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Three hours of classical sparkle

Sarah Walker with three hours of classical music to reflect, restore and refresh whether you鈥檙e basking in the last of the festive lights or getting started on some resolutions鈥

Today, Sarah discovers swirling music from Isaac Alb茅niz鈥檚 opera The Magic Opal, enjoys how Ravel鈥檚 orchestral version of 'Pavane pour une infante d茅funte' brings out extra colour, and finds flow in Michael Nyman鈥檚 music from the film The Piano.

There鈥檚 also a chance to hear Lucy Parham play Clara Schumann鈥檚 powerful piano concerto in full.

Plus, today鈥檚 Choral Reflection explores what it means to reach upwards, and grow鈥

A Tandem Production for 麻豆社 Radio 3

3 hours

Last on

Sun 4 Jan 2026 09:00

Music Played

  • Isaac Alb茅niz

    Suite from The Magic Opal (Act II: Ballet)

    Conductor: Juanjo Mena. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No 23 in A major, K 488 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Dejan Lazi膰. Conductor: Jan Willem de Vriend. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Challenge Classics.
  • King Henry VIII of England

    Pastime with Good Company

    Ensemble: Fine Arts Brass Ensemble.
    • NIMBUS.
  • Anthony Holborne

    Pavans, Galliards, Almains (No 58, 'The Fruit of Love' - No 61, 'Wanton')

    Ensemble: The Flautadors Recorder Quartet.
    • Cynthia's Revels.
    • First Hand Records.
    • 1.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Pavane pour une infante defunte

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op 47 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Fenella Humphreys. Conductor: George Vass. Orchestra: 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Resonus Classics.
  • Lauma Kazaka

    No saknes zieds uz augsu veras

    Choir: Riga Project Choir. Conductor: Christopher Walsh Sinka.
    • SKANI.
  • Manuel de Falla

    Siete Canciones Populares Espa帽olas (No 6, 'Nana')

    Performer: Tabea Zimmermann. Performer: Javier Perianes.
    • harmonia mundi.
  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Concertino for Harp and Orchestra (3rd mvt, Rondo)

    Performer: Marie鈥怭ierre Langlamet. Conductor: Juanjo Mena. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Leonora Overture No 3 in C major, Op 72b

    Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Orchestra: Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • SWR Classic.
  • Hildur Gu冒nad贸ttir

    Melody of Not Knowing

    Performer: Hildur Gu冒nad贸ttir.
    • Where to From.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 7.
  • Antonio Lotti

    Missa a tre cori (Cum sanctu spiritu)

    Choir: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怌hor. Ensemble: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怑nsemble. Director: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No 3 in A minor, Op 56, 'Scottish' (4th mvt)

    Conductor: Yannick N茅zet鈥怱茅guin. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
  • Hugo Alfv茅n

    Vallflickans dans

    Performer: Martin Fr枚st. Performer: Sebastien Dub茅.
    • Night Passages.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 14.
  • Arnold Schoenberg

    String Quartet 1897 (2nd mvt; Intermezzo)

    Ensemble: Quatuor Diotima.
    • NAIVE.
  • John Ireland

    Great Things (Orchestrated by Roderick Williams)

    Music Arranger: Roderick Williams. Singer: Roderick Williams. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder. Orchestra: Hall茅.
    • Halle Concerts Society.
  • Anonymous

    Cachua (instrumental)

    Director: Jordi Savall. Ensemble: Hesp猫rion XXI.
    • Villancicos Danzas Criollas 1550-1750.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 10.
  • Michael Nyman

    The Piano (The Heart Asks Pleasure First)

    Performer: Valentina Lisitsa.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd.
  • Georges Bizet

    L' Arlesienne - suite no. 1

    Orchestra: Orquestra Simf貌nica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya. Conductor: Pablo Gonz谩lez.
    • Naxos.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Love Theme (From 'On the Waterfront')

    Conductor: John Mauceri. Orchestra: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
    • Hollywood Dreams.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd.
    • 8.
  • Clara Schumann

    Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.7

    Performer: Lucy Parham. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • Decca (UMO).
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.59 in A major 'Fire' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • Signum Records.
  • Mel Bonis

    Soir et matin, Op 76 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Neave Trio.
    • Chandos Records Limited.
  • Lars Aksel Bisgaard

    Barcarole

    Performer: Carl Petersson.
    • Contemporary Danish Piano Music.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 8.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 1 in D major (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: D眉sseldorfer Symphoniker. Conductor: 脕d谩m Fischer.
    • Cavi-Music.
  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.4 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Verit脿 Baroque.
    • Evil Penguin.
  • William Mundy

    Adolescentulus sum ego

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Hyperion.

Broadcast

  • Sun 4 Jan 2026 09:00