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

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Saturday Classics

Music: Classical

A view of classical music from a range of presenters; themed series and one-off programmes

A personal view of classical music from a range of presenters. Authored, themed mini-series and one-off programmes offer a chance to share the musical interests of the presenters.

Saturday Classics: Amanda Foreman

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16/04/2016

Amanda Foreman

BBC Radio 3 - Saturday Classics, Amanda Foreman

Amanda Foreman introduces music reflecting aspects of the British character and landscape.

Writer and historian Dr Amanda Foreman introduces music that reflects different aspects of the British character and landscape, including works by Elgar, Purcell and Judith Weir.

Writer and historian Dr Amanda Foreman takes a personal journey through the musical history of Britain, introducing works which have inspired her over the years and which reflect different aspects of what it is to be British.

Foreman is the author of the award-winning best sellers, 'Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire' (1999) and 'A World on Fire: A Epic History of Two Nations Divided (2011), and is seen and heard frequently on TV and radio history programmes. 

Having lived in the UK and the United States, Foreman has both an inside and outside view of Britain and the music which defines it. In her varied choice, she introduces works such as the Medieval "Agincourt Carol", pieces by Byrd and John Bull which entertained women in the Tudor Court, as well as evocative musical portrayals of the 20th century English and Scottish landscapes by Elgar and Hamish MacCunn.

2016 sees the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, and in amongst Foreman's choices are works inspired by his writing, including Judith Weir's "Storm" with texts from "The Tempest", incidental music from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Mendelssohn and Henry Bishop's "Lo! Here the lark" from his music for "The Comedy of Errors".

Other music includes works by Henry Wood, Ethel Smyth, Thomas Weelkes, Henry Purcell, William Walton and Hubert Parry.

Producer Helen Garrison.

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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