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

BBC Radio 3

Breakfast

Radio 3's breakfast show, waking the UK up with the finest classical music in the best performances

Breakfast: Breakfast

10/08/2008

BBC Radio 3 - Breakfast, Breakfast

With Martin Handley. Including music by J Strauss II, Marais, Kodaly, Vivaldi, Rachmaninov

With Martin Handley. Including J Strauss II: Morning Papers Waltz. Marais: Girl Dreaming. Kodaly: Dances of Galanta. Vivaldi: Alma oppressa. Rachmaninov: Valse. Cherubini: Overture.

A sequence for your Sunday morning breakfast-time listening, presented by Martin Handley 

Curling up with the Sunday papers? Johann Strauss's Morning Papers waltz should be a perfect accompaniment. Or if waltzing is too much effort then try Marais's stunning evocation of a girl dreaming. 

ohann STRAUSS II
Morning Papers Waltz
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor
TELDEC 8573 83563 2  CD1 Tr 4


Marin MARAIS
Girl Dreaming
Jordi Savall (bass viol)
Pierre Hantai (keyboard)
Rolf Lislevand (theorbo)
VALOIS V4640  Tr 8


John BLOW
Of all the torments
John Mark Ainsley (tenor), 
Paula Chateauneuf (theorbo), 
Timothy Roberts (harpsichord and organ) 
HYPERION CDA66646  Tr 16


MOZART
Rondo in A minor, K.511 
Alfred Brendel (piano)
PHILIPS 475 7185  CD2 Tr 5


John BULL
Een Kindeken is ons geboren
Margaret Philips (organ)
CRC 908 – 2  Tr 1


RAVEL
Shéhérazade – Ouverture de féerie
Ulster Orchestra
Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor
CHANDOS CHAN7103  Tr 1


Domenico SCARLATTI
Sonata in A minor, Kk, 3
Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord)
SONY SBK 60099  Tr 1


KODALY
Dances of Galanta
Philharmonia Hungarica
Antal Dorati, conductor
MERCURY 432 005 2  Tr 10


CHOPIN 
Study in E flat minor, Op.10, No.6
Moura Lympany (piano)
APEX 2564 60158  Tr 29


FREE THOUGHT
Marina Warner“Celebrating contemporary art”


HANDEL
Gia superbo nel mio affano (Lucrezia)
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mezzo)
Members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Harry Bicket, conductor
AVIE AV 0030  Tr 11


STRAVINSKY
3 Dances from “The Soldier’s Tale”
Nash Ensemble 
Elgar Howarth conductor
EMI 5 72698  Tr 6 – 8


KABALEVSKY
Colas Breugnon Overture 
Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
Loris Tjeknavorian, conductor
ASV CD DCA 967  Tr 21


BORTNIANSKY
The Cherubic Hymn
Estonian Chamber Philharmonic Choir 
Paul Hillier, conductor
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907318  Tr 3


RACHMANINOV
Valse (Suite No.2 for 2 Pianos)
Martha Argerich and Alexander Rabinovich (pianos)
TELDEC 9031 74717 2  Tr 6 


Richard STRAUSS
Prelude (Capriccio)
Amadeus Quartet with
Cecil Aronowitz (viola)
William Pleeth (cello)
BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4061  Tr 8


VIVALDI
Alma oppressa; Zeffiretti, che sussurrate
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano
Il Giardino Armonico
Giovanni Antonini (director)
DECCA 466 569 2  Tr 5


JANACEK
Mladi
Melos Ensemble
EMI 5 65304  Tr 4 – 7


Fernando SOR
Study in B minor Op. 35, No. 22  
Narciso Yepes (guitar)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 459 029  Tr 3


CHERUBINI 
Overture, Anacréon
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
EMI CDM7 69020  Tr 2

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.

With Martin Handley. Music includes: 
7.00-8.30: J Strauss (son) Waltz: Morning Papers Marais Girl Dreaming 
Kodaly Dances of Galanta 
8.30-10.00: Vivaldi Alma Oppressa (La Fida Ninfa) Rachmaninov Valse (Suite No 2) Cherubini Overture: Anacreon

Sunday Morning

Sarah Walker chooses uplifting music to complement your morning.

Sarah Walker chooses three hours of attractive and uplifting music to complement your morning.

Iain Burnside

Sunday Morning: 10/08/2008

BBC Radio 3 - Sunday Morning, 10/08/2008

Mary King sits in for Iain Burnside and explores the world of left-handed musicians.

