Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Monday | 20210308 | For the first time, every note in Afternoon Concert this week is written by a woman. In recordings from all of the BBC orchestras and choirs, we celebrate female creativity spanning 300 years and traversing the globe. From the eighteenth-century Italian violinist & composer Maddalena Sirmen to contemporary composers Linda Catlin Smith and Onute Narbutaite from Canada and Lithuania. Plus recordings from the rich archives of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist scheme, including Ethel Smyth's epic double concerto, written in 1927. Presented by Fiona Talkington. Elfrida Andr退e: Concert overture in D major BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Chloe van Soeterstede, conductor c.2.15pm Judith Weir: Tiger under the table BBC Philharmonic Orchestra John Storgards, conductor c.2.30pm Ethel Smyth: Concerto for violin, horn and orchestra Alec Frank-Gemmill, horn Elena Urioste, violin BBC National Orchestra of Wales Daniel Blendulf, conductor c.2.55pm Linda Catlin Smith: Nuages Ilan Volkov, conductor c.3.15pm Ruth Gipps: Symphony no. 3, op.57 Rumon Gamba, conductor c.3.55pm Onute Narbutaite: La Barca BBC Symphony Orchestra Sakari Oramo, conductor c.4.10pm Maddalena Sirmen: String Quartet no. 5 in F minor Aris Quartet c.4.30pm Morfydd Owen: Nocturne Perry So, conductor Music written by women spanning nearly 300 years, performed by the BBC orchestras. |
| 02 | Tuesday | 20210309 | Music by contemporary women composers from across the world interspersed with works by twentieth century trailblazers from the UK: Grace Williams, Dorothy Howell and Minna Keal, performed by the BBC Orchestras. Grace Williams is generally regarded as Wales's most notable female composer, and the first British woman to score a feature film. Dorothy Howell was championed by Sir Henry Wood but after Proms performances throughout the 1920s was all but forgotten until about a decade ago. Minna Keal studied at the RAM in the 1920s, and then pretty much stopped her musical career, only returning to it when she was in her 80s. Her music was performed at the Proms in 1989 when she was 80: I felt I was coming to the end of my life, but now I feel as if I'm just beginning. I feel as if I'm living my life in reverse'. Presented by Fiona Talkington. Grace Williams: Four illustrations for the legend of Rhiannon BBC National Orchestra of Wales Perry So, conductor c.2.25pm Roxanna Panufnik: 4 World Seasons for violin and orchestra Tasmin Little (violin) Ulster Orchestra Daniele Rustioni, conductor c.2.50pm Dorothy Howell: 2 pieces for muted strings BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Teresa Riveiro Bohm, conductor c.3pm Florentine Mulsant: Vocalise for solo viola, op.53 Lise Berthaud, viola c.3.05pm Dobrinka Tabakova: On the South Downs Natalie Clein, cello Truro Cathedral Choir BBC Concert Orchestra Christopher Grey, conductor c.3.25pm Augusta Read Thomas: Brio for orchestra Thomas Dausgaard, conductor c.3.35pm Outi Tarkiainen: Midnight sun variations BBC Philharmonic Orchestra John Storgards, conductor c.3.50pm Minna Keal: Symphony BBC Symphony Orchestra Nicholas Cleobury, conductor c.4.20pm Anna Clyne: Masquerade Marin Alsop, conductor c.4.30pm Diana Burrell: Resurrection Geoffrey Paterson, conductor Music by Roxanna Panufnik, Dobrinka Tabakova, Outi Tarkiainen and Diana Burrell |
| 03 | Wednesday | 20210310 | The music of eighteenth-century Viennese composer Marianna Martines contrasts with contemporary British composers Joanna Marsh, Judith Bingham and Charlotte Bray performed by the BBC orchestras and choirs. Plus Jamaican-born, British-based Eleanor Alberga's oboe quintet 'Succubus Moon' in a recording by former Radio 3 New Generation Artists Alexei Ogrintchouk and the Psophos Quartet. Presented by Hannah French. Joanna Marsh: Flare BBC Symphony Orchestra Edward Gardner, conductor c.2.05pm Marianna Martines: Symphony BBC Concert Orchestra Johannes Wildner, conductor c.2.20pm Eleanor Alberga: Succubus Moon Alexei Ogrintchouk, oboe c.2.30pm Judith Bingham: Salt in the Blood Fine Arts Brass BBC Symphony Chorus Thomas Trotter, organ Stephen Jackson, conductor c.2.55pm Charlotte Bray: Falling in the Fire Guy Johnston, cello Sakari Oramo, conductor Music by contemporary British composers Joanna Marsh, Judith Bingham and Charlotte Bray |
| 04 | Thursday | 20210311 | Cecile Chaminade's little-known symphonic ballet Callirho뀀 provides our theatrical matinee this week, in which we celebrate female composers in recordings from the BBC orchestras. Plus music by British composers including Elizabeth Maconchy, Nicola Lefanu, Anne Dudley and Elisabeth Lutyens. A prolific composer of piano miniatures and salon music, Chaminade's contribution to the orchestral repertoire is all too often overlooked. Yet in her twenties Chaminade was taking Paris by storm with a very different style of music, writing large-scale chamber works, orchestral suites, ballet and opera. Conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra in this recording of her little-known symphonic ballet is Martin Yates, who painstakingly researched and edited the complete ballet music from various original scores. Don't worry too much about the convoluted plot depicting the love story of Alcmaeon and the captive princess Callirho뀀; be reassured that all ends well and just luxuriate in the glorious music. Presented by Fiona Talkington. Cecile Chaminade: Callirho뀀, ballet symphonique, op.37 Martin Yates, conductor c.3.05pm Elizabeth Maconchy: String Quartet no. 3 Signum Quartet c.3.20pm Nicola Lefanu: The Hidden Landscape BBC Symphony Orchestra Norman Del Mar, conductor c.3.45pm Augusta Holmes: Roland Furieux BBC National Orchestra of Wales Valentina Peleggi, conductor c.4.15pm Anne Dudley: Northern Lights Bramwell Tovey, conductor c.4.30pm Elisabeth Lutyens: Quincunx, op.44 John Shirley-Quirk, baritone Josephine Nendick, soprano Features Cecile Chaminade's little-known symphonic ballet Callirho\u00eb. |