BBC Radio 3 has unveiled its Autumn 2022 programming highlights, including a series of landmark shows 100 years of BBC radio broadcasts.
In recognition of the BBC’s centenary year (the BBC’s first broadcast was in November 1922), Radio 3 will feature a wealth of extraordinary music from across the UK – and around the world.
The season will include live broadcasts from the Venice Music Biennialthe 20th Ivors Composer Awardthe EFG London Jazz Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. There will also be road trips around Northern Ireland with Music Matters, as well as performances by Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Lammermuir Festival, Oxford Lieder Festival and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Radio 3 in Concert, meanwhile, will be broadcast live from cities across the UK, highlighting the season’s best classical, jazz and contemporary music.
Highlights of the season will include:
- BBC 100 – The soundscape of a century of Radio 3. This BBC centenary celebration will consist of an eight-hour continuous broadcast, interspersing classical music with specially curated BBC archives.
- A sequel of Vaughan Williams today, the station’s celebrations for the composer’s 150th birthday. The season continues with special editions of Composer of the week, Early Music Show, Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert, Record Review, Sound of Cinema, The Listening Service and more
- A new series presented by the famous Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds. In ultimate calm, the award-winning multi-instrumentalist will explore how classical, contemporary and ambient music can soothe the soul. Exploring themes such as nature, cinema and sleep, the series will feature sounds from the electro duo Odeszamusician and producer Jon Hopkinscomposer and pianist Isobel Waller-Bridge and others
- An outstanding program of live music, with performances from all over the UK and beyond
- A new adaptation of three women, Rarely performed three-part poem by Sylvia Plath, to celebrate the poet’s 90th birthday
- The Sonic Centurya four-part series exploring the history and key figures of broadcasting
- For Music matters Tom Service will be in conversation with the American composer John Adams, and with the famous French pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque
- Broadcast of performances from the Lammermuir and Dartington Festivals, plus orchestras and choirs from the BBC and all major UK symphony orchestras
“After a fantastic season of the BBC Proms, Radio 3 returns to present the best live music from across the country in its autumn season,” says BBC Radio 3 Controller Alan Davey. incredible and inspiring performances from some of the UK’s best festivals and venues, along with new music from the Venice Biennale and great performances from our next generation artists – providing a way to experience great performances of great music for whoever wants it.
Photo of Ólafur Arnalds by Anna Maggi
