Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 3,25 Feb 2026,117 mins

Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ live from the BBC Philharmonic

Classical Live

Available for 29 days

Elizabeth Alker brings you an afternoon of exclusive music-making which includes the start of a specially curated series of Wednesday concerts from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra transporting us from winter days through to the Spring Equinox. Today conductor Lorenzo Passeini conducts the orchestra in a programme of music that includes Beethoven's revolutionary Symphony No. 3 'Eroica' which has lost none of its sense of drama several centuries on. As a contrast, the orchestra will perform Schubert’s Overture which brims with light-hearted spirit and a playful nod to the sparkling melodies of Italian opera. Before this, Vivaldi's Concerto Grosso in A minor is performed by the Swiss Orchestra and conductor Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer and in keeping with the Italian Vistas theme across the week, La Scintilla Orchestra and conductor Riccardo Minasi perform music by Giovanni Battista Buonamente and Domenico Sarro as part of a recital recorded in Zurich. There is also a recording from the current Radio 3 New Generation Artist flautist Elizaveta Ivanova and pianist Sanja Bizjak. They join forces for Donizetti's lyrical Sonata in C major for flute and piano. Antonio Vivaldi Concerto Grosso in A minor, RV 356, Op. 3 No. 6 Swiss Orchestra Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer (conductor) Giovanni Battista Buonamente Sonata seconda a 3 La Scintilla Orchestra Riccardo Minasi (conductor) Domenico Sarro Sinfonia, from 'Achille in Sciro' La Scintilla Orchestra Riccardo Minasi (conductor) Radio 3 New Generation Artists: Gaetano Donizetti Sonata in C major for flute and piano Elizaveta Ivanova (flute) Sanja Bizjak (piano) Gabriela Ortiz Kayumari RAI National Symphony Orchestra Ana María Patiño-Osorio (conductor) *** Live Concert from the BBC Philharmonic Franz Schubert Overture, D590, D major 'In the Italian Style’ Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 3 'Eroica' BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Lorenzo Passeini (conductor) To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Live"

Programme Website
More episodes

Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Concerto Grosso in A minor, RV 356, Op. 3 No. 6
    Concerto Grosso in A minor, RV 356, Op. 3 No. 6
    Antonio Vivaldi
  3. 2.
    Sonata seconda a 3
    Sonata seconda a 3
    Giovanni Battista Buonamente
  4. 3.
    Sonata in C major for flute and piano
    Sonata in C major for flute and piano
    Gaetano Donizetti