Words and Music

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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

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A journey of discovery, weaving music with poetry and prose read by leading actors.

A weekly journey of discovery, weaving together a range of music with poetry and prose read by leading actors.

Words and Music: 150 Years of The Royal Albert Hall

150 Years of The Royal Albert Hall

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Josie Lawrence and Petroc Trelawny with readings and music performed at the London venue.

Beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti read there. Miss World, boxing matches and the Proms have been staged there. Mike Oldfield to Hugh Masekela have played there.

From Bach to The Beatles, beat poetry to a boxing match - The Royal Albert Hall marked its 150th anniversary this year and this Words and Music features readings performed by Royal Albert Hall regulars Josie Lawrence and Petroc Trelawny. We include moving and amusing moments from the Albert Hall archive, including Emmeline Pankhurst calling on her followers to meet once more at the Hall on the eve of her trial, and a former Head of Music at the BBC who was outraged by a young lady who exposed more than he felt was necessary to Prommers in 1977.  You'll hear archive recordings of Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence  Ferlinghetti reading at the International Poetry Incarnation in 1965, and Sally Alexander tells the story of storming the stage at the 1970 Miss World Contest. The rich musical history of the hall is reflected in a soundtrack which includes music by Prince Albert himself, as well as Elgar conducting Yehudi Menuhin, Hugh Masekela (who appeared when Nelson Mandela was honoured there in 2013), Billie Holiday, Paul Robeson, Mike Oldfield and Shirley Bassey who have all famously performed there.

Readings

Extract from The Royal Albert Hall Frieze 
Extract from Queen Victoria’s diary 
Extract from In Memoriam by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Extract from The Daily Telegraph, June 30th 1914
On The Eve of Her Trial. A Message from Mrs Pankhurst
From Royal Albert Hall: A celebration in 150 unforgettable moments
The Convergence of the Twain by Thomas Hardy
From Royal Albert Hall Programme for The Chelsea Arts Club Annual Ball 1936
Some Bright Elegance read by Kayo Chingonyi 
Extract from letter by Sir Henry Wood 
Extract from I Am Waiting by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Annus Mirabilis by Philip Larkin
Extract from Who Be Kind To by Alan Ginsberg
Extract from letter by Robert Ponsonby 
Extract from The Daily Mirror

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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