SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2025
SAT 00:30 Through the Night (m002j7x4)
Bach, Vasks, Britten and Silvestrov
Latvian pianist Reinis Zariņš features in a chamber music concert from Riga, performing music by Bach, Vasks, Britten and Silvestrov. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Ferruccio Busoni
Chaconne, from Partita no 2 in D minor, BWV.1004
Reinis Zariņš (piano)
12:47 AM
Pēteris Vasks (b.1946)
Cuckoo's Voice (Spring Elegy)
Reinis Zariņš (piano)
01:00 AM
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac, Op 51
Janis Sipkevics (alto), Martins Klisans (tenor), Reinis Zariņš (piano)
01:18 AM
Valentin Vasilyovych Silvestrov (b.1937)
Postludium, Op 3 no 4
Reinis Zariņš (piano)
01:21 AM
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
String Quartet no 2 in C major, Op 36
Yggdrasil String Quartet
01:51 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (cantata)
The Sixteen, Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Ton Koopman (conductor)
02:22 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Sonata in D minor, Wq.62/15
Gonny van der Maten (organ)
02:31 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Symphony no 9 in E minor, Op 95 'From the New World'
Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Jan Söderblom (conductor)
03:17 AM
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Septet for trumpet, piano and strings in E flat major, Op 65
Ole Edvard Antonsen (trumpet), Elise Baatnes (violin), Karolina Radziej (violin), Lars Anders Tomter (viola), Hjalmer Kvam (cello), Marius Faltby (double bass), Enrico Pace (piano)
03:35 AM
Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)
Etudes and polkas (book 3)
Antonín Kubálek (piano)
03:44 AM
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729)
Sonata in D major for 2 violins and continuo
Musica Fiorita, Daniela Dolci (director)
03:53 AM
Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (1805-1900), arr. P. Gunther /U. Teuber
Blomstre som en rosengard (Blooming like a rose garden)
Fionian Chamber Choir, Alice Granum (director)
03:58 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Meeresstille und gluckliche Fahrt - overture, Op 27
Orchestre National de France, Riccardo Muti (conductor)
04:12 AM
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Excerpts from Songs Without Words, Op 6
Sylviane Deferne (piano)
04:22 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Mandolin Concerto in C major, RV.425
Avi Avital (mandolin), Zürcher Kammerorchester, Willi Zimmermann (conductor)
04:31 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
"Caro nome" Gilda's aria from Act 1, scene 2 of 'Rigoletto'
Inese Galante (soprano), Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Aleksandrs Vilumanis (conductor)
04:36 AM
Luka Sorkočević (1734-1789), arr. Frano Matušic
Symphony no 3 in D major
Dubrovnik Guitar Trio
04:43 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Keyboard Sonata in B flat major, Hob.
16.41
Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
04:55 AM
Flor Alpaerts (1876-1954)
Zomer-idylle
Vlaams Radio Orkest [Flemish Radio Orchestra], Michel Tabachnik (conductor)
05:03 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Cello Sonata in C major, Op 102 no 1
Keum-Bong Kim (piano), Jong-Young Lee (cello)
05:19 AM
Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924)
Suite no 2 for orchestra, Op 34a
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)
05:47 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
4 Songs for women's voices, 2 horns and harp, Op 17
Danish National Radio Choir, Leif Lind (horn), Per McClelland Jacobsen (horn), Catriona Yeats (harp), Stefan Parkman (conductor)
06:02 AM
Eustache du Caurroy (1549-1609)
11 Fantasias on 16th-Century songs
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall (viol), Jordi Savall (director)
SAT 06:30 Breakfast (m002jhx0)
Wake up 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 (m002jhx2)
John Rutter at 80
Tom Service plays classical music to start your weekend.
Choral composing legend John Rutter invites Tom to Cambridgeshire to talk turning 80, plans for the future, and Clare College Cambridge, a place that means so much to him, as he releases a new disc of his music sung by the choir there.
Mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre and lutenist Thomas Dunford perform their unique take on the baroque repertoire. Thomas Dunford has been called the 'Eric Clapton of the lute', whilst French-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre was just 20 when she was awarded a place in William Christie’s academy Le Jardin des Voix. They bring music from their new album to the Saturday Morning studio.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.
SAT 12:00 Earlier... with Jools Holland (m002jhx4)
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 choices include music by Bach, Beethoven and Sidney Bechet, including performances from Rosalyn Tureck, Avi Avital and the Berlin Philharmonic. His guest is the clarinettist and bandleader Giacomo Smith who introduces music he loves by Copland, Reich and Debussy.
To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Earlier with Jools Holland".
SAT 13:00 Music Matters (m0020htv)
Music on the Front Line
John Simpson
Clive Myrie is in conversation with news correspondents about the music they’ve heard whilst reporting from the front line. With his own extensive experience of covering wars, and his personal love of opera and jazz, Clive and John Simpson share stories to reveal something of the power and significance of music when working in extreme conflict situations.
The BBC's world affairs editor, John recalls hearing Beethoven’s song: The Pulse of an Irishman at the start of his career as a foreign correspondent in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, whilst learning how to cover wars and deal with danger. He remembers discovering Duke Ellington’s Runnin’ Wild on a 78 record in the main souk in Baghdad in 1990. It became a constant musical companion, summing up the First Gulf War for him. He heard Mercedes Sosa sing Como un Pájaro Libre during a momentous time in Argentina, whilst covering the war in the Falklands. And he played Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony throughout the Second Gulf War in 2003 where he came closest to being killed, and covered the civil war until 2011.
Producer: Natalie Steed
Executive Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Must Try Softer Production
SAT 14:00 Record Review (m002jhx6)
Strauss's Le bourgeois gentilhomme in Building a Library with Nigel Simeone and Andrew McGregor
Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.
1405
Allyson Devenish selects her pick of the best new releases
1500
Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Richard Strauss's compilation of incidental music to Molière's play, Le bourgeois gentilhomme.
Originally conceived as incidental music for an adaptation of Molière's play that was to be prefixed to a performance of his opera, Ariadne auf Naxos, the trajectory of Strauss' music for Le bourgeois gentilhomme was somewhat convoluted before settling into a nine-movement concert suite we know today. Recreating the mood of the seventeenth century, Strauss invokes the spirit the French composer Lully - who had written the original incidental music to Molière's play in 1670 – and draws rich instrumental colours from a chamber orchestra comprised just three dozen musicians, while deploying the musical language of the twentieth century.
1545
Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Record Review”
SAT 16:00 Sound of Cinema (m001w1r6)
Academy and Golden Globe award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto
Matthew Sweet's looks back on the life and career of the multi-award-winning composer, pianist, producer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto and speaks to his son, Neo Sora, about making his father's final concert film "Opus" as well as the legendary musician's legacy. Music includes Sakamoto's Oscar-winning score for The Last Emperor, his final film Monster, The Revenant, and exclusive tracks from Neo Sora's concert film of his father - Opus.
SAT 17:00 This Classical Life (m002jhxc)
Jess Gillam... live from Snape Maltings
Jess Gillam presents This Classical Life: Live from Snape Maltings. Jess is joined by cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, composer Nico Muhly, conductor Edwin Outwater and the BBC Concert Orchestra with a programme of typically eclectic music featuring Saint-Saens, Benjamin Britten, Andrea Tarrodi as well as Nico's own music and a new arrangement of a San Fermin song for Jess and Sheku.
Recorded at Snape Maltings on Friday 29th August.
SAT 18:00 Opera on 3 (m002jhxh)
Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito
This evening's Opera on 3 is a concert performance recorded at the Usher Hall last month, of Mozart's final opera, La Clemenza di Tito - The Clemency of Titus - given as part of the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival.
Set in ancient Rome, it's a tale of political intrigue, betrayal, vengeance and guilt: Vitellia is the daughter of a former Emperor and is infatuated with and wants to marry Titus, the new Emperor. Titus however has chosen another bride, so Vitellia is out for revenge - Titus must die. Vitellia manipulates his best friend Sextus into plotting to kill him, which leads to the ultimate test of mercy and forgiveness.
Mozart's score is full of dramatic and stunningly beautiful music, in an electric performance given by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus, directed from the fortepiano by the SCO's Principal Conductor, Maxim Emelyanychev. The starry cast is led by Italian tenor Giovanni Sala in the title role, Tara Erraught as the scheming Vitellia and Angela Brower in the trouser-role of Titus' best friend, Sextus.
Donald Macleod presents this thrilling concert performance in conversation with opera and theatre historian Sarah Lenton.
