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Once Upon A Time... Music from Eastern Europe

Elizabeth Alker introduces music inspired by the writings of Alexander Afanasyev and the Russian fairy tale, plus highlights from lutenist Thomas Dunford recorded at LSO St. Luke's

As part of the 麻豆社's 'Once Upon a Time...' week, Elizabeth Alker introduces music inspired by the fairy tale with a focus on Eastern Europe and the writings of Alexander Afanasyev and the Russian fairy tale. Also in today's programme further highlights from lutenist Thomas Dunford recorded specially for the programme at LSO St. Luke's. Including:

Mikha茂l Glinka
Overture 鈥� Ruslan & Lyudmila
麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra
Yan Pascal Tortelier (conductor)

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Suite from 'The Tale of Tsar Saltan', Op. 57
Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest
Domonkos H茅ja (conductor)

From LSO St. Luke鈥檚 - Thomas Dunford and Friends:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Chaconne in D minor
Thomas Dunford (lute)

Ludwig van Beethoven
7 Variations on 鈥楤ei M盲nnern鈥� from Mozart鈥檚 The Magic Flute, WoO. 46
Anastasia Kobekina (cello)
Elisabeth Brauss (piano)

Igor Stravinsky
Firebird Suite (1919)
麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Alpesh Chauhan (conductor)

From LSO St. Luke鈥檚 - Thomas Dunford and Friends:
John Dowland
King of Denmark's Galliard
Can She Excuse My Wrongs
Thomas Dunford (lute/voice)

Benjamin Britten
Lachrymae, Reflections of a song by Dowland, Op. 48
Ryszard Groblewski (viola)
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
Duncan Ward (conductor)

Stanislaw Moniuszko
Fantasy Overture - Bajka (Fairy Tale)
Munich Radio Orchestra
Mihhail Gerts (conductor)

Josef Suk
Pohadka (Fairy Tale), Op. 16
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Jakub Hrusa (conductor)

The 麻豆社鈥檚 鈥極nce Upon a Time鈥︹�� week celebrates fairytales and storytelling in partnership with the British Library. On 麻豆社 Radio 3 Edith Bowman explores fairytales and fantasy in 'Sound of Cinema', actors Pearce Quigley and Lydia Wilson delve into the worlds of princesses, frogs, and spells in 'Words & Music', Sara Mohr-Pietsch charts a course to Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf in 'Music Map', and Elizabeth Alker presents music inspired by enchanted lands, magical creatures, and timeless tales, in 'Classical Live' and 'Unclassified'. Just search 鈥極nce Upon a Time鈥︹�� in 麻豆社 Sounds. The British Library鈥檚 major new exhibition Fairy Tales runs from 27th March 鈥� 23rd August 2026.

9 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Thu 23 Apr 2026 13:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Once Upon A Time... Across Europe

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Once Upon A Time... A Thousand and One Nights

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Music Played

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Suite from 'The Tale of Tsar Saltan', Op. 57

    Orchestra: Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest. Conductor: Domonkos H茅ja.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Three-part Invention (Sinfonia) No 1 in C major, BWV 787

    Ensemble: Collegium Pro Musica. Director: Stefano Bagliano.
    • Concertos, Inventions & Motets for Recorder Ensemble.
    • Brilliant Classics.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Chaconne in D minor (trans. lute)

    Performer: Thomas Dunford.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    7 Variations on 'Bei M盲nnern, welche Liebe f眉hlen' from Mozart's Magic Flute

    Performer: Anastasia Kobekina. Performer: Elisabeth Brauss.

  • Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov

    Baba-Yaga Op.56

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
    • Petrushka.
    • Signum Records.
    • 5.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Firebird (suite)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Alpesh Chauhan.

  • Nikolai Karlovich Medtner

    Tales (Skazki) Op. 51 No. 1 "Introduction to Cinderella"

    • Medtner: Tales (Skazki) for Piano.
    • Hyperion.

  • Nikolai Karlovich Medtner

    Tales (Skazki), Op. 51 No 2 "Cinderella"

    • Medtner: Tales (Skazki) for Piano.
    • Hyperion.

  • John Dowland

    The King of Denmark's Galliard + Can She Excuse My Wrongs

    Performer: Thomas Dunford.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Lachrymae, Op. 48, reflections on a song by Dowland

    Performer: Ryszard Groblewski. Orchestra: Z眉rcher Kammerorchester. Conductor: Duncan Ward.

  • Stanislaw Moniuszko

    Fantasy Overture - Bajka

    Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Mihhail Gerts.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Sextet for piano and wind quintet

    Performer: Joseph Havlat. Ensemble: Magnard Ensemble.

  • Elena Kats鈥怌hernin

    One Table, One Chair

    Performer: Tamara Anna Cislowska.
    • ABC CLASSICS.

  • Josef Suk

    Fairy Tale, Op. 16

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jakub Hr暖拧a.

Broadcast

  • Thu 23 Apr 2026 13:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3