The Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert

Tuesday 28th June 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Perth Pianos: Joanna MacGregor.

Joanna MacGregor pairs Ligeti's Musica Ricercata with Schubert's monumental final sonata in concert from the Perth Concert Hall. Presented by Steven Broad. Ligeti: Musica Ricercata Op.1. Schubert: Sonata in B flat D960. Joanna MacGregor (piano).

Thursday 30th June 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Steven Osborne explores the glories of Debussy in recital from Perth Concert Hall. Debussy: 2 arabesques, Ballade; La plus que lente, Pièce pour le vêtement du blessé, Élégie, Les soirs illuminés par l'ardeur du charbon; Études 1-6; Pour le piano. Steven Osborne (piano).

Tuesday 19th July 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

LSO St Luke's Artist Focus: Nicholas Daniel.

Hannah French presents the first of four Lunchtime Concerts recorded in May at LSO St Luke's, each shining a spotlight on world class wind and brass players. Today, the focus is on internationally renowned oboist Nicholas Daniel, with pianist Huw Watkins, whose concert takes us on a tour of the UK. They begin their concert in the north of England with Alan Bush's Northumbrian Impressions, inspired by a chance encounter with the Duke of Northumberland's personal piper. Following that, we move to Ireland with Howard Ferguson's arrangement of Schumann's Three Canonic Studies, beautifully expressive works originally written for the pedal piano but work perfectly in this arrangement. Then we move across the Borders with Scottish composer - and oboist - Helen Grime, who wrote her Three Minatures to show off the instrument's huge variety of expression. Pianist and composer Huw Watkins wrote his version of some of his favourites from the wonderful repertoire of Welsh folksongs specifically for Nicholas Daniel, and together they play the premiere, before ending their recital with one of the most loved oboe sonatas in the repertory: Poulenc. It was dedicated to Prokofiev but actually became his own swansong written just six months before his own death. Alan Bush: Northumbrian Impressions. Schumann, arr. Howard Ferguson: 3 Canonic Studies. Helen Grime: Three Miniatures. Huw Watkins: Five Welsh Folksongs. Poulenc: Oboe Sonata. Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Huw Watkins (piano).

Tuesday 26th July 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

East Neuk Festival 2022 (1/4).

Tom Redmond presents the first of two recitals by the Pavel Haas Quartet given at this year's East Neuk Festival in Fife, performing works by Korngold and Janacek. Korngold, writing in the 1940s and during a period of deep depression, used themes from his film scores as he composed his third and final string quartet. Nearly 20 years earlier, Janacek completed his colourful second quartet, inspired by his love for Kamila Stosslova. In one of his many letters to Stosslova, Janacek wrote about this work that `you stand behind every tone - alert, fervent and loving." Korngold: String Quartet No 3, Op 34. Janacek: String Quartet No 2, Intimate Letters. Pavel Haas Quartet.

Tuesday 2nd August 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Schwetzingen Festival. Episode 1.

Sarah Walker presents the first in a week of programmes featuring highlights of the 2022 Schwetzingen Festival.. Today, the Belcea Quartet and Quatuor Ebene perform Mendelssohn's Octet, and violinist Isabelle Faust, with Alexander Melnikov on fortepiano, plays Beethoven's 'Spring' Sonata. Mendelssohn: Octet Belcea Quartet and Quatuor Ebene. Beethoven: Violin Sonata No 5 in F, "Spring". Isabelle Faust (violin), Alexander Melnikov (fortepiano).
(Episode 1)

Tuesday 30th August 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Highlights from the Schwetzingen Festival 2022 (1/4).

Sarah Walker presents a second week of programmes from the 2022 Schwetzingen Festival, featuring chamber music by Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. Haydn: Quartet no 61 in D minor, Op 76/2 Hob III:76 "Fifths". Aris Quartet. Beethoven: Violin Sonata No 10 in G Op 96. Isabelle Faust (violin), Alexander Melnikov (fortepiano). Schubert: Piano Trio in E flat, D 897, "Notturno". Amatis Piano Trio.

Wednesday 14th September 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Machynlleth Festival 2022 (2/4).

Violinist Viktoria Mullova performs works by Schubert, Pärt and Takemitsu, and the Wihan Quartet play Janá?ek's Quartet No 2, 'Intimate Letters' at the Machynlleth Festival. Nicola Heywood Thomas presents. Janacek: Quartet No 2, "Intimate Letters". Wihan Quartet. Takemitsu: Distance de fée; Pärt: Fratres; Schubert: Rondo Brilliant in B minor, D895. Viktoria Mullova (violin), Alasdair Beatson (piano).

Monday 26th September 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Cellist Laura van der Heijden and Pianist Tom Poster.