Titus ..... Giovanni Sala (tenor)
Vitellia ..... Tara Erraught (mezzo-soprano)
Sextus ..... Angela Brower (mezzo-soprano)
Servilia ..... Hera Hyesang Park (soprano)
Annius ..... Maria Warenberg (mezzo-soprano)
Publius ..... Peter Kálmán (bass-baritone)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Maxim Emelyanychev, fortepiano / conductor
SAT 21:30 Music Planet (m002jhxm)
Farewell summer, hello autumn
As summer comes to a close, Kathryn Tickell handpicks a selection of global roots music to welcome autumn, including a heartwarming track from Congolese Sweden-based guitarist Maestro Vumbi Dekula, Slavery Is A Crime, and hazy Appalachian music from banjo and fiddle player Joseph Decosimo.
Elsewhere in the show, we hear music from Julian Kytasty, a Ukrainian musician seeking to revive the tradition of the Kobzar, in which itinerant bards sing along to a plucked-string instrument - the bandura.
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 (m002jhxq)
Strange Loops
Tom Service with the latest releases and live performances of new music from across the UK. Tonight, we hear George E. Lewis's Tales of the Traveller featuring soprano Nina Guo as soloist with the London Sinfonietta; the Hebrides Ensemble perform Helen Grime's Pierrot Miniatures, inspired by the commedia dell'arte charcter and the poems of Albert Giraud; and the Villiers Quartet perform Jack Van Zandt's Strange Loops, a title referencing a mathematical paradox from the writings of scientist Douglas Hofstadter. Plus, the latest releases from composers Annette Vande Gorne, Clara Kim, Leo Chadburn and Japanese cassette tape artist Aki Onda.
To listen using most smart speakers, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play New Music Show”
SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2025
SUN 00:30 Through the Night (m002jhxs)
Berlioz and Korngold from Estonia
Olari Elts conducts the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz. They are joined by South Korean violinist Bomsori Kim for Korngold's Violin Concerto. The concert also includes Ester Mägi's Church Bell and a new work by Erkki-Sven Tüür, Sulavad kellad. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Erkki-Sven Tüür (b. 1959)
Sulavad kellad (Melting Bells)
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts (conductor)
12:38 AM
Ester Mägi (1922-2021), arr. Rasmus Puur
Church Bell
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts (conductor)
12:44 AM
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op 35
Bomsori Kim (violin), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts (conductor)
01:10 AM
Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)
Polish Capriccio
Bomsori Kim (violin)
01:13 AM
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Symphonie Fantastique, Op 14
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts (conductor)
02:06 AM
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (1814-1865)
Variations on The Last Rose of Summer
Ju-young Baek (violin)
02:12 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Concerto grosso in F major, Op 6 no 9
Estonian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Paul Mägi (conductor)
02:31 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
String Quartet in D major, Op 64 no 5 'Lark'
Tilev String Quartet, Gueorgui Tilev (violin), Svetoslav Marinov (violin), Ogunian Stantchev (viola), Yontcho Bayrov (cello)
02:49 AM
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Symphony no 7 in C major, Op 105
BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena (conductor)
03:10 AM
Johan Duijck (b.1954)
Cantiones Sacrae in honorem Thomas Tallis, Op 26, Book 2
Flemish Radio Choir, Johan Duijck (conductor)
03:30 AM
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Sopranino Recorder Concerto in C major RV.444
Michael Schneider (recorder), Camerata Köln
03:39 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Clair de lune (no 3 from Suite bergamasque for piano)
Jane Coop (piano)
03:45 AM
Peggy Glanville-Hicks (1912-1990)
Three Gymnopedies
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Myer Fredman (conductor)
03:54 AM
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Fugue for lute in G minor, BWV.1000
Konrad Junghänel (lute)
04:00 AM
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
Psalm 110: Le Toutpuissant a mon Seigneur et maistre
Netherlands Chamber Choir, Peter Phillips (conductor)
04:08 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Scherzo Capriccioso, Op 66
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Richard Hickox (conductor)
04:21 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Adagio and allegro in A flat major, Op 70
Lise Berthaud (viola), Adam Laloum (piano)
04:31 AM
Richard Addinsell (1904-1977)
Warsaw concerto for piano and orchestra
Patrik Jablonski (piano), Polska Orkiestra Radiowa, Wojciech Rajski (conductor)
04:41 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Aria 'O let me weep' from the Fairy Queen
Irena Baar (soprano), Tomaž Lorenz (violin), Maks Strmčnik (organ)
04:49 AM
Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762)
Concerto No 1 in D major (after Corelli's Op 5)
Andrew Manze (violin), Academy of Ancient Music, Andrew Manze (director)
04:57 AM
Max Bruch (1838-1920)
Kol Nidrei, Op 47
Shauna Rolston (cello), Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Uri Mayer (conductor)
05:09 AM
Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377)
Ballade 32, 'Ploures, dames'
Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly (conductor)
05:18 AM
Heikki Suolahti (1920-1936)
Sinfonia Piccola
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kari Tikka (conductor)
05:40 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
La Bonne chanson Op 61, arr. for voice, piano & string quartet
Ruby Hughes (soprano), James Baillieu (piano), Signum Quartet, Lachlan Radford (double bass)
06:05 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata no 10 in C major, K.330
Geoffrey Lancaster (pianoforte)
SUN 06:30 Breakfast (m002jfyj)
Start your 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 (m002jfyn)
Three hours of classical sparkle
This week, Sarah's selections include music from a famous film score by Prokofiev, jaw-dropping fireworks and beautiful melodies from Tchaikovsky and J.S Bach.
Sarah's Choral Reflection features the choir of Jesus College, Cambridge singing a beautiful piece by Eleanor Daley - Set Me as a Seal Upon Your Heart, commissioned in 1999 to celebrate a 45 year wedding anniversary.
Plus, pianists Katia & Marielle Labeque go for a musical dog walk and Michael Nyman chases sheep…
A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3.
SUN 12:00 Private Passions (m002jfys)
Deborah Prentice
Deborah Prentice became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in 2023.
She’s the first American to take on the role, and she’s leading the university at a challenging time for higher education in the UK, with questions about funding, freedom of expression, student protest, striking academics and even vice-chancellors’ pay never far from the headlines.
Before Cambridge, she was Provost at Princeton University, and a professor of psychology, where she focused on the social norms that govern human behaviour and the impact of unwritten rules and conventions. And before that, her first degree at Stanford was in Biology and Music.
Deborah's music choices include Beethoven, Bach, Mussorgsky and Ravel.
SUN 13:30 Music Map (m002jfyv)
A journey to Robert Schumann's Piano Quintet
Schumann had composed almost no chamber music until 1842, when he then wrote 3 string quartets, a piano quartet, the Phantasiestücke for piano trio and the Piano Quintet, perhaps the most exuberant and extrovert of all these pieces. Sara Mohr-Pietsch journeys through a musical map that leads to a complete performance of Schumann's Piano Quintet, and examines the pieces and composers who influenced Schumann, and the way the piece itself went on to influence the music that followed it.
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Map.'
SUN 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002j6j2)
Truro Cathedral
From Truro Cathedral.
Introit: Yesu, drudh a hwans an werin (Bach, trans. Poppy Carlton)
Responses: Gabriel Jackson
Psalm 89 (Goss, Day, Battishill)
First Lesson: Judges 4 vv1-10
Canticles: The Truro Canticles (Dobrinka Tabakova)
Second Lesson: Romans 1 vv 8-17
Anthem: Give unto the Lord (Elgar)
Voluntary: Fête (Langlais)
James Anderson-Besant (Director of Music)
Andrew Wyatt (Assistant Director of Music)
Recorded 4 March.
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
SUN 16:00 Jazz Record Requests (m002jfyx)
Join our community of jazz lovers. Alyn Shipton is waiting for your requests: email jazzrecordrequests@bbc.co.uk or use #jazzrecordrequests on social.
SUN 17:00 The Early Music Show (m002jfyz)
The Medici Popes - Part 2: The most unfortunate of Popes
Hannah French with the second of two programmes exploring the lives of two 16th Century Popes: Leo X and Clement VII, and the music that surrounded them.
Having been brought up together in the wealthy and influential Florentine household of the Medicis, cousins Giovanni & Giulio were always destined for greatness.
As Pope Leo X, Giovanni was a lavish patron of the arts. He sanctioned major renovations on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, extended the Sistine Chapel Choir, promoted the study of Greek, Arabic & Hebrew, commissioned works from artists such as Raphael & Peruzzi, and maintained a private orchestra as well as the official papal musicians.
In order to fund these lavish artistic interests, Leo X encouraged the purchase of indulgences - remissions of the temporal punishment for sins – which could only be afforded by the most wealthy. Leo was also portrayed by his opponents as a man of gross excess; there were suggestions of sexual impropriety, favouritism and immorality, all of which were fuel to the fire of the burgeoning Protestant Reformation in northern Europe. Needless to say, Leo spent way above the papal means, and when he died suddenly in 1521, the papal treasury was 400,000 ducats in debt.
