703: BBC Radio 3

Sat Sep 05
Through the Night

Today 00:30 - 06:30

Elim Chan conducts the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and violinist Nikita Boriso-Glebsky in the premiere of Zinovjev's 'World Bearer'.

Breakfast

Today 06:30 - 09:00

Hannah French presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Saturday Morning

Today 09:00 - 12:00

Tom Service plays the best classical music alongside the latest stories in the arts world, and meets the versatile conductor, arranger and composer Jules Buckley.

Earlier... with Jools Holland

Today 12:00 - 13:00

Jools is joined by one of the world's most famous classical musicians, Lang Lang.

Key Changes: Radio 3's Essential History of Classical Music

Today 13:00 - 14:00

1816, Bavaria. Maelzel's new metronome promises to measure musical time with unprecedented precision.

Record Review

Today 14:00 - 16:00

Andrew McGregor with the best new classical releases, joined by Hannah French, who picks her top 5 recordings of music by this week's BBC Proms Composer, JS Bach.

Sound of Cinema

Today 16:00 - 17:00

Edith Bowman with your weekly selection of film scores, where this week class is in session, celebrating the music of classic school, college and coming-of-age films.

This Classical Life

Today 17:00 - 18:00

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with the composer Rachel Portman.

Music Planet

Today 18:00 - 19:00

Kathryn Tickell presents the best in global roots-based music, and British-Kenyan musician John Low selects three tracks from the acoustic guitar scene of 1950s and 60s Nairobi.

BBC Proms 2026

Today 19:00 - 21:30

Live at the BBC Proms: Martha Argerich, the Munich Philharmonic and Lahav Shani perform Farrenc's Overture No 2, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 2 and Brahms' Symphony No 4.

20th Century Radicals

Today 21:30 - 22:30

Gillian Moore explores the organic aliveness of the music of Betsy Jolas, with a focus on her 1977 trumpet concerto Onze Lieder.

New Music Show

Today 22:30 - 00:30

Tom Service showcases some of the new music heard at this year's BBC Proms, including brand new commissions from Josephine Stephenson and Brett Dean.

Sun Sep 06
Through the Night

Tomorrow 00:30 - 06:30

Messiaen's choral masterpiece Cinq Rechants, Wagner's Im Treibhaus, two love songs from Mahler's Rückert-Lieder and three early songs by Alma Mahler.

Breakfast

Tomorrow 06:30 - 09:00

Mark Forrest presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Sunday Morning

Tomorrow 09:00 - 11:00

Join Sarah Walker for a Sunday mix of new discoveries, choral treasures and classical favourites, plus a Sunday Sequence heading back to school.

BBC Proms 2026

Tomorrow 11:00 - 13:30

Live at the BBC Proms: John Wilson conducts the Sinfonia of London Strings, with soprano Julie Roset. Britten's Les Illuminations, and music by Lennox Berkeley and Imogen Holst.

Music Map

Tomorrow 13:30 - 15:00

Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores the musical landscape of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, from its role in opera's development to fellow composers inspired by one of music's greatest legends.

Music Matters: Arranging the Air

Tomorrow 15:00 - 16:00

Martin Handley begins a four-part series which aims to demystify the role of the conductor. Today, he asks the most often asked question... what does a conductor actually do?

Jazz Record Requests

Tomorrow 16:00 - 17:00

Alyn Shipton presents jazz records of all styles as requested by you to soundtrack your Sunday.

The Early Music Show

Tomorrow 17:00 - 18:00

As the summer holidays come to an end, and parents toast their kids' return to school, Hannah French explores JS Bach's role as a teacher at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig.

Choral Evensong

Tomorrow 18:00 - 19:00

From Edington Priory Church during the Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy, with music by Clemens non Papa, Purcell and Peeters.

New Generation Artists

Tomorrow 19:00 - 19:30

American cellist Sterling Elliott plays Brahms's Second Cello Sonata in a recording made at the BBC studios.

BBC Proms 2026

Tomorrow 19:30 - 22:00

Live at the BBC Proms: the BBC SO & Sakari Oramo in Dvorak's 'New World' Symphony. Plus Jess Gillam, Ben Goldscheider and Sheku Kanneh-Mason in Gwilym Simcock's Triple Concerto.

Night Tracks

Tomorrow 22:00 - 23:30

Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.

Unclassified

Tomorrow 23:30 - 00:30

Elizabeth Alker with a late-night journey through new music from today's most exciting genre-defying artists.

Mon Sep 07
Through the Night

Monday 00:30 - 06:30

John Storgårds conducts the BBC Philharmonic in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 4, after Hans Abrahamsen's delicate Horn Concerto.

