Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20090525 | Ian Skelly presents music inspired by kings, queens and emperors, as well as one of the less well-known works by romantic Czech composer Bedrich Smetana in a performance by the BBC Philharmonic. Smetana: The Bartered Bride (excerpts) Gianandrea Noseda (conductor) 2.20pm Dyson: Nebuchadnezzar Mark Padmore, Neal Davies (tenors) BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Richard Hickox (conductor) 3.10pm Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A, K622 Yann Ghiro (clarinet) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Roberto Minczuk (conductor) Brahms: Symphony No 2 in D 4.20pm Grieg: Peer Gynt - Suite No 1 Pietari Inkinen (conductor). Ian Skelly presents music by Smetana, Dyson, Mozart, Brahms and Grieg. | |
| 02 | 20090526 | Ian Skelly presents music inspired by kings, queens and emperors, as well as some of the less well-known works by romantic Czech composer Bedrich Smetana in performances by the BBC Philharmonic. 14:12 The Brandenburgers in Bohemia (extracts) Gianandrea Noseda, conductor 14:16 BAX George Cross Rumon Gamba, conductor 14:30 GERMAN Hamlet BBC Concert Orchestra, John Wilson, conductor 14:51 BALAKIREV King Lear - overture BBC Phil, Sinaisky 15:05 SAINT-SAENS Symphony no.3 `organ` Adrian Partington, organ BBC National Orchestra of Wales Grant Llewellyn, conductor 15:44 Overture: Libussa 15:55 HAYDN Mass in C Paukenmesse Claire Booth (soprano) Karen Cargill (contralto) Mark Wilde (tenor) James Rutherford (bass) BBC Singers BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra lan Volkov, conductor 16:37 BACH (orch. Klemperer) Bist du bei mir? Aria, BWV 508 from Clavierbüchlein, Book II for Anna Magdalena Bach BBC Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin, conductor 16:41 BACH (orch. Damrosch) Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott Chorale Prelude, BWV 720 16:46 Two Widows (exctracts) Ian Skelly presents music by German, Saint-Saens, Haydn and Smetana. | |
| 03 | 20090527 | Ian Skelly presents music inspired by kings, queens and emperors, as well as one of the less well-known works by romantic Czech composer Bedrich Smetana in a performance by the BBC Philharmonic. Smetana: Overture: The Secret Gianandrea Noseda (conductor) Harty: Comedy Overture Ulster Orchestra Bryden Thomson (conductor) 2.40pm Shostakovich: Hamlet - music for the film BBC Symphony Orchestra Maxim Shostakovich (conductor) Holst: The Planets Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus (ladies) Gianandrea Noseda (conductor). Ian Skelly presents music by Harty, Shostakovich, Holst and Smetana. | |
| 04 | Handel: Riccardo Primo, Acts 1 And 2 | 20090528 | Handel Operas 2009 As part of BBC Radio 3's complete cycle of Handel's operas, Ian Skelly presents Acts 1 and 2 of Riccardo Primo. Written for the great castrato Senesino, Handel's only opera about an English sovereign contains arguably some of his most beautiful and challenging arias. This version of the story of Richard I or Richard the Lionheart coincided with the coronation of George II - a stroke of good fortune for the astute composer, who revised the opera substantially as homage to the new king. The revised version emphasised the heroic and romantic aspects of George's great predecessor, dramatising his conquest of the island of Cyprus and his marriage to a beautiful Spanish princess. Handel: Riccardo Primo (Acts 1 and 2) King Richard I - Lawrence Zazzo (countertenor) Costanza, his betrothed - Nuria Rial (soprano) Pulcheria, daughter of Isacio - Geraldine McGreevy (soprano) Isacio, governor of Cyprus - David Wilson-Johnson (bass) Oronte, Pulcheria's lover - Tim Mead (countertenor) Berardo, Costanza's tutor - Curtis Streetman (bass) Chamber Orchestra of Basel Paul Goodwin (conductor) Plus Kings and Queens: music inspired by kings, queens and emperors. 4.15pm Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat (Emperor) Eduard Kunz (piano) BBC National Orchestra of Wales Jac van Steen (conductor). Ian Skelly presents Acts 1 and 2 of Handel's opera Riccardo Primo. Plus music by Beethoven |
| 05 | Handel: Riccardo Primo, Act 3 | 20090529 | Handel Operas 2009 Ian Skelly presents Act 3 of Handel's opera about the exploits of Richard the Lionheart. Handel: Riccardo Primo (Act 3) King Richard I - Lawrence Zazzo (countertenor) Costanza, his betrothed - Nuria Rial (soprano) Pulcheria, daughter of Isacio - Geraldine McGreevy (soprano) Isacio, governor of Cyprus - David Wilson-Johnson (bass) Oronte, Pulcheria's lover - Tim Mead (countertenor) Berardo, Costanza's tutor - Curtis Streetman (bass) Chamber Orchestra of Basel Paul Goodwin (conductor) Plus Kings and Queens: more royalty-inspired music including Smetana's symphonic poem depicting another English king - the infamous Richard III. 3.00pm Smetana: Richard III BBC Philharmonic Gianandrea Noseda (conductor) 3.15pm Bliss: A Colour Symphony BBC National Orchestra of Wales Richard Hickox (conductor) Rubbra: Ode to the Queen Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano) 4.15pm Elgar: Falstaff Jac van Steen (conductor). Ian Skelly presents Act 3 of Handel's Riccardo Primo. Plus Smetana, Bliss, Rubbra, Elgar. |