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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Afternoon Concert

Music: Classical

Unique performances with BBC Orchestras, Choirs and other great orchestras

Unique performances with BBC Orchestras, Choirs and other great orchestras from around the world

Afternoon on 3: Thursday Opera Matinee

Afternoon Concert: Thursday Opera Matinee: Episode 6: La Sonnambula

La Sonnambula

Episode 6

Episode 6: La Sonnambula

BBC Radio 3 - Afternoon Concert

A performance of Bellini's La Sonnambula, given in early 2010 at the Opera Bastille.

A performance of Bellini's La Sonnambula, given in early 2010 at the Opera Bastille, Paris. Soprano Natalie Dessay stars as the sleepwalking heroine.

Radio 3's Thursday Opera Matinee season continues with Bellini's La Sonnambula, recorded earlier this year at the Opera Bastille, Paris. In a small Swiss village, orphan girl Amina's betrothal to her beloved farmer Elvino is threatened by her uncontrollable sleepwalking. Bellini's 1831 score is a subtle blend of dazzling vocal fireworks and genuinely touching emotion.

As the heroine, soprano Natalie Dessay won rave reviews: the New York Times praised her "beguiling tone, supple phrasing and lovely vocal colours." She's "happily partnered" with tenor Javier Camerena as Amina's love-interest Elvino.

The opera's followed by more from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Vasily Petrenko, conductor of Sunday's BBC Young Musican competition final. To conclude we hear from this year's piano finalist. Presented by Jonathan Swain.

Amina ..... Natalie Dessay (soprano)
Elvino ..... Javier Camarena (tenor)
Count Rodolfo ..... Michele Pertusi (bass)
Lisa ..... Marie-Adeline Henry (soprano)
Alessio ..... Nahuel di Pierro (bass)
A notary ..... Jian-Hong Zhao (tenor)
Paris National Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Evelino Pido (conductor)

4.15pm
Bartok: Dance Suite
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Vasily Petrenko (conductor)

4.35pm
Performances by the winner of the 2010 BBC Young Musician piano category.

Afternoon Concert: Thursday Opera Matinee

Thursday Opera Matinee

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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Music: Classical: Opera

Series of fifteen operas recently recorded at some of world's greatest opera houses

Series of operas performed at venues around the world. Singers such as Bryn Terfel, Anna Netrebko, Simon Keenlyside and Joyce DiDonato perform under conductors including Seiji Ozawa and Simon Rattle

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Episode 6: La Sonnambula

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