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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 Ben Walton and Marina Frolova-Walker

Andrew McGregor with Ben Walton and Marina Frolova-Walker

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review, Andrew McGregor with Ben Walton and Marina Frolova-Walker

Building a Library on Rossini's glorious late work, the Petite messe solennelle.

Ben Walton surveys the available recordings of Rossini's Petite messe solennelle and Marina Frolova-Walker reviews recent releases of Russian orchestral music.

with Andrew McGregor

09.30
Building a Library: Ben Walton surveys the available recordings of Rossini's Petite messe solennelle.

The great opera composer Rossini died 150 years ago this week. According to popular legend he more or less stopped composing after completing his operatic masterpiece William Tell and spent his final years in a sybaritic and depressed retirement. However he did compose two glorious works of religious music during this final period: the Stabat mater and the Petite messe solennelle. The Mass is famously neither little nor solemn. It is a large-scale work with a stream of lyrical arias and energetic choruses. Originally scored for 12 voices, 2 pianos and a harmonium; it is also sometimes performed in a fully orchestrated version. Rossini said of his final masterwork, "Dear Lord, here it is finished, this poor little mass. Have I just written sacred music, or rather, sacrilegious music? I was born for opera buffa, as you well know. Not much technique, a little bit of heart, that’s all. Blessings to you and grant me Paradise."

10.30
Marina Frolova-Walker reviews a recording of the sacred opera, Moses by Anton Rubenstein and recent releases of Russian orchestral music including symphonies by Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Weinberg.

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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Andrew McGregor with Ben Walton and Marina Frolova-Walker

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