Leo’s right-hand man throughout his papacy was his beloved cousin, Giulio de Medici. Within three months of Leo’s election as Pope, Giulio had been made Archbishop of Florence, and just three more months down the line, he was appointed Cardinal of Santa Maria in Dominica. By 1517, Cardinal Giulio was made Vice-Chancellor of the Church (ie, second in command). He became deeply involved in the politics of England, France and the Holy Roman Empire, which would eventually backfire on him spectacularly…
When Cardinal Giulio was elected to the heady heights of the Papacy in 1523, as Pope Clement VII, little did he know the struggles that lay ahead. There was already the threat of the Lutherans from northern Europe and the Turks were making in-roads into the east. Plus, there was the childish squabbling of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and King Francis I of France, who both demanded the Pope choose a side, leading to the Sack of Rome in 1527. And six years later, he had Henry VIII’s divorce to deal with. All of this while having to impose austerity measures in an attempt to pay off some of the debts left by his own cousin!
Like his cousin, Pope Clement VII was also a gifted musician. It's likely he too learned from the great composer Heinrich Isaac while growing up in Florence, and over the years he had dealings with the likes of Nicolas Gombert, Jean Mouton, Philippe Verdelot and Costanzo Festa as the music of the High Renaissance swirled around him.
SUN 18:00 Words and Music (m002f06y)
Rising high
We are rising high this week, scaling the heights of skyscrapers and bell towers, and reaching to the heavens. As the musical scale glides upwards, birds soar, men overreach, and passions transcend.
The tower of Babel is brought low and a rising balloon signals disaster in the opening of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love. The mounting hubris of man is captured by William Golding and Mary Shelley, while Ayn Rand’s hero stands aloft, above the New York skyline. But there’s the quicksilver of Gerald Manley Hopkins’ windhover and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s skylark. And the pure joy of bounding magical clouds for Tove Jansson’s Moomintroll and friends.
George Frideric Handel and Gregorio Allegri sing their praises to God above, while Vincenzo Bellini’s soaring soprano Norma prays to the moon goddess. There are otherworldly airs from Judith Weir, Miles Davis, and Igor Stravinsky. And the group Franz Ferdinand play with the musical conundrum, the Shepard scale illusion in Always Ascending.
The readers are Robert Glenister and Maggie Service.
Producer: Katy Hickman
READINGS:
John Gillespie Magee Jr - High flight
Carol Ann Duffy - Rapture
King James Bible - Genesis
Emily Dickinson – We never know
William Golding - The Spire
Mary Shelley - Frankenstein
Ayn Rand - The Fountainhead
John Dos Passos - Manhattan Transfer
Stephen Spender - The Pylons
Imtiaz Dharker - Ringing the Changes
Irving Stone - Agony + Ecstasy
Baysan, U. and Macpherson, F - Shepard Tone Illusion
Ian McEwan - Enduring Love
Langston Hughes - Mother to Son
JG Ballard - High Rise
Seamus Heaney - The Skylight
Nicola Lamb - Sift: The Elements of Great Baking
Tove Jansson - Finn Family Moomintroll
Gerald Manley Hopkins - The Windhover
Percy Bysshe Shelley - To a Skylark (excerpt)
SUN 19:15 Sunday Feature (m002jfz1)
The Man Who Played The Kremlin's Tune
Tikhon Khrennikov was the most powerful - and controversial - figure of 20th century Soviet music. For over 40 years, he led the Union of Soviet Composers, a role for which he was handpicked by Stalin himself. Not simply a bureaucrat, Khrennikov played a double role: composing bright, accessible tunes celebrated by the regime, while condemning his peers Shostakovich and Prokofiev to the point of career ruin.
Author and broadcaster, Lucy Ash uncovers the contradictions of a man who thrived under a system that crushed others. Featuring contributions from experts Marina Frolova-Walker and Pauline Fairclough, persecuted composer Elena Firsova, and world-renowned concert pianist Evgeny Kissin - who knew and admired Khrennikov. Lucy asks whether Tikhon Khrennikov was a true believer, a manipulator, or a reluctant accomplice in Soviet repression, a survivor.
From the 1948 Zhdanov Decree that vilified “formalist” composers to the scandal of the Khrennikov Seven in 1979, this programme maps Khrennikov’s influence across decades of cultural control. It explores the personal tensions between Khrennikov and Shostakovich, the regime-backed aesthetics of Socialist Realism, and the enduring question of whether music can ever be apolitical in a dictatorship.
This is the story of a man who shaped the sound of the USSR, as well as its silence.
Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Steven Rajam
Sound mixing: Arlie Adlington
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3.
SUN 20:00 Record Review (m002jfz3)
A complete performance of yesterday's Record Review Building a Library recommendation of Strauss' Le bourgeois gentilhomme, plus some of the best new releases of the week.
SUN 21:00 20th Century Radicals (m002jfz5)
John Cage: rhythm over melody, and the I Ching
Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present BBC Radio 3's series about major '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 uncovers the creative journey which led to John Cage's 1951 Concerto for prepared piano and orchestra. By way of introduction to this piece, we will hear part of a radical work by one of Cage's own musical heroes Erik Satie, discover the influence of an unlikely early musical ally, and discover how a gift from a student revolutionised Cage's art and led to instrumental techniques which influenced a generation of avant-garde musicians.
Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
SUN 22:00 Night Tracks (m002jfz7)
Eclectic music for after dark
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
SUN 23:30 Unclassified (m002jfz9)
Dissolving Patterns
Join Elizabeth Alker with a selection of fresh music from genre-defying artists as we journey through landscapes of ambient and experimental sounds. Along the way, we'll hear from emerging independent producers whose work plays with orchestral textures and classical form as well as the latest sounds from a new generation of contemporary composers who look to embrace the spirit of rock, pop and electronica.
Produced by Geoff Bird
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Unclassified”
MONDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2025
MON 00:30 Through the Night (m002jfzc)
BBC Proms 2024: First Night
Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto with star soloist Isata Kanneh-Mason and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony take centre-stage alongside a world premiere of Ben Nobuto's Hallelujah Sim. Elim Chan conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, joined by soprano Sophie Bevan, the BBC Singers and BBC Symphony Chorus. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), arr. Charles Mackerras
Overture from 'Music for the Royal Fireworks in D major, HWV.351'
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Elim Chan (conductor)
12:39 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Psalm 150, WAB 38
Sophie Bevan (soprano), BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, Neil Ferris (choirmaster), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Elim Chan (conductor)
12:48 AM
Clara Schumann (1810-1856)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 7
Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Elim Chan (conductor)
01:10 AM
George Gershwin (1898-1937), arr. Percy Grainger
The Man I Love, from 'Strike up the Band'
Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano)
01:14 AM
Ben Nobuto (b.1996)
Hallelujah Sim.
BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, Neil Ferris (choirmaster), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Elim Chan (conductor)
01:25 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony no 5 in C minor, Op 67
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Elim Chan (conductor)
01:55 AM
Clara Schumann (1810-1856)
Impromptu in E major
Diana Ketler (piano)
01:59 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Trio in E flat major, Op 1 no 1
Grieg Trio
02:31 AM
Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792)
Sinfonie in E flat, Vb.144
Concerto Köln
02:51 AM
Gustav Uwe Jenner (1865-1920)
Trio in E flat major for clarinet, horn and piano
James Campbell (clarinet), Martin Hackleman (horn), Jane Coop (piano)
03:18 AM
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Magnificat II
Chorus of Swiss Radio, Lugano, Diego Fasolis (conductor)
03:29 AM
César Franck
Prelude, Fugue and Variation
Robert Silverman (piano)
03:41 AM
Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710)
Tarantella
Eduardo Egüez (guitar)
03:49 AM
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Sonata no 1 in G major for string orchestra
Romanian National Chamber Orchestra, Ludovic Bacs (conductor)
04:03 AM
Josquin des Prez (c1440 - 1521) / Anon.