Mary King sits in for Iain Burnside and explores the world of left-handed musicians, composers and performers - who include CPE Bach, Mozart, Scriabin, Ravel and one of the Beatles.

Mary King sits in for Iain Burnside and explores the world of left-handed musicians, composers and performers - who include CPE Bach, Mozart, Scriabin, Ravel, one of the Beatles and Iain himself.

Including:

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Variation 1)
Glenn Gould (piano) - 1984 recording
CBS M3K79358

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Variation 1)
Glenn Gould (piano) - 1955 recording
CBS 1479

CPE Bach: Symphony in F, Op 183 No 3
Akademie fur Alte Musik, Berlin
Stefan Mai (conductor)
Harmonia Mundi HMC901622

Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E flat, S49
Wynton Marsalis (trumpet)
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Raymond Leppard (conductor)
Sony CBS Masterworks 37846

Cole Porter: Any Tom Dick or Harry (Kiss me Kate)
Broadway Cast Recording
DRG 12988

Ravel: Concerto in F for left-handed piano and orchestra
Leon Fleisher (piano)
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Seiji Ozawa (conductor)
Sony Classical SK47188

Lennon and McCartney, arr. Daryl Runswick: Blackbird
The Kings Singers
EMI Cdkings2

Leoncavallo: Vesti la Giubba (I Pagliacci)
Enrico Caruso
Pearl GEMMCD9309

Django Reinhardt: Improvisation No 1
Django Reinhardt (guitar)
Castle Pie Pie SD233

Beethoven: String Quartet, Op 130 (Cavatina)
Emerson Quartet
DG 444 0752

Paganini: Caprice No 13
Midori (violin)
CBS CD44944

Scriabin: Le divin poeme (Jeu divin)
Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev (conducting)
DG 4596812

Mozart: Symphony No 39, K543
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Charles Mackerras (conductor)
Telarc CD80203.

Mary King

Mary King surveys the world of left-handed musicians, composers and performers, and comes up with a strong batting order that includes CPE Bach, Mozart, Scriabin, Ravel, at least one of the Beatles, and lain Burnside. EMAIL: [address removed]

Private Passions

Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical loves and hates

Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical loves and hates, and talk about the influence music has had on their lives

Private Passions: Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai

BBC Radio 3 - Private Passions, Kiran Desai

Michael Berkeley talks to author Kiran Desai, whose musical choices include Bach.

Michael Berkeley talks to author Kiran Desai, who grew up in India and lives in America. Her musical choices include Bach played by Glenn Gould and Pablo Casals and Cesaria Evora.

Michael Berkeley talks to Booker Prize-winning author Kiran Desai, who grew up in India and now lives in America. Her musical choices range from Bach played by Glenn Gould and Pablo Casals to two masters of the guitar, three contrasting pieces of Indian music and the Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora.

Michael Berkeley talks to Indian-born author Kiran Desai. Her musical choices include Bach played by Glenn Gould and Pablo Casals , three contrasting pieces of Indian music, and the sound of Cape Verdean folk singer Cesaria Evora.

The Early Music Show

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: Dr John Bull

Dr John Bull

BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show, Dr John Bull

Lucie Skeaping explores the troubled life of British composer Dr John Bull and his music.

Lucie Skeaping explores the troubled life of British composer Dr John Bull and his music. He was blighted by poverty and was a victim of highway robbers and pirates.

Lucie Skeaping explores the troubled life of British composer Dr John Bull and his music. He had more than his fair share of difficulties throughout his life: he was blighted by poverty, dismissed from at least three jobs, a victim of highway robbery, robbed by pirates and involved in a scandal which led to a self-imposed exile from his homeland.

Blighted by poverty, dismissed from at least three jobs, a victim of highway robbery, robbed by pirates and involved in a scandal which led to a self-imposed exile from his homeland, Dr John Bull had more than his fair share of difficulties throughout his life.  Lucie Skeaping looks at the troubled life of the British composer and his music.