Breakfast

Monday 06:30 - 09:30

Linton Stephens presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Essential Classics

Monday 09:30 - 13:00

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Classical Live

Monday 13:00 - 16:00

Elizabeth Alker introduces highlights from the Proms including music by Brahms plus Mendelssohn's youthful Octet in E flat performed by Julia Fischer and friends.

Composer of the Week: Stephen Sondheim

Monday 16:00 - 17:00

1/5. Donald Macleod reflects back on the life and work of Titan of Musical Theatre, Stephen Sondheim.

In Tune

Monday 17:00 - 19:00

Tamsin Waley-Cohen joins Petroc Trelawny in studio to perform live. Ryan Wigglesworth chats to Petroc about the upcoming appearances at the Proms with the BBC SSO.

BBC Proms 2026

Monday 19:00 - 22:00

Live at the BBC Proms: Simon Rattle, Isabelle Faust and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra present an all-Schumann programme, including his Violin Concerto and Symphony No 2.

Night Tracks

Monday 22:00 - 23:30

Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.

'Round Midnight

Monday 23:30 - 00:30

Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.

Tue Sep 08
Through the Night

Tuesday 00:30 - 06:30

From Madrid, the Cantoría vocal ensemble performs music from the Iberian Renaissance.

Breakfast

Tuesday 06:30 - 09:30

Linton Stephens presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Essential Classics

Tuesday 09:30 - 13:00

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Classical Live

Tuesday 13:00 - 16:00

Elizabeth Alker introduces highlights from the Proms including music by Rachmaninov, and Benjamin Appl performs Schumann's Dichterliebe from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival.

Composer of the Week: Stephen Sondheim

Tuesday 16:00 - 17:00

2/5. Donald Macleod reflects back on the life and work of Titan of Musical Theatre Stephen Sondheim.

In Tune

Tuesday 17:00 - 18:30

Olivia Belli joins Petroc Trelawny in 80A for a live session. Conductor Philippe von Steinaecker discusses leading the Gustav Mahler Academy Orchestra at the Proms on 11/09.

BBC Proms 2026

Tuesday 18:30 - 20:10

Live at the BBC Proms: the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra are joined by chief conductor Ryan Wigglesworth and principal flute Matthew Higham.

New Generation Artists

Tuesday 20:10 - 22:15

César Franck's ever-green Violin Sonata played by flautist Elisaveta Ivanova, Ravel and Franck from pianist Julius Asal and Jonathan Dove's Hojoki: An account of my hut.

BBC Proms 2026

Tuesday 22:15 - 23:45

Live at the BBC Proms: Weyes Blood and the Jules Buckley Orchestra.

'Round Midnight

Tuesday 23:45 - 00:30

Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.

Wed Sep 09
Through the Night

Wednesday 00:30 - 06:30

Italian baritone Andrè Schuen and pianist Daniel Heide give a recital at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg in Austria, including Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder and Strauss's Four Songs.

Breakfast

Wednesday 06:30 - 09:30

Linton Stephens presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Essential Classics

Wednesday 09:30 - 13:00

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Classical Live

Wednesday 13:00 - 15:00

Elizabeth Alker introduces highlights from the Proms including music by Beethoven. Plus Ernö Dohnányi Sextet in C from the Feldafing Music Festival.

Choral Evensong

Wednesday 15:00 - 16:00

From St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, during the Charles Wood Festival, with music by Wood, Stanford and Duruflé.

Composer of the Week: Stephen Sondheim

Wednesday 16:00 - 17:00

3/5. Donald Macleod reflects back on the life and work of Titan of Musical Theatre Stephen Sondheim.

In Tune

Wednesday 17:00 - 19:00

Wind band Blondel performs live, and author Sacha Langton-Gilks discusses her new book Sing: The Power of Singing Aloud in an Increasingly Discordant World.

BBC Proms 2026

Wednesday 19:00 - 22:00

Live at the BBC Proms: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Pawel Kapula and soprano Natalya Romaniw perform music by Strauss, Schubert, Henze and Mahler.

Night Tracks

Wednesday 22:00 - 23:30

Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.

'Round Midnight

Wednesday 23:30 - 00:30

Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.

Thu Sep 10
Through the Night

Thursday 00:30 - 06:30

Delyana Lazarova conducts the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra with Sibelius' Finlandia, Dvorák's popular Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 4.

Breakfast

Thursday 06:30 - 09:30

Linton Stephens presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Essential Classics

Thursday 09:30 - 13:00

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Classical Live

Thursday 13:00 - 16:00

Elizabeth Alker introduces highlights from the Proms including music by Schumann. From Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, Benjamin Appl performs Beethoven.