Andrew McGregor .presents a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall by cellist Laura van der Heijden and pianist Tom Poster in music spanning three centuries. Van der Heijden - a former BBC Young Musician of the Year - has chosen a typically imaginative programme ranging from a sonata from one of Louis XIV's favourite composers to a short work by Errollyn Wallen. To finish, there is a sonata written in 1957 by George Walker, who was born 100 years ago this year. Jacquet de la Guerre: Violin Sonata No 1 in D minor; Errollyn Wallen: Dervish; Rachmaninov: Vocalise Op 34 No 14; George Walker: Sonata for cello and piano. Laura van der Heijden (cello), Tom Poster (piano).
(Live)

Monday 3rd October 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Ewa Poblocka Plays Bach Inventions.

Hannah French presents a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall as Polish pianist Ewa Poblocka performs the entire book of Bach's Three-Part Inventions, along with the collection of dances that make up Partita No 5. Bach: The Musical Offering, BWV1079 - Ricercar a 3; 15 Sinfonias, BWV787-801; Partita No. 5 in G, BWV829. Ewa Poblocka (piano).

Tuesday 4th October 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:30 (1 hour and 30 minutes long)

Linton Stephens presents highlights from this year's BBC Young Musician keyboard and percussion finals, recorded at Saffron Hall in July. Featuring Dawid Kasprzak, Edward Walton, Jaren Ziegler, Aki Blendis and Clara-Sophia Wernig (violins), and Joshua Gearing (percussion).

Monday 17th October 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Live from Wigmore Hall, mezzo-soprano Christine Rice and pianist Julius Drake perform two of the most celebrated song cycles - Berlioz's Les nuits d'été and Britten's Winter Words. Presented by Martin Handley. Berlioz: Les nuits d'été, Op 7; Britten: Winter Words, Op 52. Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Julius Drake (piano).
(Live)

Tuesday 18th October 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Perspectives on Vaughan Williams (1/4).

Mezzo Kathryn Rudge and pianist Sholto Kynoch in a concert live from the Holywell Music Room, Oxford, as part of the Oxford Lieder Festival. Their programme includes Vaughan Williams: The House of Life, along with songs by Quilter, Howells and Liza Lehmann. Presented by Fiona Talkington. Quilter: From Seven Elizabethan Lyrics: 1. Weep you no more; 2. My life's delight; 3. Damask Roses; 7. Fair house of joy. Vaughan Williams: The House of Life: 1. Love-Sight; 2. Silent Noon; 3. Love's Minstrels; 4. Heart's Haven; 5. Death in Love; 6. Love's last gift. William Denis Browne: To Gratiana Dancing and Singing; Howells: King David; Liza Lehmann: Evensong; If I built a world for you; If no one ever marries me. Kathryn Rudge (mezzo), Sholto Kynoch (piano).
(Live)

Wednesday 2nd November 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Music from Maida Vale. Episode 2.

A week of specially recorded chamber music from Maida Vale studios in London. Presented by John Toal. Bartok: String Quartet No 2 Sz.67. Beethoven: String Quartet in E flat major Op.74 No.10. Heath Quartet.
(Episode 2)

Thursday 3rd November 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Music from Maida Vale. Episode 3.

A week of specially recorded chamber music from Maida Vale studios in London. Presented by John Toal. Mozart: Adagio in B minor K540. Elgar: Piano Quintet in A minor Op.84. Heath Quartet Tom Poster (piano).

Monday 7th November 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Cinquecento.

Hannah French presents a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall, with early music vocal ensemble Cinquecento performing a programme called Songs for Troubled Times: Music from Reformation England. The movement caused a rupture in liturgical music, with composers having to change style according to whether the monarch was Catholic or Protestant. Tallis: Salvator mundi (i). Tye: The Mean Mass - Gloria. Thomas Tallis: In jejunio et fletu; Te lucis ante terminum (i); Lamentations I; If Ye Love Me. Tye: The Mean Mass - Sanctus. John Sheppard: The Lord's Prayer. Tallis: Te lucis ante terminum (ii). Tye: The Mean Mass - Agnus Dei. Byrd: Ne irascaris, Domine. Cinquecento.
(Live)

Monday 14th November 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Calidore Quartet.

Hannah French presents a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall, with former Radio 3 New Generation Artists the Calidore Quartet performing one of Beethoven's early quartets and Smetana's first string quartet From My Life. Beethoven: String Quartet No 6 in B flat, Op 18 No 6; Smetana: String Quartet No 1 in E minor, From My Life. Calidore String Quartet.
(Live)

Tuesday 22nd November 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Highlights from the Verbier Festival 2022.

Sarah Walker introduces Yefim Bronfman playing Beethoven and Chopin at the Verbier Festival, and Daniil Trifonov and friends perform Mendelssohn's Piano Quartet No 2 in F minor. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 'Appasionata'. Yefim Bronfman (piano). Mendelssohn: Piano Quartet No.2 in F minor, Op.2. Sergei Dogadin (violin), Blythe Teh Engstroem (viola), Klaus Makela (cello), Daniil Trifonov (piano). Chopin: Etude No.12 in C minor, Op.10 'Revolutionary' (encore). Yefim Bronfman (piano).
(Episode 1)

Monday 28th November 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Andrei Ionita and Naoko Sonoda.