Three pieces
Josquin: In te Domine speravi
Anon: Zorzi; Giorgio - Saltarello
Anon: Forte cosa e la speranza a5
Clare Wilkinson (mezzo soprano), Musica Antiqua of London, Philip Thorby (director)
04:11 AM
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Prelude à l'apres-midi d'un faune
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Simone Young (conductor)
04:22 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), arr. Franz Liszt
Paraphrase on Rigoletto
Michele Campanella (piano)
04:31 AM
Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003)
Sonatina for cello and piano
Andrei Ioniță (cello), Lilit Grigoryan (piano)
04:42 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Bacchanalia (no 10 from Poeticke nalady)
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Robert Stankovsky (conductor)
04:47 AM
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
Chanson Louis XIII et Pavane in the Style of Couperin
Barnabas Kelemen (violin), Zóltan Kocsis (piano)
04:53 AM
Cornel Taranu (1934-2023)
'Siciliana Blues' for piano and orchestra
Andrei Deleanu (piano), Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Horia Andreescu (conductor)
05:06 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Bassoon Concerto in B flat, K.191
Dag Jensen (bassoon), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Paavo Berglund (conductor)
05:25 AM
Richard Wagner (1813-1883), arr. Felix Mottl
Funf Lieder von Mathilde von Wesendonck
Yvonne Minton (mezzo soprano), Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Masur (conductor)
05:44 AM
Erik Gustaf Geijer (1783-1847)
Sonata for Piano (four hands) in F minor
Stefan Bojsten, Anders Kilström (piano duo)
06:05 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
The Lark Ascending
Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Basel Symphony Orchestra, Ivor Bolton (conductor)
06:21 AM
Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594)
Pelli meae consumptis carnibus
King's Singers
MON 06:30 Breakfast (m002jfqp)
Brighten your 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’
MON 09:30 Essential Classics (m002jfqr)
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 (m002jfqt)
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker live from Wigmore Hall
Mark Forrest showcases exclusive performances including Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker music live from Wigmore Hall with pianist Simon Trpčeski, and a series of recent recordings from the Continent featuring British orchestras abroad. Presented by Mark Forrest.
The week begins with a live concert from London’s Wigmore Hall given by pianist Simon Trpčeski, who has put together a programme of dance-related music for piano by Ravel and Tchaikovsky.
Throughout the week we’re hearing from concerts given by British orchestras on tour in Europe. Today, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra play Berlioz from a concert given earlier this year at the Saar International Music Festival in South West Germany, and Vadim Gluzman is the soloist in Szymanowski’s 2nd Violin Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra performing in Warsaw.
Plus we shine our Artist Spotlight on recently graduated Radio 3 New Generation Artists the Chaos String Quartet. Today we hear them play Mozart’s String Quartet No. 17, nicknamed ‘The Hunt’.
1pm
Live from Wigmore Hall, London; presented by Petroc Trelawny.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Seasons, Op. 37a: October (Autumn song)
Dumka, Op. 59
Maurice Ravel
Valses nobles et sentimentales
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky arr. Pletnev
The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a
Simon Trpčeski (piano)
***
Hector Berlioz
Le Carnaval Romain
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
String Quartet No.17 in B flat major, 'The Hunt'
Chaos String Quartet
Karol Szymanowski
Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 61
Vadim Gluzman (violin)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Olari Elts (conductor)
Jean Sibelius
Lemminkainen’s Return (Lemminkainen Suite, Op. 22)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Olari Elts (conductor)
Marco Uccellini
Aria Sopra La Bergamasca, Op. 3 No. 5
Chaos String Quartet
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 (m002jfqw)
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Shadow world
The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo is responsible for one of the most instantly recognisable works for classical guitar - if not one of the most famous pieces of classical music full stop. But when he was just three years old and a bout of diptheria left him almost completely blind, a future in composition seemed out of the question. How did he become one of Spain's most revered musical minds?
In this programme, Donald Macleod follows Rodrigo's early years. Thanks to his teachers, who believe learning composition could help the blind, and a very dedicated aid in Rafael Ibáñez, Rodrigo quickly finds his calling.
Concierto de Aranjuez
Pepe Romero, guitar
Christine Pendrill, horn
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
2 Esbozos
Eva León, violin
Olga Vinokur, piano
Rumaniana
Eva León, violin
Olga Vinokur, piano
3 Evocaciones
Gregory Allen, piano
5 Sonatas de Castilla con toccata a modo de pregón
Gregory Allen, piano
Juglares
Castile and Leon Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Max Bragado-Darman
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio
MON 17:00 In Tune (m002jfqz)
Wind down from the day with classical
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
MON 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002jfr1)
The eclectic classical mix
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
MON 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002jfr3)
Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius
Kazuki Yamada leads the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and a glorious trio of soloists, Jess Dandy, David Butt Philip and Roderick Williams, in Elgar’s profound and heartfelt Dream of Gerontius. It’s very much a homecoming for this mighty oratorio, which was first performed in Birmingham in 1900. It has since become a cherished British work, touching and terrifying by turn and with one of the most beautiful ‘farewells’ in classical music history.
Edward Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
Jess Dandy (contralto)
Toby Spence (tenor)
Roderick Williams (baritone)
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)
MON 21:45 The Essay (m002jfr5)
How Music Heals
22/09/2025
In the first programme of ‘How Music Heals’ – author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry investigates the power of music therapy, and how it works, focusing on group sessions. In East London she meets music therapist Donald Wetherick who works with adults experiencing the most serious mental health conditions including psychosis, schizophrenia and severe depression. He leads groups both in psychiatric wards and in the community – and says that music is a way of connecting and communicating for people experiencing extreme isolation and trauma at the worst points in their lives.
She also travels to Edinburgh to meet some newly qualified music therapists from Queen Margaret University and talks to them about their training, how they improvise together and learn how to use music as a therapeutic tool with their clients. Philippa asks why and how music has the power to heal when conventional talking therapies might not be possible. She experiences being part of a group herself playing with seven others in an improvisation session using violin, oboe, guitar, percussion and piano.
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002jfr9)
Meditative music for night owls
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
MON 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002jfrf)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.
TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2025
TUE 00:30 Through the Night (m002jfrl)
Bruckner 200
The Latvia State Choir and National Symphony Orchestra celebrated Bruckner's 200th anniversary in 2024 with his third mass and a jubilant setting of Psalm 150. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Mass no 3 in F minor, WAB.28
Lina Dambrauskaite (soprano), Emilia Rukavina (mezzo soprano), Bernhard Berchtold (tenor), Thomas Essl (bass), Latvian State Choir, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Māris Sirmais (conductor)
01:26 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Psalm 150, WAB.38
Lina Dambrauskaite (soprano), Latvian State Choir, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Māris Sirmais (conductor)
01:34 AM
Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824)
Duo concertante in A minor
Alexandar Avramov (violin), Ivan Peev (violin)
01:41 AM
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
Pensée Fugitive in D minor, JB
1:24
Alexandra Troussova (piano)
01:45 AM
Carl Reinecke (1824-1910)
Ballade for flute and orchestra
Matej Zupan (flute), RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, David de Villiers (conductor)
01:54 AM
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
2 graduals for chorus: Locus iste & Christus Factus est
Danish National Radio Choir, Jesper Grove Jorgensen (conductor)
02:01 AM
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
Piano Trio in G minor, Op 15
Suk Trio
02:31 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Symphony no 2 in E minor, Op 27
Concertgebouworkest, Kirill Kondrashin (conductor)
03:19 AM
Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611/2-1675)
Suite in D minor for gambas, 'Erster Fleiss'
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall (director)
03:35 AM
Pauline Viardot (1821-1910)
Choeur bohemien
Olivia Robinson (soprano), Helen Neeves (soprano), BBC Singers, Elizabeth Burgess (piano), Stephen Jeffes (percussion), Christopher Bowen (percussion), Grace Rossiter (conductor)
03:39 AM
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Divertimento in C major, London Trio no 1, Hob.4 no 1
Carol Wincenc (flute), Philip Setzer (violin), Carter Brey (cello)
03:48 AM
Clara Schumann (1810-1856)
Scherzo for piano in D minor, Op 10 no 1
Angela Cheng (piano)
03:53 AM
Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
On hearing the first cuckoo in spring for orchestra, RT.