The Bull Masque
His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts
Hyperion CDA66894
Track 15

In Nomine IX
Derek Adlam (Harpsichord)
GUILD GMCD7233
Track 14

Early fantasia (from Fitzwilliam book)
Martin Souter (Organ)
ISIS ISISCD005
Track 10

Almighty God, which by the leading of a star
Consortium/ Price (organ)/ Barbieri (dir.)
DEUX-ELLES DXL853
Track 1

Fantasy a 4
Fretwork
VIRGIN CLASSICS VC7907062
Track 7

Princes Galliard
Joseph Payne (harpsichord)
BIS CD729BIS
Track 10

Salve Regina I
Sally Garden (Mezzo-Soprano)/ Roger Williams (Organ)
ALPHA CDCA951
Track 1

Fantasia X
Bob van Asperen
TELDEC 842874
Track 11

Carol arr. “den lustelijcken mey”
Ton Koopman (organ)
CAPRICCIO 10255
Track 5

Doctor Bull’s Goodnight
Pierre Hantaï (harpsichord)
ASTREE E8543
Track 17

Blighted by poverty, a victim of highway robbery, set upon by pirates and involved in a scandal that led to a self-imposed exile from his homeland, Dr John Bull had more than his fair share of difficulties. Lucie Skeaping looks at the troubled life of the British composer and his music. Producer Sam Phillips

Radio 3 Requests

Weekly pick of music requests from Radio 3 listeners

Radio 3 Requests features a wide breadth of classical works requested by the station's listeners.

The final edition of Radio 3 Requests was broadcast on 1st May 2011.  We can no longer accept new requests.

Radio 3 Requests: 10/08/2008

BBC Radio 3 - Radio 3 Requests, 10/08/2008

Chi-chi Nwanoku presents listeners' requests, including Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Chi-chi Nwanoku presents a selection of Radio 3 listeners' requests. Including Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice and a quartet movement from the 16-year-old Mozart.

In today's hour-long edition of requests from Radio 3 listeners, a disastrous spell is cast in Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice and there's a nearly-discarded quartet movement from the sixteen year old Mozart. Violist Lawrence Power also shares a favourite recording of two songs by Brahms for alto, viola and piano. Chi-chi Nwanoku presents.

Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice		
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 419 617-2, track 5

Mozart: String Quartet in G major, K. 156 (Adagio, original second movement) 
Éder Quartet
Naxos 8.550542, track 14

Morley: Madrigals: Arise, awake; Fire and Lightning; No, no, no, no Nigella 
The Consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley (director)
L’Oiseau Lyre 436 962-2, tracks 1, 8 & 3

Eduard Tubin: Ballade	
Arvo Leibur (violin), Vardo Ramussen (piano)
BIS-CD-541/542, CD 1 track 6

Brahms: Two songs for alto, viola obbligato and piano Op. 91 
Marian Anderson (contralto), William Primrose (viola), Franz Rupp (piano)
Biddulph Lab 150, tracks 8-9

Tchaikovsky: Waltz of the Flowers (Nutcracker Suite)	 
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert Von Karajan
Deutsche Grammophon 419 175-2, track19

Chi-chi Nwanoku presents listeners' favourites. ADDRESS: Radio 3 Requests, BBC Wales, CF5 2YO 
Phone: [number removed]. email: [address removed]

Choral Evensong

Sung choral evening services from around the country

Choral Evensong: 10/08/2008

BBC Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, 10/08/2008

From the Three Choirs Festival at Worcester Cathedral.

From the Three Choirs Festival at Worcester Cathedral.

Responses: Richard Shephard
Psalm: 94 (Cooke, Cook)
First Lesson: Proverbs 10 vv1-12
Magnificat (Giles Swayne)
Second Lesson: Mark 6 vv1-13
Nunc dimittis (Holst)
Anthem: The Wilderness (SS Wesley)
Hymn: O love divine, how sweet thou art (Cornwall)
Organ Voluntary: Toccata (Francis Pott)

Master of the choristers: Adrian Lucas
Assistant organist: Christopher Allsop.

From the Three Choirs Festival at Worcester 
Cathedral. Responses: Richard Shephard. Psalm: 94 (Cooke, Cook). First Lesson: Proverbs 10. vvH2. Magnificat (Giles Swayne ). Second Lesson: 
Mark 6, vvl-13. Nunc Dimittis (Hoist). Anthem: 
The Wilderness (SS Wesley). Hymn: 0 Love Divine, How Sweet Thou Art (Cornwall). Organ Voluntary: Toccata (Francis Pott ). Master of the choristers 
Adrian Lucas. Assistant organist Christopher Allsop.

BBC Proms

The world's greatest classical music festival - stunning performances and collaborations.

The world's greatest classical music festival. Stunning performances, unique collaborations and the sheer joy of live music. Relive 2023's highlights before the new season begins.

BBC Proms: 2008

BBC Proms: 2008: Prom 32: BBC Singers

Prom 32: BBC Singers

2008

BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms, 2008, Prom 32: BBC Singers

Organist James O'Donnell performs Messiaen's Messe de la Pentecote.