Andrew McGregor presents a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall, with cellist Andrei Ionita and pianist Naoko Sonoda performing cello sonatas by Beethoven and Britten, interspersed with two collection of miniatures for cello and piano by Webern. Beethoven: Cello Sonata in C, Op 102 No 1. Webern: Three Little Pieces, Op 11; Two Pieces. Britten: Cello Sonata in C, Op 65. Andrei Ionita (cello), Naoko Sonoda (piano).
(Live)

Tuesday 29th November 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Consone Quartet Plays Schumann's Piano Quintet with Paolo Zanzu.

Sarah Walker introduces a new series of concerts curated by the Consone Quartet. Today, they are joined by keyboard specialist, Paolo Zanzu on an 1839 Johann Streicher fortepiano. Schumann: Kinderszenen, op 15. Paolo Zanzu (fortepiano). Schumann: Piano Quintet op 44. Consone Quartet, Paolo Zanzu (fortepiano)

Monday 5th December 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Steven Osborne.

Hannah French presents a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall, with pianist and former Radio 3 New Generation Artist Steven Osborne performing Debussy's Etudes. Debussy: Études - Book I; Berceuse héroïque; Étude retrouvée; Études - Book II. Steven Osborne (piano).
(Live)

Thursday 8th December 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

One Pianist, One Composer, at LSO St Luke's in London. Episode 1.

Hannah French presents the celebrated pianist, Elisabeth Leonskaja, performing Schubert's monumental final work for piano, his Sonata in B-flat. Recorded at LSO St Luke's in September. Schubert: Klavierstück No.1 (from 3 Klavierstücke D. 946); Sonata in B-flat, D 960. Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano).
(Episode 3)

Tuesday 20th December 2022 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Natalie Clein and Friends. Episode 3.

John Toal introduces cellist Natalie Clein and friends performing music by Schubert, Beethoven and Bloch at the 2022 Belfast International Arts Festival. Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata D. 821. Natalie Clein (cello), Julius Drake (piano). Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79. Christian Ihle Hadland (piano). Bloch: Méditation hébraïque. Natalie Clein (cello), Christian Ihle Hadland (piano). Schubert: Auf dem Strom D. 943. Natalie Clein (cello), Ruby Hughes (soprano), Julius Drake (piano).
(Episode 1)

Monday 2nd January 2023 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Paul Watkins & Huw Watkins.

Sarah Walker introduces a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall, with brothers Paul and Huw Watkins performing cello sonatas by Debussy and Fauré, as well as Schumann's 5 Pieces in Folk Style and Michael Zev Gordon's Roseland, a work that takes its title from a remote region of Cornwall.

Tuesday 3rd January 2023 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Highlights from the Verbier Festival 2022.

In the first of this week's highlights from the Verbier Festival 2022, Sarah Walker presents Yefim Bronfman playing Schumann and Bartok, and Augustin Dumay performing Beethoven. Schumann: Arabesque in C, Op.18 (encore). Yefim Bronfman (piano). Beethoven: Violin Sonata No.10 in G, Op.96. Augustin Dumay (violin), Sergei Babayan (piano). Bartok: Suite, Sz.62. Yefim Bronfman (piano).
(Episode 1)

Monday 9th January 2023 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

Mithras Trio.

Hannah French presents a live recital from London's Wigmore Hall by the Mithras Trio. Formed at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2017, the ensemble have already won a number of prizes - including the 2019 Royal Philharmonic Society Henderson Chamber Ensemble Award - and are currently part of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme. In this recital, they perform Frank Bridge's Phantasie Piano Trio, Beethoven's Ghost Trio, and Joy Lisney's Petrichor, receiving its world premiere. Frank Bridge: Phantasie Piano Trio in C minor; Joy Lisney: Petrichor (world premiere); Beethoven: Piano Trio in D, Op 70 No 1, Ghost. Mithras Trio.
(Live)

Wednesday 11th January 2023 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long)

LSO St Luke's - Alice Sara Ott and Friends: Alice Sara Ott and Ray Chen Play Grieg and Stravinsky.

German-Japanese pianist Alice Sara Ott continues her series of Lunchtime Concerts at LSO St Luke's in London, today performing works for violin and piano, joined by violinist Ray Chen. Presented by Fiona Talkington. Grieg: Sonata No 2 in G major Op 13 for violin and piano. Ysaye: Sonata No 3 'Ballade' (solo violin). Stravinsky: Divertimento (from The Fairy's Kiss, arr. Stravinsky and Dushkin). Alice Sara Ott (piano), Ray Chen (violin).

Thinking it might be nice to post some actual listening notes in this group…

Listening to the 6/29/2023 Lunchtime Concert, of two piano trios, Beethoven Op. 1/3 in C minor, and Schubert D. 898 in B flat major. The latter is very familiar, but I haven’t heard the former in many years; it’s not in my post-2010 notes. Kiveli Dorken, piano; Christian Tetzlaff, violin; Steffan Morris (a last minute replacement), cello.

Although I’m not a musician, I try to listen for the coloristic differences between keys, especially between major and minor, and this Beethoven trio feels “minor” right from the start. A ruminative rather than display-oriented piece.