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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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Record Review

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Music: Classical

A thorough look at the week's classical music releases, plus news and recommendations.

A thorough look at the week's classical music releases, plus news and the Radio 3 Disc of the Week recommendation.

Record Review: Andrew McGregor with Simon Heighes

Andrew McGregor with Simon Heighes

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review, Andrew McGregor with Simon Heighes

Building a Library on Francois Couperin's meditative and dramatic Lecons de Tenebres.

Simon Heighes on Francois Couperin's Lecons de Tenebres in Building a Library and Katy Hamilton reviews a box set by legendary Ukrainian-born American cellist Gregor Piatigorsky.

with Andrew McGregor

09.30
Building a Library: 350 years to the day since François Couperin's death, Simon Heighes surveys the Leçons de Ténèbres and makes a recommendation. 

In 18th century France theatres were closed during the Easter fortnight and fashionable audiences seeking Holy Week's hot ticket flocked to church services, the only available entertainment - and the only place professional opera singers were allowed to perform.  Composers took advantage of their resources and Couperin's Leçons de Ténèbres from around 1713 were written as an integral part of the liturgy for the end of Lent, settings of texts from the Old Testament Book of Lamentations. 

Although modestly scored for one and two voices and organ, the music makes a deeply expressive and satisfying sequence, by turns meditative, dramatic and contemplative as it deals with the captivity of the Jews and the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem in 587 BC and demands top-flight singers.

10.50
Katy Hamilton reviews a new box set of re-releases featuring legendary Ukrainian-born American cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. 

11.45
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Disc of the Week.

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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