The Early Music Show

Original version

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

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Music: Classical: Early Music

Performance and news from the world of early music.

An exploration of early music, looking at early developments in musical performance and composition in Britain and abroad. UK only: please note that not all episodes are podcast.

The Early Music Show: Caffarelli

Caffarelli

BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show, Caffarelli

Lucie Skeaping on the life and performances of 18th-century castrato Caffarelli.

Lucie Skeaping on the life and career of the famous 18th-century castrato Caffarelli, for whom many composers created roles, including Handel, Porpora and Hasse.

The 18th-century singer Caffarelli expressed a wish to be castrated when he was just ten years old - already wanting a career in music.  He flourished into one of Europe's finest singers, and enjoyed great fame - and notoriety - for almost forty years, amassing a great fortune along the way.

Many composers of the day created roles for him in their productions, including Handel, Porpora, Hasse, Pergolesi and Gluck.

Lucie Skeaping explores Caffarelli's extraordinary life and career with music from recordings by Franco Fagioli, Max Emmanuel Cencic, Andreas Scholl and Simone Kermes, among others.

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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