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

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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: BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Afternoon Concert: BBC National Orchestra of Wales: Episode 3

Episode 3

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

BBC Radio 3 - Afternoon Concert, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Episode 3

Katie Derham presents the BBC NOW in music by Bridge, Massenet, Debussy and Franck.

Katie Derham presents music performed by the BBC NOW. Bridge: Enter Spring. Massenet: Suite No 3. Debussy: Le Printemps. Franck: Symphonic Variations. Bridge: Summer.

A week of programmes with the BBC National of Orchestra of Wales, featuring music inspired by springtime.

Presented by Katie Derham.

Following Britten in our lunchtime concert, his teacher Frank Bridge begins and ends today's programme in seasonal colours. Spring comes forcefully into focus with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Associate Guest conductor Francois-Xavier Roth in the rhapsody Enter Spring. It's a blaze of orchestral energy and invention, inspired by the wild and windy Sussex Downs. By contrast, the tone poem Summer is more restful and balmy, all the more poignant since it was written in 1916 during the First World War when some of Bridge's closest friends were killed in action. The conductor is Richard Hickox, a particular champion of Bridge, with whom the orchestra recorded six volumes of orchestral works.

French music spans these two Bridge pillars. Thierry Fischer conducts Massenet's third orchestral suite, his Scenes Dramatiques, The three movements are all based on Shakespeare's plays: The Tempest, Othello and finally Macbeth, which takes us from the thunder and lightning of the opening through to Macbeth's death and defeat. There's more Macbeth, this time by Verdi in tomorrow's programme - from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Spring appears once again as depicted by Debussy in this rare opportunity to hear his cantata Le Printemps, the fruits of one of his three attempts in the 1880s to win the Prix de Rome at the Paris Conservatoire. Richard Hickox conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the women's voices of the BBC National Chorus of Wales. At the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy studied organ with Cesar Franck, and next we have one of Franck's most popular works, his Symphonic Variations, written just after Debussy's cantata, but a world away in spirit. Here the themes all have a rich sonority and an expressive warmth. The soloist is Radio 3 New Generation Artist Christian Ihle Hadland, here at his very best, in this impressive studio session, the first to be conducted by the BBC NOW's Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård.

Bridge: Enter Spring
BBC National Orchestra of Wales,
François-Xavier Roth (conductor).

2.20pm
Massenet: Scenes dramatiques (Suite no. 3)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales,
Thierry Fischer (conductor).

2.40pm
Debussy: Le Printemps
BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales,
Richard Hickox (conductor).

2.45pm
Franck: Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra
Christian Ihle Hadland (piano),
BBC National Orchestra of Wales,
Thomas Søndergård (conductor).

3pm
Bridge: Summer
BBC National Orchestra of Wales,
Richard Hickox (conductor).

Afternoon Concert: BBC National Orchestra of Wales

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.

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales in works by Schumann and music inspired by springtime.

Katie Derham presents a series programmes featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, which performs works by Schumann and music inspired by springtime

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