6.19
Symphony Nova Scotia, Georg Tintner (conductor)
04:01 AM
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
O vis aeternitatis (Responsorium) for female voice
Sequentia, Elizabeth Gaver (fiddle), Elisabetta de Mircovich (fiddle)
04:10 AM
Traditional, arr. Narciso Yepes
Romanza for guitar
Stepan Rak (guitar)
04:17 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Nanie for chorus and orchestra, Op 82
Warsaw Philharmonic Chorus, Orkiestra Filharmonii Narodowej w Warszawie, Jacek Kaspszyk (conductor)
04:31 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in D minor, L.413 - Allegro
Natalya Pasichnyk (piano)
04:33 AM
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in B minor, Kk.377
Natalya Pasichnyk (piano)
04:37 AM
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Tu es Petrus - motet for 6 voices
Silvia Piccollo (soprano), Emanuela Galli (soprano), Fabian Schofrin (alto), Marco Beasley (tenor), Daniele Carnovich (bass), Emanuela Galli (soloist), Diego Fasolis (conductor)
04:43 AM
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
8 Instrumental miniatures for 15 instruments
Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Raffi Armenian (director)
04:51 AM
Hubert Parry (1848-1918)
Lord, let me know mine end (no 6 from Songs of farewell for mixed voices)
Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh (director)
05:02 AM
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Flute Concertino, Op 107
Maria Filippova (flute), Ekaterina Mirzaeva (piano)
05:10 AM
Robert Kajanus (1856-1933)
Finnish Rhapsody no 1
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam (conductor)
05:20 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
He shall feed his flock (Messiah)
Marita Kvarving Sølberg (soprano), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ketil Haugsand (conductor)
05:27 AM
Dorothy Howell (1898-1982)
Two Pieces for Muted Strings
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Michael Collins (conductor)
05:36 AM
François René Gebauer (1773-1845)
Trio in E minor for flute, clarinet & bassoon, Op 32 no 2
Andrea Kollé (flute), Fabio di Càsola (clarinet), Maria Wildhaber (bassoon)
05:49 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Serenade no 1 in D major, Op 11
Zermatt Music Festival Academy Students
TUE 06:30 Breakfast (m002jhvx)
The best classical music wake-up call
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
TUE 09:30 Essential Classics (m002jhvz)
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 (m002jhw1)
Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé
An afternoon of compelling performances including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra performing ballet music by Ravel and recent bespoke recordings from R3 New Generation Artists the Chaos Quartet.
Throughout the week we’re hearing from concerts given by British orchestras on tour in Europe. Today, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra play Ravel’s enchanting music from the ballet Daphnis and Chloé, recorded earlier this year at the Saar International Music Festival in South West Germany. There’s also Sibelius from the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s tour to Poland.
Following on from Simon Trpčeski’s live Wigmore Hall recital yesterday, we hear two more great pianists playing piano transcriptions of orchestral works, with Marc-André Hamelin performing Liszt’s arrangements of moments from Wagner operas and Alexandre Tharaud with his own arrangement of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas.
Plus we shine our Artist Spotlight on the Chaos String Quartet from Vienna. Violinists Susanne Schäffer and Eszter Kruchió, viola player Sara Marzadori and cellist Bas Jongen. Today we hear them collaborate with two fellow NGAs in music by Schubert: an arrangement of the song Du bist die Ruh’ with a spontaneous improvisation from pianist Fergus McCreadie, and the sublime String Quintet with cellist Santiago Cañón Valencia.
1pm
Paul Dukas arr. Tharaud
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
Jean Sibelius
Death of Melisande (Pelleas and Melisande)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Olari Elts (conductor)
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 93 in D major
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck (conductor)
Franz Schubert
Du bist die Ruh’ (with piano improvisation)
Chaos String Quartet
Fergus McCreadie (piano)
Maurice Ravel
Daphnis and Chloé (Suites 1 and 2)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)
Richard Wagner arr. Franz Liszt
Feierlicher Marsch zum heiligen Gral (Parsifal), S. 450 and Spinnerlied (The Flying Dutchman), S. 440
Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
Franz Schubert
String Quintet in C major, D956
Chaos String Quartet
Santiago Cañón Valencia (cello)
Marguerite Monnot / Edith Piaf arr. Tharaud
Hymne à l’amour
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
TUE 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002jhw3)
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Tower of Babel
The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo is responsible for one of the most instantly recognisable works for classical guitar - if not one of the most famous pieces of classical music full stop. But when he was just three years old and a bout of diptheria left him almost completely blind, a future in composition seemed out of the question. How did he become one of Spain's most revered musical minds?
In this programme, Donald Macleod follows Rodrigo from Valencia to Paris, where he joins the melting pot of Paul Dukas' composition class - and meets an enchanting young piano teacher...
Zarabanda Lejana
Manuel Barrueco, guitar
Pastorale
Artur Pizarro, piano
2 Berceuses
Artur Pizarro, piano
Bagatela
Artur Pizarro, piano
Preludio de anoranza
Artur Pizarro, piano
Suite pour piano
Gregory Allen, piano
Preludio para un poema a la Alhambra
Castile and Leon Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Max Bragado-Darman
5 piezas infantiles
Jose Meliton and Elena Martin, piano
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio
TUE 17:00 In Tune (m002jhw5)
The biggest names in classical music
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
TUE 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002jhw7)
Power through with classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
TUE 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002f0dd)
Beethoven's Fifth
The London Symphony Orchestra performs three groundbreaking works. Shostakovich's 9th Symphony was supposed to celebrate Soviet military might, but its subversiveness caused it to be banned by the authorities. Then the LSO is joined by South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho for one of the most technically challenging works in the piano repertoire - Prokofiev's Piano Concerto no.2. The concert closes with Beethoven's fate-driven Symphony no.5.
Recorded last week at the Barbican in London, presented by Penny Gore.
Shostakovich: Symphony No 9
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No 2
Interval
Beethoven: Symphony No 5
Seong-Jin Cho (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra
Antonio Pappano (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
TUE 21:45 The Essay (m002jhw9)
How Music Heals
23/09/2025
Investigating how Music Therapy works as a crucial therapeutic tool is at the heart of this series presented by author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. She travels across the UK to meet music therapists working with people for whom talking therapies are not possible, or less accessible. In this, the second programme in the series, she is in Scotland to talk to Dr Giorgos Tsiris, who specialises in providing music therapy in palliative care and works with bereaved families. Dr Tsiris is based at St Colomba’s Hospice, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and Philippa meets him there, along with Jimmy, whose wife was helped by music therapy at the end of her life. Jimmy describes the legacy his wife left – a song composed in Dr Tsiris’ music therapy sessions – and how he believes the treatment enabled her to face her death with more dignity and acceptance.
Philippa encourages Jimmy to experience some music therapy himself to find a way through his grief, and the programme is a moving testimony to how music can help us process the most difficult emotions we experience.
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002jhwc)
Blissful sounds for after-hours
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
TUE 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002jhwf)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.
WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2025
WED 00:30 Through the Night (m002jhwh)
Mahler Symphony no 3
The WDR Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and conductor Cristian Măcelaru are joined by mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke in Mahler's 3rd Symphony. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Symphony no 3 in D minor
Sasha Cooke (mezzo soprano), Cologne Cathedral Choir, WDR Chorus, WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cologne, Cristian Măcelaru (conductor)
02:12 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Piano Quartet in A minor
Marianna Shirinyan (piano), Nevena Tochev (violin), Alessandro D'Amico (viola), Rafael Rosenfeld (cello)
02:25 AM
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Ich ging mit lust durch einen grunen Wald
Arleen Auger (soprano), Irwin Gage (piano)
02:31 AM
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Missa Alleluja a 36
Wiener Hofburgkapelle, Gradus ad Parnassum, Concerto Palatino, Konrad Junghänel (director)
03:07 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Sonata for Violin and Piano No 9 in A major 'Kreutzer'
Mats Zetterqvist (violin), Mats Widlund (piano)
03:40 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Last Spring, Op 33 no 2
Camerata Bern, Thomas Furi (leader)
03:46 AM
Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Prelude in G minor, BuxWV.149
Lorenzo Ghielmi (harpsichord)
03:54 AM
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
2 Songs: When Night Descends in silence; Oh stop thy singing maiden fair
Fredrik Zetterström (baritone), Tobias Ringborg (violin), Anders Kilström (piano)
04:02 AM
Carl Ludwig Lithander (1773-1843)
Rondo for flute and keyboard, Op 8
Mikael Helasvuo (flute), Tuija Hakkila (pianoforte)
04:10 AM
Alessandro Piccinini (1566-c.1638)
Toccata/Chiaccona from Intavolatura di liuto, et di chitarrone, libro primo
Stephen Stubbs (soloist)
04:15 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Alborada del gracioso - from the suite 'Miroirs'
Bengt-Åke Lundin (piano)
04:22 AM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
Overture a 7 in F major ZWV.188
Les Ambassadeurs, Alexis Kossenko (director)
04:31 AM
Johan Wagenaar (1862-1941)
Concert Overture, Op 11 'Fruhlingsgewalt'
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jac van Steen (conductor)
04:39 AM
Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924)
Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op 74
Stéphane Lemelin (piano)
04:47 AM
Michael Haydn (1737-1806)
Cantata: Lauft, ihr Hirten allzugleich (Run ye shepherds, to the light)
Salzburger Hofmusik, Wolfgang Brunner (director)
04:57 AM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sonata no 6 for 2 violins and continuo in G minor, Z.807
Il Tempo Ensemble
05:04 AM
Anton Webern (1883-1945)
Langsamer Satz
Zermatt Music Festival Academy Students
05:13 AM
Albertus Groneman (c.1710-1778)
Sonata for 2 flutes in G major
Jed Wentz (flute), Marion Moonen (flute)
05:22 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Piano Trio no 2 in F major, Op 80
Christopher Krenyak (violin), Jan Insinger (cello), Dido Keuning (piano)
05:47 AM
Andrew Huggett (b.1955)
Canadian folk-song suite for accordion and piano
Joseph Petric (accordion), Guy Few (piano)
06:01 AM
Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838)
Sinfonia concertante in B flat major, Op 3
Reijo Koskinen (clarinet), Pekka Katajamäki (bassoon), Esa Tukia (horn), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)
WED 06:30 Breakfast (m002jj2p)
Start the day on the right note with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
WED 09:30 Essential Classics (m002jj2r)
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 (m002jj2t)
Beethoven’s 2nd Piano Concerto
Compelling exclusive concert performances including Martha Argerich performing Beethoven's 2nd Piano Concerto and Marc-Andre Hamelin playing transcriptions of Wagner. Introduced by Linton Stephens.