James O'Donnell puts the organ of the Royal Albert Hall through its paces in Messiaen's Messe de la Pentecote, and alongside it a Renaissance mass by Pierre de Manchicourt.

From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Presented by Suzy Klein.

James O'Donnell puts the organ of the Royal Albert Hall through its paces in one of the landmarks of 20th-century repertoire for the instrument, Messiaen's Messe de la Pentecôte, which draws musical inspiration from birdsong and concludes with a shattering depiction of pentecostal tongues of fire engulfing the Apostles. Alongside it, sacred French music for the same church feast from an earlier tradition: a Renaissance mass by Pierre de Manchicourt, a composer who, though little known today, ended his life as master of the royal chapel of Philip II of Spain and who no less a figure than Orlando Lassus called a 'distinguished and excellent composer of music'.

James O'Donnell (organ)
BBC Singers
Andrew Carwood (conductor)

Olivier Messiaen: Messe de la Pentecôte
interspersed with
Pierre de Manchicourt: Missa Veni sancte spiritus.

Selected coverage from the classical concerts of the Proms 114th season.

BBC Proms 2008

James O'Donnell puts the organ of the Royal Albert Hall through its paces in one of the landmarks of 20th-century repertoire for the instrument - Messiaen's Messe de la Pentecôte, which draws musical inspiration from birdsong and concludes with a shattering depiction of Pentecostal tongues of fire engulfing the Apostles. Plus sacred French music for the same Church feast. Introduced live from the Royal Albert Hall by Suzy Klein. James O'Donnell (organ), BBC Singers, conductor Andrew Carwood 
Messiaen Messe de la Pentecôte 
Manchicourt Missa Veni Sancte Spiritus

Discovering Music

Programme which examines a different piece of music each week

Programme which examines a different piece of music each week, looking at the musical form or the composer's style, and exploring the many things contributing to the overall experience

Discovering Music: Schwanengesang

Schwanengesang

BBC Radio 3 - Discovering Music, Schwanengesang

Hakan Vramsmo and Julius Drake join Stephen Johnson to explore Schubert's song-cycle.

Baritone Hakan Vramsmo and pianist Julius Drake join Stephen Johnson for an exploration of the musical nuances to be found in Schubert's posthumous song-cycle Schwanengesang.

Baritone Hakan Vramsmo and pianist Julius Drake join Stephen Johnson for an exploration of the musical nuances to be found in Schubert's posthumous song-cycle Schwanengesang, settings of poems by Ludwig Rellstab and Heinrich Heine.

Baritone Hakan Vramsmo and pianist 
Julius Drake join Stephen Johnson to explore Schubert's posthumous song-cycle Schwanengesang- settings of poems by Ludwig Rellstab and Heinrich Heine.

New Generation Artists

New Generation Artists - a BBC scheme to nurture exceptional young talent

The BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme helps to support talented musicians to reach the next stages of their careers and brings some of the world’s most promising new talent to listeners across the UK through BBC Radio 3 broadcasts.

New Generation Artists: Eduard Kunz, Martin Helmchen, Aronowitz Ensemble

Eduard Kunz, Martin Helmchen, Aronowitz Ensemble

BBC Radio 3 - New Generation Artists, Eduard Kunz, Martin Helmchen, Aronowitz EnsembleClose menu

Verity Sharp with performances by Eduard Kunz, Martin Helmchen and the Aronowitz Ensemble.

Verity Sharp presents Eduard Kunz in Tchaikovsky's The Seasons, Martin Helmchen performing Unity by Stuart MacRae and the Aronowitz Ensemble in Nicholas Maw's String Sextet.

Verity Sharp introduces performances by pianist Eduard Kunz, cellist Danjulo Ishizaka and the Aronowitz Ensemble.

Tchaikovsky: January; March; October (Seasons)
Eduard Kunz (piano)

Stuart MacRae: Unity
Danjulo Ishizaka (cello)
Martin Helmchen (piano)

Nicholas Maw: Sextet for strings
Aronowitz Ensemble.

Eduard Kunz performs movements from 
Tchaikovsky's The Seasons, Martin Helmchen performs Unity by Stuart MacRae , and the Aronowitz Ensemble perform Nicholas Maw 's String Sextet. Presented by Verity Sharp.

