Caspar Kerll (1627-1693)
Sonata a 5
Musica Florea
01:51 AM
Jordi Cervelló (1935-2022)
Etüden nach Kreutzer
Atrium Quartet
02:06 AM
Francisco Guerau (1649-1722)
Mariona, 'Poema Harmonico'
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar)
02:12 AM
Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710)
4 pieces from "Instrucción de música sobre la guitara española"
Xavier Díaz-Latorre (guitar), Pedro Estevan (percussion)
02:31 AM
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Symphonia Domestica, Op 53
National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Salwarowski (conductor)
03:14 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
4 Impromptus, D.899, Op 90
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
03:40 AM
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
Praeludium and allegro in the style of Gaetano Pugnani
Hyun-Mi Kim (violin), Seung-Hye Choi (piano)
03:46 AM
Joaquin Turina (1882-1949)
Rapsodia sinfonica for piano and string orchestra, Op 66
Angela Cheng (piano), Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Hans Graf (conductor)
03:54 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
3 Chansons de Charles d'Orleans
BBC Singers
04:01 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in C major, Kk.270
Jos Van Immerseel (organ)
04:06 AM
Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894)
España
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Challender (conductor)
04:13 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Sonatina no 3 for piano in B flat minor, Op 67 no 3
Eero Heinonen (piano)
04:19 AM
František Jiránek (1698-1778)
Bassoon Concerto in F major
Sergio Azzolini (bassoon), Collegium Marianum, Jana Semerádová (director)
04:31 AM
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Overture (La Fille du regiment)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nello Santi (conductor)
04:40 AM
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Chaconne for piano, Op 32
Anders Kilström (piano)
04:49 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Trio sonata in G minor, Op 2 no 5
Musica Alta Ripa
05:00 AM
Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927)
Varnatt (Spring Night)
Swedish Radio Choir, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stefan Sköld (conductor)
05:09 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata for flute, violin and continuo in G major, BWV.1038
Musica Petropolitana
05:16 AM
Carl Czerny (1791-1857)
Marcia funebre sulla morte di Luigi van Beethoven, Op 146
José Gallardo (piano)
05:25 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (conductor)
05:52 AM
George Enescu (1881-1955)
Concertstück
Lawrence Power (viola), Ryan Wigglesworth (piano)
06:02 AM
Carl Frühling (1868-1937)
Trio for clarinet, cello and piano, Op 40
Amici Chamber Ensemble
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002sqpf)
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 (m002sqph)
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 (m002sqpk)
Shostakovich's 8th Symphony from Prague
Mark Forrest with exclusive recordings for the afternoon, including performances from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and chamber music by Ralph Vaughan Williams from LSO St. Luke's in London.
Jean Sibelius
Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
Augustin Hadelich, (violin)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša, (conductor)
From LSO St. Luke’s:
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Phantasy String Quintet
Nash Ensemble
Stephanie Gonley (violin)
Jonathan Stone (violin)
Eivind Ringstad (viola)
Rachel Roberts (viola)
Adrian Brendel (cello)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Fantasy Overture – Romeo and Juliet
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Tomáš Hanus (conductor)
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)
FRI 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002sqpm)
Thomas Adès
The Exterminating Angel
Donald Macleod and Thomas Adès dive into his more recent works, including his opera The Exterminating Angel and his water-inspired concert piece, Aquifer.
They also attempt to unpack his drive to compose – Adès has said composing is essential to his survival.
Inferno (Pavan of the Souls)
Loas Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Blanca Variations
Han Chen, piano
The Exterminating Angel (Act 3, excerpt)
Gloria Tronel (Leticia Meynar), soprano
Claudia Boyle (Silvia de Avila), soprano
Arthur Harmonic (Yoli), vocalist
Paris Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Thomas Adès, conductor
Növények (excerpt)
Katalin Karolyi, mezzo-soprano
Ruisi Quartet
Graham Mitchell, double-bass
Joseph Havlat, piano
Concerto for piano and orchestra (excerpt)
Kirill Gerstein, piano
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Adès, conductor
Aquifer
Hallé Orchestra
Thomas Adès, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002sqpp)
Baroque violinist Johannes Pramsohler live on In Tune
Acclaimed baroque violinist Johannes Pramsohler performs live on In Tune ahead of appearing with Ensemble Diderot at London’s Wigmore Hall.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002sqpr)
Expand your horizons with classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
We begin tonight's Classical Mixtape with a pair of late Romantic English composers often inspired by folk melodies, Rebecca Clarke and Edward Elgar. We then cross the channel to hear from two prominent French composers, Gabriel Fauré and Claude Debussy. Next, we have a pair of 'Nocturnes', from Edvard Grieg and Fryderyk Chopin. Finally we have two film scores, Philip Glass' String Quartet 'Mishima' and - to close tonight's sequence - the End Title from 'The Shawshank Redemption', by Thomas Newman.