Throughout the week we’re hearing from concerts given by British orchestras on tour in Europe. Today we hear the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performing music from Roberto Gerhard's ballet Don Quixote at a concert given in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.
We continue our showcase of piano transcriptions, with Marc-André Hamelin performing another of Liszt’s arrangements of Wagner – his aria O du mein holder Abendstern from Tannhauser – as well as a solo piano account of Beethoven’s song cycle An die ferne Geliebte. And there's more pianistic Beethoven from the legendary Martha Argerich, who joins the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra for the Second Piano Concerto with conductor Renaud Capuçon.
Plus we shine our Artist Spotlight on recently graduated Radio 3 New Generation Artists the Chaos String Quartet. Today we hear them champion a lesser-known quartet by the early 20th-century Dutch composer Henriëtte Bosmans.
1pm
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
Martha Argerich (piano)
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
Renaud Capuçon (conductor)
Georg Phillipp Telemann
Affettuoso and Presto (Sonata TWV 41:d4)
Forma Antiqva
Henriëtte Bosmans
String Quartet
Chaos String Quartet
Ludwig van Beethoven arr. Franz Liszt
An die ferne Geliebte, S. 469
Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
Richard Wagner arr. Franz Liszt
O du mein holder Abendstern (Tannhauser), S. 444
Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
WED 15:00 Choral Evensong (m002jj2w)
Westminster Abbey
Live from Westminster Abbey.
Introit: Come, my joy (John Rutter) (World Premiere)
Responses: Ayleward
Psalm 119 vv1-32
First Lesson: Hosea 11 vv1-11
Canticles: Second Service (Gibbons)
Second Lesson: 1 John 4 vv9-21
Anthem: See, see the word is incarnate (Gibbons)
Voluntary: Fancy in gamut flatt (Gibbons)
Andrew Nethsingha (Organist & Master of the Choristers)
Matthew Jorysz (Sub-Organist)
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Choral Evensong”.
WED 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002jj2y)
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Sacred fire
The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo is responsible for one of the most instantly recognisable works for classical guitar - if not one of the most famous pieces of classical music full stop. But when he was just three years old and a bout of diptheria left him almost completely blind, a future in composition seemed out of the question. How did he become one of Spain's most revered musical minds?
In this programme, Donald Macleod finds Rodrigo struggling for a source of inspiration and, as life continues to get in the way of music, he is forced to return to his homeland.
Serenata española
Artur Pizarro, piano
Tres Danzas de España
Maria Garzon, piano
Cuatro estampas andaluzas
Artur Pizarro, piano
Sonada de adios (Homenaje a Paul Dukas)
Artur Pizarro, piano
Per la flor del lliri blau
Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra, conducted by Mark Heron
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio
WED 17:00 In Tune (m002jj30)
Classical music live in the studio
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
WED 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002jj32)
Your daily classical soundtrack
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
WED 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002jj34)
The BBC Singers and Martyn Brabbins
Conductor Martyn Brabbins returns to conduct the BBC Singers in the world premiere of Bristol-based composer John Pickard's BBC commission, Elemental. Elemental is a work of celebration of the BBC Singers, to whom the piece is dedicated. The text, specially written by Gavin D’Costa, is also a celebration: of the world in all its beauty, and of the awesome and mysterious natural forces that shape our lives. The work is structured around the four classical elements: Earth, Fire, Air and Water, framed at the beginning and the end by the image of the Earth from space – a ‘brilliant jewel in the black velvet sky’, as the Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin described it.
The programme also includes the music of Sarah Garrard, a former student of John Pickard at Bristol University, alongside works by Holst, Britten and Elgar.
Recorded at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge on 19th September 2025. Presented by Ian Skelly.
Holst: Hymns from the Rig Veda
Britten: The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard
Sara Garrard: Missa Brevis
Elgar: Five Partsongs from the Greek anthology
Interval
John Pickard: Elemental (BBC Commission, world premiere)
BBC Singers
Elizabeth Bass - harp
Andrew Barclay - percussion
Martyn Brabbins - conductor
WED 21:45 The Essay (m002jj36)
How Music Heals
24/09/2025
In this episode of ‘How Music Heals’, psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry visits a school in Hampshire rated outstanding for its education and care of young people between the ages of 5-25 with complex physical and learning disabilities. Dr Cressida Lindsay heads the music therapy department there, and Philippa is allowed to listen in to some of her therapy sessions with young people.
Music is part of life at Treloars – but the difference between music lessons they have as part of the curriculum and individual music therapy lessons is the ability to have a skilled therapist working with them. Dr Lindsay helps individuals articulate and process difficult emotions using specially adapted instruments and creative communication. In this boarding school where 98% of the young people are wheelchair users, music therapy is the one time in their week when they have a profound experience of control, of exerting their own agency with a therapist who listens and responds to help them establish a sense of identity and independence without the need for speech or spoken communication.
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002jj38)
Immersive music for moonlight
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
WED 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002jj3b)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.
THURSDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2025
THU 00:30 Through the Night (m002jj3d)
Tribute to Pau Casals and Victoria de los Angeles
Benjamin Appl and Jorge Viladoms perform a song recital from the Pau Casals Auditorium in El Vendrell, Catalonia. The programme is specially dedicated to the composer and cellist Pau Casals, and the soprano Victoria de los Angeles. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Lachen und Weinen, D.777
Benjamin Appl (baritone), Jorge Viladoms (piano)
12:33 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Ständchen, D. 957 no 4
12:38 AM
Manuel Ponce (1882-1948)
Lejos de ti
12:41 AM
Ricardo Castro Herrera (1864-1907)
Je t'aime
12:43 AM
Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947)
A Chloris
12:47 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
An die Entfernte, Op 71 no 3
12:48 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Meine Rose, from Six Poems by Lenau and Requiem
12:52 AM
Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)
Canción al àrbol del olvido
12:55 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Der Nussbaum, from Myrthen
12:58 AM
Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)
Verborgenheit
01:02 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Ave Maria
01:05 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Nachtstück, D. 672
01:11 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Wie Melodien zieht es mir, Op 105 no 1
01:14 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Wiegenlied, Op 49 no 4
01:16 AM
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Die Mainacht, Op 43 no 2
01:20 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Die Sterne, D. 939
01:23 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Venetian Gondola Song
01:26 AM
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Freudvoll und Leidvoll, S. 280 no 1
01:29 AM
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
An Die Musik, D.547
Benjamin Appl (baritone), Jorge Viladoms (piano)
01:33 AM
Traditional Catalan, arr. Xavier Montsalvatge
El cant dels ocells
Victoria de los Ángeles (soprano), Luis Claret (cello), Orquesta Ciudad de Barcelona, Luis Garcia Navarro (conductor)
01:38 AM
Sebastián Iradier (1809-1865)
La Paloma
Victoria de los Ángeles (soprano), Sinfonia of London, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (conductor)
01:43 AM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
Sinfonia concertante a 8, ZWV 189
Katharina Heutjer (violin), Xenia Löffler (oboe), Gabriele Gombi (bassoon), La Cetra Barockorchester Basel, Maurice Steger (conductor)
02:06 AM
Jordi Cervelló (1935-2022)
Remembrances
Atrium Quartet
02:31 AM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto no 3 in C minor, Op 37
Mitsuko Uchida (piano), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski (conductor)
03:10 AM
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Toccata per cembalo d'ottava stesa in D minor
Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord)
03:30 AM
Philip Glass (b.1937)
Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra
Pere Méndez Marsal (soprano saxophone), Victor Serra (alto saxophone), Roberto Seara (tenor saxophone), Daniel Miguel (saxophone), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Brad Lubman (conductor)
03:55 AM
Leonhardt Lechner (c.1553-1606)
Deutsche Spruche von Leben und Tod
Danish National Radio Choir, Stefan Parkman (conductor)
04:06 AM
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Romance for viola and piano
Steven Dann (viola), Bruce Vogt (piano)
04:13 AM
Elizabeth Ogonek (b. 1989)
Moondog
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Elim Chan (conductor)
04:21 AM
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Adagio con sentimento religioso, 2nd movement from String Quartet, Op 44
Young Danish String Quartet
04:31 AM
Unsuk Chin (b.1961)
Subito con Forza
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Leonidas Kavakos (conductor)
04:37 AM
Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474)
Balsamus et munda cera
Orlando Consort
04:42 AM
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Klid (Silent woods), B182
Shauna Rolston (cello), Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Uri Mayer (conductor)
04:48 AM
Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884-1920)
Three Tone Pictures, Op 5
David Allen Wehr (piano)
04:57 AM
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734)
Missa Paschalis
Barbara Janowska (soprano), Wanda Laddy (soprano), Robert Lawaty (counter tenor), Cezary Szyfman (baritone), Michał Straszewski (bass)
05:12 AM
Josef Klicka (1855-1937)
Concert Fantasy, based on Vysehrad motifs by Bedrich Smetana
Petr Cech (organ)
05:24 AM
Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)
3 Madrigals for violin and viola
Andrej Kursakov (violin), Mikhail Tolpygo (viola)
05:39 AM
Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc (1804-1875)
Symphony no 1 in C minor, Op 32
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Bernhard Forck (conductor)
06:12 AM
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Trio sonata for flute, violin and continuo in B flat major, Wq.161`2
Les Coucous Bénévoles
THU 06:30 Breakfast (m002jj9h)
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’
THU 09:30 Essential Classics (m002jj9k)
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 (m002jj9m)
Shostakovich’s ‘Leningrad’ Symphony
Mark Forrest brings you an afternoon of compelling exclusive concert performances including the Philharmonia Orchestra performing Shostakovich's 'Leningrad' Symphony from Budapest and piano transcriptions of Bach from Alexandre Tharaud.