BBC Proms: 2008: Prom 31: BBC Symphony Orchestra

BBC Proms: 2008: Prom 33: BBC Symphony Orchestra: Prom 33 - Part 1

Prom 33 - Part 1

BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms, 2008, Prom 33: BBC Symphony Orchestra, Prom 33 - Part 1

The BBC SO in Sibelius and two world premieres by Michael Berkeley and Stuart McRae.

Rob Cowan presents Susanna Andersson (soprano) and BBC SO under Edward Gardner in Sibelius's Night Ride and Sunrise followed by world premieres by Michael Berkeley and Stuart McRae.

From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Presented by Rob Cowan.

Edward Gardner conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a first half inspired by the sun and nature, with Sibelius's Night Ride and Sunrise followed by two world premieres: Michael Berkeley's Slow Dawn on the rising of the sun and Stuart McRae's Gaudete a 'life narrative' based on the epilogue from a collection of Poems by Ted Hughes and sung by Susanna Andersson.

Susanna Andersson (soprano)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner (conductor)

Sibelius: Night Ride and Sunrise
Michael Berkeley: Slow Dawn (world premiere of new version)
Stuart MacRae: Gaudete (BBC commission; world premiere).

BBC Proms: 2008: Prom 33: BBC Symphony Orchestra

Prom 33: BBC Symphony Orchestra

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Edward Gardner in two world premieres and Elgar's Enigma Variations

Edward Gardner conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in two world premieres - Michael Berkeley's Slow Dawn and Stuart MacRae's Gaudete - along with Elgar's Enigma Variations

Tonight's concert features two world premieres Michael Berkeley 's Slow Dawn on the Rising of the Sun, and Stuart MacRae 's 
Gaudete. Presented live from the Royal Albert Hall in London by Rob Cowan. 
Susanna Andersson (soprano), BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Edward Gardner Sibelius Night Ride and Sunrise 
Michael Berkeley Slow Dawn (new version, first performance) 
Stuart MacRae Gaudete (BBC commission, first performance) 
8.30 Twenty Minutes: A Tale Told by Moonlight Leonard Woolf 's short story on desire, love and colonial life, read by Alex Jennings. 
8.50 Elgar Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma)

Proms Short Story

BBC Radio 3 - Proms Short Story

By Leonard Woolf. An English novelist visiting Ceylon falls in love with a prostitute.

By Leonard Woolf. An English novelist visiting Ceylon falls hopelessly in love with a native prostitute and buys her out of the brothel where she works. Read by Alex Jennings.

By Leonard Woolf.

An English novelist visiting Ceylon falls hopelessly in love with a beautiful native prostitute and buys her out of the brothel where she works in this acutely observed story of desire, expectation and colonial life at the beginning of the 20th century. Read by Alex Jennings.

BBC Proms: 2008: Prom 33: BBC Symphony Orchestra: Prom 33 - Part 2

Prom 33 - Part 2

BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms, 2008, Prom 33: BBC Symphony Orchestra, Prom 33 - Part 2

Edward Gardner conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Elgar's Enigma Variations.

Rob Cowan presents the second half of a Prom, which concludes with Edward Gardner conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Elgar's Enigma Variations.

From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Rob Cowan presents the second half of a Prom, which features a perennial favourite by Elgar.

BBC Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner (conductor)

Elgar: Enigma Variations.

Sunday Feature

Exploring music, history, science, philosophy, film, visual arts and literature.

In-depth documentaries which explore music, history, science, philosophy, film, visual arts and literature.

Sunday Feature: A Brief History of Cunning

A Brief History of Cunning

BBC Radio 3 - Sunday Feature, A Brief History of Cunning

American writer and satirist Joe Queenan traces the history of cunning through the ages.

American writer and satirist Joe Queenan traces the history of cunning, from Odysseus to Karl Rove, via Machiavelli, Richard Nixon and Margaret Thatcher.

American writer and satirist Joe Queenan traces the history of cunning, from Odysseus to Karl Rove, via Machiavelli, Richard Nixon and Margaret Thatcher. He talks to experts, observers and practitioners of the dark arts, from Professor of Classics Edith Hall to Tim Parks, translator of Machiavelli's The Prince. 

In Italy he meets a commentator who describes cunning as a pathology of intelligence, while former Conservative party treasurer Lord McAlpine sees it more as a 'little nudge here, a little nudge there'.

Other contributors include writer Kathy Lette, Italian journalist Beppe Severgnini, law professor Don Herzog, and actor Ian Richardson, prime minister in the BBC's House of Cards.

