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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: Best of British with the BBC Orchestras

Afternoon Concert: Best of British with the BBC Orchestras: Episode 4

Best of British with the BBC Orchestras

Episode 4

BBC Radio 3 - Afternoon Concert, Best of British with the BBC Orchestras, Episode 4

Music from BBC orchestras, by Vaughan Williams, Finzi, Bax, Britten, Elgar and Walton.

Music from BBC orchestras. Vaughan Williams: Overture (The Wasps). Finzi: Clarinet Concerto. Bax: Nympholept. Britten: Canticle V. Elgar: Cello Concerto. Walton: Symphony No 1.

Best of British - Ancient and Modern.

Today's programme features three Classically inspired pieces: Vaughan Williams's evergreen overture to a play originally by Aristophanes, an orchestral fantasy by Arnold Bax inspired by the nymphs of Classical legend, and Britten's last Canticle - indeed his last work (from 1974): The Death of St. Narcissus, with a text by T.S.Eliot, inspired in turn by Ovid's Metamorphoses.

There are also two well-loved concertos: Finzi's for clarinet, and Elgar's for cello - a composer in his senior years, out of fashion and looking back to a lost world. Plus Walton's First Symphony - young man's music, full of vigour and passion.

Presented by Louise Fryer.


Vaughan Williams: Overture 'The Wasps'
BBC Philharmonic,
John Wilson (conductor).

2.10pm
Finzi: Clarinet Concerto
Michael Collins (clarinet),
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,
Garry Walker.

2.35pm
Bax: Nympholept 
BBC Philharmonic,
Vernon Handley (conductor).

2.55pm
Britten: Canticle V - The Death of St Narcissus, Op. 89
Ben Johnson (tenor),
Lucy Wakeford (harp).

3.00pm
Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Johannes Moser (cello),
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,
Andrew Litton (conductor).

3.30pm
Walton: Symphony no. 1 in B flat minor
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,
Vassily Sinaisky (conductor).

Afternoon Concert: Best of British with the BBC Orchestras

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.

Series featuring music by favourite British composers performed by BBC orchestras

Series of programmes bringing together some of the best-loved British composers and their key works, performed by BBC orchestras and the BBC Singers

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Episode 4

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