Producer: Joe Blamey
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.
FRI 19:30 Friday Night is Music Night (m002dy5r)
Songs from the Shows
It’s a grand night for singing as the BBC Singers bring the West End and Broadway to London's Milton Court.
Georgia Mann introduces two hours of some of the most iconic moments in musical theatre, including favourite numbers from Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, Carousel, Company and more. With dazzling choruses and solo numbers all sung by the dynamic BBC Singers and with razor-sharp backing from the BBC Concert Orchestra, this was truly a night to remember. Also taking part were the fifty-strong Bantam of the Opera Choir from Bradford Football Club in their first away fixture who joined all on stage for a heartfelt rendition of Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera.
Rodgers and Hammerstein
State Fair: It’s a Grand Night for Singing
Carousel: Mister Snow
Carousel: If I Loved You
Carousel: June is Bustin' Out All Over
Carousel: You'll Never Walk Alone
Stephen Sondheim
Company: Company (opening ensemble number)
Company: You Could Drive a Person Crazy
Company: Being Alive
Claude-Michel Schönberg
Les Misérables: Master of the House
Les Misérables: Stars
Les Misérables: One Day More
Andrew Lloyd Webber
The Phantom of the Opera: Masquerade
The Phantom of the Opera: Music of the Night
Stephen Sondheim
Sweeney Todd: The Ballad of Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd: The Worst Pies in London
Sweeney Todd: Not While I’m Around
Lerner & Loewe
My Fair Lady: Why Can't the English?
My Fair Lady: Wouldn’t it be Loverly?
My Fair Lady: Ascot Gavotte
My Fair Lady: I Could Have Danced All Night
My Fair Lady: On the Street Where You Live
My Fair Lady: Get Me to the Church on Time
Jerry Herman
Hello, Dolly! – Put On Your Sunday Clothes
BBC Singers and the BBC Concert Orchestra
Bantam of the Opera Choir
Owain Park (conductor)
FRI 21:45 The Essay (m002sqpt)
Erland Cooper's Cities of the Imagination
Kalapa
In his third series for The Essay, composer Erland Cooper turns his attention once again to the mythical world. This time, he embarks on five imaginary journeys to cities. Accompanying him are writers, academics and storytellers who know all about these legendary locations. Each episode is scored by Erland's own music.
In this final episode, we travel north of the Himalayas, to the "earthly paradise" of Shambhala to explore its luminous heart: the capital city of Kalapa. It's a city of geometric perfection, a tantric mandala brought to life, set within a land shaped like a giant eight-petalled lotus. Whether viewed as a literal or spiritual refuge for Buddhist wisdom or the blueprint for James Hilton’s Shangri-La, Kalapa remains a powerful symbol.
Reader: Molly Gromadzki
Producer: Victoria Ferran
Exec producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002k45w)
At home with Kate Carr
“Probably the most significant field recordist of contemporary urban Britain…” ~ The Quietus
Jennifer Lucy Allan pays a visit to the London studio of field recordist, sound artist and founder of the Flaming Pines label, Kate Carr. As well as taking it in turns to share new music that is exciting them both, Kate demos the current favourites from her array of homemade instruments including a rubber-band noise box set-up and a new contraption that involves twenty speakers arranged inside pipes.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
FRI 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002q6jf)
Ego Ella May’s mixtape
This week, broadcaster, jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum is sitting in for Soweto Kinch.
Jamie welcomes award-winning South London vocalist and songwriter Ego Ella May as his Friday night mixtape guest. Widely celebrated for her melodic and distinctive voice, Ego’s compositions are deeply reflective and intimate drawing from influences in music and literature. Having grown up in London’s jazz community, Ego has worked with artists including Oscar Jerome, Joe Armon-Jones, and Wu-Lu. Her latest album is ‘Good Intentions’, which blends a range of genres, with jazz as the uniting source.
Tonight, Ego presents a 30-minute selection of some of the music from across the jazz spectrum that she appreciates and is inspired by.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Round Midnight".