Writer Joe Oueenan traces well-known acts of slyness and trickery from Odysseus to Karl Rove via Machiavelli and Margaret Thatcher. 
He speaks to experts in the dark arts, including 
Edith Hall , professor of classics at Royal Holloway University of London, and Tim Parks, translator of Machiavelli's The Prince. Producer Miles Warde 
Radio features: pages 126-127

Words and Music

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: Crushed

Crushed

BBC Radio 3 - Words and Music, CrushedClose menu

A selection of literature and accompanying music.

Poems and music on the theme of unrequited love, including music by Handel, Schubert and Brahms as well as poetry by Yeats and Sophie Hannah.

Readers Rafe Spall and Abigail Davies.

‘In the end it took me a dictionary to find out the meaning of unrequited’. So sings the Saturday Boy in Billy Bragg’s evocation of the pain of unrequited love. The dictionary would only have told him that unrequited means unreturned. Looking into the world of music and poetry he would have found that unrequited love is much more complex and nuanced. 

Schooldays are often the start, also for Gwyneth Lewis in her poem ‘To the boys I loved who never loved me’ which brings back memories of adolescence and makes an important statement in this territory: I was never made less by loving you more. Unrequited Love can leave someone a sad, winsome and even quite pathetic figure. However, in reading poetry and listening to music that dealt with this idea it soon becomes clear that once the hope is gone, how the person deals with the love and longing that remains is fertile ground. 

The physical decline of Miss Haversham’s dress and rooms might be shocking, and the still upper lip fortitude found in the Houseman poetry quite painful, but the determination and self–knowledge demonstrated by both are things I found to be noble and empowering.

The idea of a carrying something inside that isn’t just going to go away is also explored in Simon Rae’s poem ‘Believed’. This isn’t about unrequited love, but is nonetheless a longing for something that’s never going to happen. There is perhaps in all of us a longing for the things we didn’t do, the words unspoken, people unkissed, journeys not taken. 

This is also touched on in Sophie Hannah’s poem To the Memory of Love where Love was Not. Unrequited Love can be painful, and the love that remains after hope has gone can be the most painful of all. Sophie Hannah reminds us that however painful the feelings, at least those feelings are there, true and present, and in some way make us real. 

There’s a great deal of music that can be related to unrequited love. Brahms and Berlioz come to mind for their devotions to Clara Schumann and Harriet Smithson respectively. Billie Holiday had to be there not just for the song – she sings ‘Love me or Leave me’ here – but for her own life and that voice that carries so much loss and pain so beautifully. The plangent dissonances of early string music are so reminiscent of the pains and stabs of love, and I’ve included music by Gibbons and Biber. To finish, I have included the quintet from Wagner’s Die Meistersinger where Hans Sachs, one of the most humane and complex of all operatic characters sings of how ‘the heart’s sweet burden had to be subdued’ and renounces his love for Eva.

GIBBONS
Fantasia No.3
Consorts For Viols 
Laurence Dreyfus/ Phantasm
Avie AV0032 

CAROL ANN DUFFY 
Warming her Pearls
Read by Abigail Davies

NYMAN
Trysting Fields
Film Music 1980–2001
Michael Nyman Band
Virgin CDVED957

SIMON RAE
Believed 
Read by Rafe Spall

BRAHMS
Intermezzo in C Sharp Minor
Two Rhapsodies	
Radu Lupu
Decca 4175992

A. E. HOUSMAN 
XXXI (Because I liked you)
Read by Rafe Spall

NOEL COWARD
Mad About the Boy
All Woman 3
Dinah Washington
Quality TV ALLWOCD03

BEETHOVEN
Variations On Bei Männern Welche Liebe Fühlen
Variations for Piano and Cello in E Flat Major
Jacqueline du Pré/ Daniel Barenboim
EMI CMS 7630152 

BEN JONSON
Song to Celia                       
Read by Rafe Spall

BERLIOZ
Un Bal
Symphonie Fantastique
Berlin Philharmonic
DG 415325-2

DICKENS
From Great Expectations
Read by Abigail Davies

TCHAIKOVSKY
Pezzo in forma di Sonatina
Symphony 4 
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Virgin VC 7907982

JOBIM/ DE MORAES/GIMBEL
The Girl From Ipanema 
Nigel Kennedy Plays Jazz
Nigel Kennedy / Peter Pettinger 
Chandos CHAN 6513

