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Power through with classical music

Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical favourites, with music by Sibelius, Tallis and Hania Rani.

Today's mixtape opens with chirpy Faure arranged for brass, giving way to the eerie and atmospheric sounds of Hania Rani's Non Fiction. This melts into the evergreen If Ye Love Me, by Tallis. An orchestra takes over with a canzonetta by Frank Bridge, leading into a mandolin concerto by Vivaldi and then Ravel's sparkling Le Tombeau de Couperin. A soothing arrangement of Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque for marimba quartet follows, paired with a waltz by Sibelius. The mixtape closes with a mournful sarabande for keyboard by Bach.

Producer: Phoebe McFarlane

14 days left to listen

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 20 May 2026 19:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Le papillon et la fleur

    Music Arranger: Matthew Knight. Ensemble: Septura.
    • Music for Brass Septet, Vol. 5.
    • Naxos.
    • 501.

  • Thomas Tallis

    If Ye Love me

    Choir: Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Peter Phillips.
    • DELPHIAN.

  • Frank Bridge

    Canzonetta

    Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia.
    • Bridge: Suite for Strings etc: Britten Sinfonia/Nicholas Cleobury.
    • Conifer.
    • 14.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Mandolin Concerto in C major RV 425: 1st mvt

    Performer: Avi Avital. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra.
    • Avi Avital Vivaldi.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 007.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Le tombeau de Couperin (Prelude)

    Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • Boulez conducts Debusy and Ravel.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

  • Eric Whitacre

    Lux Aurumque

    Music Arranger: Joby Burgess. Ensemble: Joby Burgess Marimba Quartet.
    • Eric Whitacre: Marimba Quartets.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 101.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Valse triste (Kuolema)

    Orchestra: West–Eastern Divan Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Warner.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: IV. Sarabande

    Performer: Niklas Sivelöv.
    • J.S. Bach: Partitas & English Suites, Vol. 2.
    • Naxos Sweden - Amchara.
    • 16.

Broadcast

  • Wed 20 May 2026 19:00
    BBC Radio 3

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