Composer of the Week: Stephen Sondheim

Thursday 16:00 - 17:00

4/5. Donald Macleod reflects back on the life and work of Titan of Musical Theatre Stephen Sondheim.

In Tune

Thursday 17:00 - 19:00

Members of the Hunan Song and Dance Theatre perform live in the studio and dancer Steven McRae and violinist Vasko Vassilev on their new Paganini project.

BBC Proms 2026

Thursday 19:00 - 22:00

Live at the BBC Proms: Jonathan Cohen directs Arcangelo in Bach's Mass in B minor, with soloists Jeanine De Bique, Eva Zaïcik, Hugh Cutting, Nick Pritchard and Florian Störtz.

Night Tracks

Thursday 22:00 - 23:30

Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.

'Round Midnight

Thursday 23:30 - 00:30

Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.

Fri Sep 11
Through the Night

Friday 00:30 - 06:30

French virtuoso pianist David Fray performs in Mozart's Piano Concerto No 20. Also, we hear the Irish premiere of Cindy McTee's 'Timepiece' and Richard Strauss's 'Ein Heldenleben'.

Breakfast

Friday 06:30 - 09:30

Linton Stephens presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Essential Classics

Friday 09:30 - 13:00

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Classical Live

Friday 13:00 - 16:00

Elizabeth Alker introduces highlights from the Proms including music by Schumann plus music from Imperial Hall Concerts, Füssen.

Composer of the Week: Stephen Sondheim

Friday 16:00 - 17:00

5/5. Donald Macleod reflects back on the life and work of Titan of Musical Theatre Stephen Sondheim.

In Tune

Friday 17:00 - 19:30

Petroc Trelawny welcomes Sir Bryn Terfel to 80A for a chat and a live performance with Marios Papadopoulos on piano. Trio Zadig are also live in session.

Classical Mixtape

Friday 19:30 - 20:00

Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical favourites.

BBC Proms 2026

Friday 20:00 - 22:00

Live at the BBC Proms: the Mahler Academy Orchestra recreate the original sound and style of Mahler's Ninth Symphony under conductor Philipp von Steinaecker.

Late Junction

Friday 22:00 - 23:30

Jennifer Lucy Allan digs deep into the shelves of her record collection to pull out boundary-pushing and unique experimental tracks available exclusively on vinyl.

'Round Midnight

Friday 23:30 - 00:30

Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras, with a focus on new British artists.

Sat Sep 12
Through the Night

Saturday 00:30 - 06:30

Cellist Julian Steckel joins the Auckland Philharmonia and conductor Giordano Bellincampi in Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 2.

Breakfast

Saturday 06:30 - 09:00

Hannah French presents Radio 3's Breakfast show. To get in touch, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

Saturday Morning

Saturday 09:00 - 12:00

Tom Service plays the best classical music alongside the latest stories in the arts world, and he meets cellist Jean Guihen Queryas and composer Dame Judith Weir.

Earlier... with Jools Holland

Saturday 12:00 - 13:00

Jools is joined by architectural writer and conservation specialist Will Palin.

Key Changes: Radio 3's Essential History of Classical Music

Saturday 13:00 - 14:00

1822, Vienna. Rossini fever sweeps the opera world.

Record Review

Saturday 14:00 - 16:00

Andrew McGregor with the week's best new classical releases, joined by Flora Willson to assess a new Wagner Ring cycle from Dallas, and Mark Lowther on Nielsen's Symphony No. 2.

Sound of Cinema

Saturday 16:00 - 17:00

Step into the world of film music with Edith Bowman as she showcases score and soundtrack highlights. This week, legendary director John Carpenter reveals his Pick of the Flicks.

This Classical Life

Saturday 17:00 - 18:00

Jess Gillam and countertenor Iestyn Davies share some of their favourite music, including blur, Bernstein, and Borodin.

Music Planet

Saturday 18:00 - 19:00

Lopa Kothari presents the best in folk and roots-based music from around the world, with music from Corsican ensemble L'Alba and Scottish traditional quartet Dàna.

BBC Proms 2026

Saturday 19:00 - 23:00

Live at the BBC Proms: Superstar pianist Yuja Wang is joined by Scottish tenor Nicky Spence and massed BBC forces, all marshalled by conductor Sakari Oramo.

New Music Show

Saturday 23:00 - 00:30

Kate Molleson presents performances from Spitalfields Festival by the ensemble Standard Issue, plus the latest new releases.

Sun Sep 13
Through the Night

Sunday 00:30 - 06:30

Tchaikovsky's Nocturne in C sharp minor and his Variations on a Rococo Theme, as well as Mahler's 5th Symphony, a declaration of love to his future wife Alma.