HEINRICH HEINE
Why is the Rose so Pale
Read by Abigail Davies

MOZART
Adagio Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major K488
Piano Concertos
Daniel Barenboim/ English Chamber Orchestra
EMI 7691222

EMILY DICKENSON
The Heart asks Pleasure First
Read by Abigail Davies

JANACEK
String Quartet No.2,"Intimate Letters" 
String Quartets
Vanbrugh String Quartet 
Harper Collins 13812 

F SCOTT FITZGERALD
Excerpt from the Great Gatsby
Read by Rafe Spall

DONALDSON / KAHN
Love me or leave me 
The Very Best of Billie Holiday 
Billie Holiday
Verve 5474942 

RUPERT BROOKE
Love 
Read by Rafe Spall

SOPHIE HANNAH
The Memory of Love where Love was Not
Read by Abigail Davies

BIBER
Rosary Sonata No.1 "The Annunciation" 
Rosary Sonatas
Pavlo Beznosiuk/ David Roblou 
Avie AV 0038
	
PETRACH 
Canzoniere I 
Read by Rafe Spall

SHAKESPEARE
Sonnet 149 
Read by Rafe Spall

GWYNETH LEWIS
To the Boys I Loved Who Never Loved Me
Read by Abigail Davies

BILLY BRAGG
The Saturday Boy 
Brewing Up With Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg 
Cooking Vinyl COOKCD 107

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING 
Sonnets from the Portuguese, XIII
Read by Abigail Davies

HANDEL
Ombra Mai Fù 
La Lucrezia

Crushed 
Works on the theme of unrequited love, including music by Handel and Brahms, with poetry by Yeats and Sophie Hannah. EMAIL: [address removed] For details of the music and verse heard in this programme. visitwww.bbc.co.uk/radio3/wordsandmusic

The Early Music Show: Charles Burney's German Journey

29/06/2008

Charles Burney's German Journey

BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show, Charles Burney's German Journey

Charles Burney's 18th-century musical travels through Germany and The Netherlands.

Lucie Skeaping interviews musician and publisher Ian Gammie about Charles Burney's journey through Europe in the 1770s, as he looked for material for his book A History of Music.

In July 1772 Dr Charles Burney set off on his second European journey to gather information for his proposed mighty publication of A History of Music. Lucie Skeaping interviews musician and publisher Ian Gammie about Burney's musical perambulations through Germany and The Netherlands, and chooses music by some of the composers he met along the way, including Gluck, Hasse and Quantz.

Lucie Skeaping traces Dr Charles Burney 's perambulations through Germany. Producer Les Pratt

Through the Night

Continuous broadcast of concert music and opera, recorded from locations throughout Europe

Through the Night: 11/08/2008

11/08/2008

BBC Radio 3 - Through the Night, 11/08/2008

Susan Sharpe with music including Doubinsky, Franck, Kaufman, Kolarov, Tanev, Kostov.

Susan Sharpe introduces music, including Doubinsky, Franck, Kaufman, Kolarov, Tanev, Berlioz, Faure, Albeniz, Turina, Szymanowski, Haydn, Bach, Strauss, Geminiani, Franck, Poulenc.

With Susan Sharpe.
Doubinsky, Ivan
Our Father

Franck, César (1822-1890)
Panis Angelicus

Kaufman, Nikolai (1925- )
Two Humorous Folk Songs

Kolarov, Milko (1946- )
Why is the Spout Dripping

Tanev, Alexander (1928-1996)
Pizzicatos

Kostov, Georgi (1941-)
Ludicrous Dance

Tekeliev, Alexander (1942-)
Motor-Car Race

Tekeliev, Alexander (1942-)
Tempo di Waltz

Kaufman, Nikolai (1925-)
Melodies from the Shoppe Region
all Bulgarian Radio Children's Choir, conductor Hristo Nedyalkov

Berlioz, Hector (1803-1869)
Symphonie Fantastique
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Christian Eggen (conductor)  

Fauré, Gabriel (1845-1924)
Nocturne in B minor (Op.97)
Stéphane Lemelin (piano)
Nocturne in A flat major (Op.33, No.3) 
Stefan Lindgren (piano) 

Albéniz, Isaac (1860-1909)
Córdoba 
Henry-David Varema (cello), Heiki Mätlik (guitar)

Albéniz, Isaac (1860-1909), orch. E. Arbós
Iberia  suite 
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Jorge Mester (conductor)

Turina, Joaquín (1882-1949)
Circulo (Op.91) 
John Harding (violin), Stefan Metz (cello), Daniel Blumental (piano)