Throughout the week we’re hearing from concerts given by British orchestras on tour in Europe. Today, the Philharmonia Orchestra perform Shostakovich's 7th Symphony, his epic 'Leningrad' Symphony at the George Enescu International Festival, from a concert they gave at the Palace Grand Hall in Bucharest last month. Plus the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is joined by cellist Kian Soltani for Fauré’s soulful Elegie, recorded earlier this year at the Saar International Music Festival in South West Germany.
We continue our showcase of piano transcriptions, with Alexandre Tharaud performing an imaginative and wide-ranging sequence of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, encompassing movements from the Passions and the Lute Suite in E minor.
Plus we shine our Artist Spotlight on recently graduated Radio 3 New Generation Artists the Chaos String Quartet. Susanne Schäffer and Eszter Kruchió, violins; Sara Marzadori, viola; and Bas Jongen, cello. Today we hear them in contemporary repertoire, which is a key part of their identity as an ensemble – they perform Entr’Acte by American composer Caroline Shaw.
Johann Sebastian Bach
St John Passion (Opening Chorus) arr. Tharaud
Siciliano (Flute Sonata in G minor, BWV 1031) arr. Tharaud
Suite in A minor BWV.818a for keyboard
Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben (St Matthew Passion) arr. Tharaud
Lute Suite in E minor, BWV996 arr. Tharaud
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
Gabriel Fauré
Elégie for cello and orchestra
Kian Soltani (cello)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)
Caroline Shaw
Entr’Acte
Chaos String Quartet
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No. 7 in C major, 'Leningrad'
Philharmonia Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor)
To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live".
THU 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002jj9p)
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Phantom of sound
The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo is responsible for one of the most instantly recognisable works for classical guitar - if not one of the most famous pieces of classical music full stop. But when he was just three years old and a bout of diptheria left him almost completely blind, a future in composition seemed out of the question. How did he become one of Spain's most revered musical minds?
In this programme, Donald Macleod finds Rodrigo on the brink of personal tragedy, just as Spain plunges into civil war. From the eye of the storm, he writes his most famous work: the Concierto de Aranjuez.
Cuatros Piezas
Artur Pizarro, piano
Cancion Del Cucu
Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano
Anthony Spiri, piano
Coplas del pastor enamorado
Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano
Anthony Spiri, piano
En los trigales
Giulio Tampalini, guitar
Tiento antiguo
Giulio Tampalini, guitar
Junto al Generalife
Giulio Tampalini, guitar
Concierto de Aranjuez
Thibaut Garcia, guitar
Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Ben Glassberg
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio
THU 17:00 In Tune (m002jj9r)
Live music at drivetime
Live music and interviews from the world's finest classical musicians.
THU 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002jj9t)
Classical music for your journey
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
THU 19:30 Radio 3 in Concert (m002jj9w)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ryan Wigglesworth
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra launches its 90th season with a heartfelt tribute from Chief Conductor, Ryan Wigglesworth, to former Leader, Laura Samuel. The BBC SSO are joined by the Swedish violinist, Daniel Lozakovich, for Schumann's only violin concerto and after the interval Ryan Wigglesworth conducts the BBC SSO in Rachmaninov's energetic and beautiful Symphony No 3.
Presented live from Glasgow City Halls by Gillian Moore.
Wigglesworth: for Laura, after Bach
Schumann: Violin Concerto in D minor
interval
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.3
Daniel Lozakovich (violin)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth (conductor)
To listen on most smart speakers just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert".
THU 21:45 The Essay (m002jj9y)
How Music Heals
25/09/2025
In this episode, psychologist and author Philippa Perry meets Ellie Ruddock who has trained in neurologic music therapy and specialises working with stroke victims, enabling her clients to relearn and retrain their brains to absorb new information. She explains to Philippa how the rhythmic power of music can facilitate physical recovery, particularly in learning to walk again.
Ellie helps Philippa encode some new information herself, using music therapy and they discuss music’s unique ability to bypass the parts of the brain that are damaged and forge new neural pathways in rehabilitation therapy. Recent discoveries in neuroscience are now catching up with what humans have known for centuries – that music occupies more parts of our brains than language does, and that it can calm, organise and heal. The neurologist Oliver Sachs said:
"The power of music to integrate and cure is quite fundamental. It is the profoundest non-chemical medication." This programme focuses on music’s extraordinary ability to heal
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002jjb0)
Music for the still of night
Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
THU 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002jjb2)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.
FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2025
FRI 00:30 Through the Night (m002jjb4)
Langer, Bartók and Mendelssohn
The German Symphony Orchestra performs Elena Langer's opera suite after Mozart, 'Figaro gets a Divorce,' and Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony. Patricia Kopatchinskaja joins the musicians for Bartók's exuberant 2nd Violin Concerto. Penny Gore presents.
