Main content

Three hours of classical sparkle

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

Today, Sarah discovers swirling music from Isaac Albéniz’s opera The Magic Opal, enjoys how Ravel’s orchestral version of 'Pavane pour une infante défunte' brings out extra colour, and finds flow in Michael Nyman’s music from the film The Piano.

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

Plus, today’s Choral Reflection explores what it means to reach upwards, and grow…

A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3

22 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Last Sunday09:00
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Three hours of classical sparkle

Next

Three hours of classical sparkle

See all episodes from Sunday Morning

Music Played

  • Isaac Albéniz

    Suite from The Magic Opal (Act II: Ballet)

    Conductor: Juanjo Mena. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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

    Performer: Dejan Lazić. 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: BBC 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 Españolas (No 6, 'Nana')

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

  • Germaine Tailleferre

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

    Performer: Marie‐Pierre 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 Guðnadóttir

    Melody of Not Knowing

    Performer: Hildur Guðnadóttir.
    • Where to From.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 7.

  • Antonio Lotti

    Missa a tre cori (Cum sanctu spiritu)

    Choir: Balthasar‐Neumann‐Chor. Ensemble: Balthasar‐Neumann‐Ensemble. Director: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

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

    Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Hugo Alfvén

    Vallflickans dans

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Performer: Sebastien Dubé.
    • 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: Hallé.
    • Halle Concerts Society.

  • Anonymous

    Cachua (instrumental)

    Director: Jordi Savall. Ensemble: Hespèrion 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 Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya. Conductor: Pablo González.
    • 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: BBC 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: Düsseldorfer Symphoniker. Conductor: Ádám Fischer.
    • Cavi-Music.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

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

    Ensemble: Verità Baroque.
    • Evil Penguin.

  • William Mundy

    Adolescentulus sum ego

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

Broadcast

  • Last Sunday09:00
    BBC Radio 3