Satie, Erik (1866-1925), arr.J. Jersild
Three melodies 
Soloists, The Jutland Chamber Choir, Mogens Dahl (conductor)

Messiaen, Olivier (1908-1992)
O Sacrum Convivium 
BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor) 

Szymanowski, Karol (1882-1937)
Piano Sonata No.3 (Op.36) 
Jerzy Godziszewski (piano)

Moniuszko, Stanislaw (1819-1872)
The Commander-in-Chief's Lover overture 
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, Bogdan Oledzki (conductor) 

Handel, Georg Friedrich (1685-1759)
Piangerò la sorte mia (Giulio Cesare)
Emma Kirkby (soprano), Academy of Ancient Music, Andrew Manze (director)

Handel, Georg Frideric (1685-1759)
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer (conductor)

Fischer, Johann Caspar Ferdinand (c.1670-1746)
Suite No.4 in D minor (Op.1 No.4) 
The Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players, Geoffrey Lancaster (conductor)

Haydn, Joseph (1732-1809)
Trumpet Concerto in E flat major 
Geoffrey Payne (trumpet), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Halasz (conductor)

Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770 -1827)
Leonore Overture No.3 
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop (conductor)

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Prelude in A minor (BWV.922)
Lorenzo Ghielmi (harpsichord) 

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied  (BWV.225)
Danish National Radio Chorus, Stefan Parkman (conductor) 

Kunzen, Friedrich  (1761-1817)
Overture to  'Vinhoesten' (Der Fest der Winzer)
Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Peter Marschik (conductor)

Strauss, Johann jr. (1825-1899) arr. Berg, Alban (1885-1935)
Wein, Weib und Gesang 
Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Raffi Armenian (conductor)

Strauss, Richard (1864-1949)
Variations on Das Dirndl is harb auf mi  
Leopold String Trio 

Rossini, Gioachino (1792-1868)
Quartet no.6 in F major 
Vojtech Samec (flute), Jozef Luptacik (clarinet), Frantisek Machats (bassoon), Josef Illes (french horn)

Geminiani, Francesco (1687-1762)
Concerto grosso in D minor (Op.7 No.2)
La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken (conductor)

Handel, Georg Frideric (1685-1759)
Mi palpita il cor – Cantata no.33 (HWV.132c) 
Zoltán Gavodi (counter tenor), The Sonora Hungarica Consort: Imre Lachegyi (recorder), Sándor Sászvárosi (viola da gamba), Zsuzsanna Nagy (harpsichord) 

Franck, César Auguste  (1822-1890)
Final in B flat major (Op.21)
Leo van Doeselaar (organ) 

Poulenc, Francis (1899-1963)
Sinfonietta  
CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)

With Susan Sharpe. 
Doublnsky Our Father Franck Panis Angelicus Nikolai 
Kaufman Two Humorous Folk Songs Milko Kolarov Why Is the Spout Dripping Tanev Pizzicatos Georql Kostov Ludicrous Dance Alexander Tekellev Motor-Car Race; 
Tempo di Waltz Nikolai Kaufman Melodies from the Shoppe 
1.34 Berlioz Symphonie Fantasigue 2.28 Faure Nocturnes: in B minor, Op 97; in A flat, Op 33 No 3 2.38 Albeniz Cordoba 
2.45 Albeniz, orch E Arbos Suite: Iberia 3.16 Turina Circulo, Op 91 3.27 Satie, arr J Jersild Three Melodies 
3.35 Messiaen 0 Sacrum Convivium 3.40 Szymanowski Piano Sonata No 3, Op 36 4.01 Moniuszko Overture: The 
Commander-in-Chiefs Lover 4.08 Handel Piangero la Sorte Mia (Giulio Cesare ) 4.14 Handel The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba 4.18 Fischer Suite No 4 in D minor, Op 1 No 4 
4.29 Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E flat 4.45 Beethoven Overture: Leonora No 3 5.00 Bach Prelude in A minor, BWV922;Sinqet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV225 
5.19 Kunzen Overture: Vinhoesten (Der Fest der Winzer) 
5.25 J Strauss (son), arr Berg Wein, Weib und Gesang 
5.35 Strauss Variations on Das Dirndl is harb auf mi 
5.42 Rossini Quartet No 6 in F 5.53 Geminiani Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op 7 No 2 6.03 Handel Cantata: Mi Palpita il Cor, HWV132 6.18 Franck Final in B flat. Op 21 
6.31 Poulenc Sinfonietta

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