12:31 AM
Elena Langer (b. 1974)
Suite from the Opera 'Figaro gets a Divorce'
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
12:50 AM
Béla Bartók (1881-1945)
Violin Concerto no 2, Sz.112
Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
01:29 AM
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Blues, from Violin Sonata no 2 in G
Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), Maxim Emelyanychev (piano)
01:35 AM
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Symphony no 3 in A minor, Op 56 'Scottish'
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
02:14 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), arr. Franz Danzi
Duo from "Le Nozze di Figaro" arranged for 2 cellos: 'Voi, che sapete'
Duo Fouquet (duo)
02:17 AM
Jean Hotteterre (1677-1720)
La Noce Champetre ou l'Himen Pastoral - from Pieces pour la Muzette, Paris 1722
Ensemble 1700
02:31 AM
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54
Francesco Piemontesi (piano), Munich Chamber Orchestra, Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor)
03:02 AM
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
String Quartet no 2 in F major (unfinished)
Ensemble Fragaria Vesca
03:23 AM
Srul Irving Glick (1934-2002)
Sonata for oboe and piano
Senia Trubashnik (oboe), Valerie Tryon (piano)
03:41 AM
Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929)
Concert Overture in D major
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Chloé van Soeterstèd (conductor)
03:52 AM
Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952)
Allegro maestoso, from 'Cello Sonata in A minor'
Friedrich Thiele (cello), Amadeus Wiesensee (piano)
04:00 AM
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
O Padre Nostro
Chamber Choir AVE, Andraž Hauptman (conductor)
04:07 AM
Susan Spain-Dunk (1880-1962)
The Farmer's Boy
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Bell (conductor)
04:14 AM
Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-2016)
A Sad paven for these distracted tymes for string quartet
Pavel Haas Quartet
04:22 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Caesar's aria 'Al lamp dell'armi' from Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Act 2 Sc. 8)
Matthew White (counter tenor), Arte dei Suonatori, Eduardo Lopez Banzo (conductor)
04:25 AM
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
"Where'er you walk" Jupiter's air from Act II, Scene 3 of the opera "Semele"
Matthew White (counter tenor), Arte dei Suonatori, Eduardo Lopez Banzo (conductor)
04:31 AM
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Overture to Candide
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Richard Dufallo (conductor)
04:36 AM
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
Trio sonata in C major, Op 3 no 8
Il Seminario Musicale, Gerard Lesne (director)
04:43 AM
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Automne, Op 35 no 2
Valerie Tryon (piano)
04:51 AM
Karol Kurpiński (1785-1857)
Dwie Chatki (Two Huts)
Sinfonia Varsovia, Grzegorz Nowak (conductor)
05:00 AM
Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
O Danny Boy or Irish tune from County Derry
Edmonton Wind Ensemble, Harry Pinchin (conductor)
05:04 AM
Mönch von Salzburg (c.1340-c.1392)
In aller werlt mein liebster hort
Ensemble für Frühe Musik Augsburg
05:10 AM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata in F major, K.280
Sergei Terentjev (piano)
05:30 AM
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
Symphonic metamorphosis of themes by Carl Maria von Weber
Concertgebouworkest, Riccardo Chailly (conductor)
05:52 AM
César Franck (1822-1890)
Quintet for piano and strings in F minor, M.7
Cristina Ortiz (piano), Fine Arts Quartet
FRI 06:30 Breakfast (m002jgc1)
Rise and shine with classical music
Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk
To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’
FRI 09:30 Essential Classics (m002jgc3)
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 (m002jgc5)
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition from Finland
Mark Forrest showcases the best performances from the UK and beyond, including the City of Birmingham Symphony playing Saint-Saens and the Philharmonia Orchestra in Finland performing Mussorgsky's Pictures from an Exhibition.
We end our week featuring British orchestras on tour in Europe with music from a trio of concerts given by three of Britain’s finest orchestras. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is joined by cellist Kian Soltani for the first Cello Concerto by Camille Saint-Saëns, recorded earlier this year at the Saar International Music Festival in South West Germany. Ravel’s orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky’s mighty Pictures from an Exhibition was the centrepiece of the Philharmonia Orchestra’s recent concert at the Mikkeli Music Festival in Finland, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra perform Sibelius at the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall in Poland.
We round up our showcase of piano transcriptions this week with more from Marc-André Hamelin’s concert of Liszt arrangements, including the famous Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde.
And for the final time this week we shine our Artist Spotlight on recently graduated Radio 3 New Generation Artists the Chaos String Quartet, who perform Haydn's String Quartet in F minor, the fifth of his Op. 20 set.
1pm
Camille Saint-Saens
Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor
Kian Soltani (cello)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)
Kian Soltani
Persian Fire Dance
Kian Soltani (cello)
Richard Wagner arr. Franz Liszt
Isoldes Liebestod, S. 447
Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 20 No. 5
Chaos String Quartet
Modest Mussorgsky orch. Ravel
Pictures from an Exhibition
Philharmonia Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor)
Maurice Ravel
Miroirs
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
Jean Sibelius
En Saga, Op. 9
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Olari Elts (conductor)
Norbert Glanzberg arr. Tharaud
Padam, Padam
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
FRI 16:00 Composer of the Week (m002jgc7)
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Don Quixote
The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo is responsible for one of the most instantly recognisable works for classical guitar - if not one of the most famous pieces of classical music full stop. But when he was just three years old and a bout of diptheria left him almost completely blind, a future in composition seemed out of the question. How did he become one of Spain's most revered musical minds?
In this programme, Donald Macleod sees the Guitar Concerto transform Rodrigo’s career, with the composer finally finding recognition in Spain and far beyond.
Fantasia para un Gentilhombre: I. Villano y Ricercare
Pepe Romero, guitar
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
Concierto de estio: Siciliana: Andantino
Mikhail Ovrutsky, violin
Castile and Leon Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Max Darman Bragado
Invocacion y danza
Miloš Karadaglić, guitar
Ausencias de Dulcinea
José Antonio López, baritone
Lilian Moriani, soprano
Victoria Marchante, soprano
Celia Alcedo, soprano
María José Suárez, mezzo-soprano
Víctor Arriola, violín
Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid, conducted by José Ramón Encinar
Concierto para una fiesta: Andante calmo
Pepe Romero, guitar
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio
FRI 17:00 In Tune (m002jgc9)
Live from Inverness
Petroc Trelawny takes In Tune to the Royal Highland Hotel in Inverness for a special highland party the night before boarding the Highland Chieftain train to London for Train Tracks - Radio 3’s celebration of the 200th birthday of UK’s modern railway.
Broadcasting live from the iconic 150 year old Royal Highland Hotel, located just a minutes from Inverness train station, with live music from local folk musicians Julie Fowlis, Eamon Doorley, Duncan Chisholm, and Ingrid Henderson, harpist Karen Marshalsay and her three types of Scottish harp and the massed voices of local Gaelic Choirs.
FRI 19:00 Classical Mixtape (m002jgcc)
Half an hour of the finest classical music
Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music.
FRI 19:30 Friday Night is Music Night (m002jgcf)
Bridgerton and Beyond
Karen Ni Bhroin conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra in music from TV period dramas, including Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, Sanditon and others.
Live from the Royal Festival Hall in London. Presented by Sarah Walker.
Kris Bowers: Bridgerton: ‘Main Theme’ and ‘We Could Form an Attachment’
Offenbach: Barcarolle from Gaite Parisienne
John Lunn: Downton Abbey Suite
Celeste arr George Moore: Strange
Carl Davis Arr. Mark Warman: Pride and Prejudice - Suite for Small Orchestra
Dario Marianelli: Concert Suite - Pride and Prejudice
INTERVAL
Prokofiev: Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’ - 1st Movt
Patrick Doyle: ‘My Father’s Favourite’ (Sense and Sensibility)
O’Hooley & Tidow, arr Fiona Brice: ‘Gentleman Jack' theme
Rachel Portman: Emma (End Titles)
Peter Brown & Robert Rans, arr Fiona Brice: Material Girl
Patrick Gowers: Holmes in Europe; The Death of Sherlock Holmes
Ruth Barrett: Sanditon - Suite for Orchestra
Ben Dawson (piano)
Alice Fearn (singer)
Nathaniel Anderson-Frank (violin)
BBC Concert Orchestra
Conductor Karen Ni Bhroin
FRI 21:45 The Essay (m002jgch)
How Music Heals
26/09/2025
In the fifth and final episode of our series ‘How Music Heals’ on the power of music therapy to help where talking therapies might be very difficult or impossible to access, author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry finds out how it can work in cases of complex trauma and childhood abuse. She goes to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in Central London, to meet Cerrita Black, a lecturer on the music therapy MA there.
In Cerrita’s practise she specialises in working with clients in psychiatric wards and family therapy for adoptive families in crisis. She and Philippa listen to recordings from her sessions with patients and they discuss how music therapy can allow powerful feelings to be expressed and exist in a less confrontational way than language. She also describes one story of a child whose early childhood experience was of such abuse and neglect that she was unable to express affection with her adoptive family. Through music therapy with Cerrita, the child was able to play out her childhood experiences, and allow her mother to understand what she had gone through it a way that would have been impossible using conventional talking therapies.
In this moving and thoughtful episode of ‘How Music Heals’, Philippa Perry considers how and why music can be such a powerful therapeutic tool – and uses her own experiences as a psychotherapist to reflect what she has learned throughout the series.
FRI 22:00 Late Junction (m002jgck)
Railway Junction
It’s “All aboard!” as Verity Sharp presents an eclectic selection of sonic odes to rail travel, 200 years on from the first ever passenger railway journey in the UK. Expect an archival adieu to the steam locomotives from Cairnforth, Lancashire, echoes of a station piano recorded during a transit interlude, and a ticket inspector’s nod to the quiet solitude of the trans-European night train cabin in the form of contemporary field recordings.
We’ll offer a sympathetic ear to Sinn Sisamouth’s heartache as he laments the night train taking his lover away; and go somewhat off the rails via one man’s bebop skat singing tour-de-force, complete with the hoots, rattle tattle and hubadeebap of a railroad car at high speed; and, hopping triumphantly back on board, we’ll join a cast of miners, cat skinners, lumberjacks, fisherman, sailors and farmer workhands as they roll through the sun, sleet and rain, headed for South America.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
FRI 23:30 'Round Midnight (m002jgcm)
Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.