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Easter: A Seasonal Journey... Music for Holy Week

Radio 3’s annual celebration of sacred music for Holy Week with concerts from across Europe.

Radio 3’s annual celebration of Easter music on Palm Sunday with concerts from across Europe. Hannah French presents music for Holy Week from Spain and Denmark culminating in the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s new work Angels Unawares, recorded earlier this month in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

4pm
A programme of music by Handel and Bach that recreates an extraordinary event: Good Friday, 1747, when J.S. Bach performed Handel arias in Leipzig during a performance of the St. Mark Passion, the only known instance of artistic interaction between the composers, both born in 1685. The programme presents the seven Handel arias alongside other arias by Bach related to the Easter liturgy. Performed in Barcelona by soloists and the Barcelona Consort directed by Daniel Tarrida.

5pm
An Easter concert of vocal music ranging from the early Renaissance to our own time. With the Danish National Vocal Ensemble and conductor Krista Audere, from Copenhagen. Including works by J.S. Bach, Judith Bingham, Samuel Sebastian Wesley and Sven-David Sandström.

6pm
A celebration of Bulgarian church music given by the St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral Choir in Sofia. Recorded in December the concert celebrates two major Bulgarian choral composers, Dobri Hristov (1875-1941) and Angel Popkonstantinov (1905-1981).

6.30pm
Music from 17th Century Spain by Carlos Patiño. Early music ensemble Los Afectos Diversos under their director Nacho Rodríguez perform Patiño’s Mass for 16 Voices 'Misa Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore' interleaved with other of the Spanish master’s sacred music. Recorded at the Úbeda and Baeza Early Music Festival.

7.30pm
The world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s new work Angels Unawares recorded last week in the Sistine Chapel, Rome. Performed by The Sixteen, vocal soloists and Britten Sinfonia under conductor Harry Christophers, Angels Unawares evokes and explores encounters with angelic presences in the Old and New Testaments and is a setting of a poem by Robert Willis (Dean of Canterbury Cathedral from 2001-2022). It is a vigorous and contemporary expression of belief reflecting the faith which underpins Macmillan's art.

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4 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Yesterday16:00
BBC Radio 3

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Easter: A Seasonal Journey. Sacred Music for Holy Week

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No.12: "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen", BWV 12 (Sinfonia)

    Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Aria: "Sünder, schaut mit Furcht und Zagen")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Mark Passion, BWV. 247 (Recit: "Aber ihr Zeugnis stimmte noch nicht überein")

    Singer: Jana Corominas. Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Singer: Lluis Arratia. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Aria: "Erwäg, ergrimmte Natternbruth")

    Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No. 72: "Alles nur nach Gottes Willen" (Aria: "Mit allem, was ich hab und bin")

    Singer: Jana Corominas. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Mark Passion, BWV. 247 (Recit: "Und sie brachten ihn an die Stätte Golgatha")

    Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Aria:"Eilt, ihr angefochtnen seelen")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No. 12: "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen" (Aria: "Ich folge Christo nach")

    Singer: Lluis Arratia. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Mark Passion, BWV. 247 (Recit: "Und da sie ihn gekreuziget hatten")

    Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Aria: "Hier erstarrt mein Herz und Blut")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No. 12: "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen" (Chorus: "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Singer: Jana Corominas. Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Singer: Lluis Arratia. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Reinhard Keiser

    Symphony

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Singer: Jana Corominas. Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Singer: Lluis Arratia. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Aria: "Was Wunder, das der Sonnen Pracht")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No. 7: "Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" (Aria: "Des Vaters Stimme liess sich hören")

    Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Mark Passion, BWV. 247 (Recit: "Und er kaufte ein Leinwand")

    Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Aria: "Wisch ab der Tränen scharfe Lauge")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No. 85 "'Ich bin ein guter Hirt" (Aria: "Jesus ist ein guter Hirt")

    Singer: Jana Corominas. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Aria: "Wie kömmt's, dass, da der Himml weint")

    Singer: Lluis Arratia. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Brockes Passion, HWV. 48 (Chorus: "Ich bin ein Glied an deinem Leib")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Singer: Jana Corominas. Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Singer: Lluis Arratia. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No. 131: "Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir " (Chorus: "Ich harre des Herrn")

    Singer: Mariana Rodrigues. Singer: Jana Corominas. Singer: Itamar Hildesheim. Singer: Lluis Arratia. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Ensemble: Bachcelona Consort. Director: Daniel Tarrida. Director: Daniel Tarrida.
    • ESCAT.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Lobet den Herrn alle Heiden - motet BWV 230

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Martin Ødegaard

    Komm - based on JS Bach's Komm Jesu, Komm

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Judith Bingham

    The Darkness is No Darkness

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Samuel Sebastian Wesley

    Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace

    Performer: Soren Christian Vestergaard. Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Sven-David Sandström

    Hear my prayer, O Lord

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Joseph Twist

    Versa est in luctum

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Franz Liszt

    Ave Maria von Arcadelt

    Performer: Soren Christian Vestergaard. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Sven-David Sandström

    Lobet den Herrn alle Heiden

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Jacques Arcadelt

    Ave Maria

    Music Arranger: Pierre‐Louis Dietsch. Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Krista Audere.
    • Easter Concert.

  • Dobri Hristov

    Bless the Lord, O my soul

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Dobri Hristov

    Glory to the only-begotten Son

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Dobri Hristov

    Holy God No.3

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Angel Popkonstantinov

    We sing to you

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Angel Popkonstantinov

    The Lord's Prayer

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Dobri Hristov

    O Gladsome Light

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Dobri Hristov

    Lord, Now Lettest Thou Depart

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Dobri Hristov

    Blessed Are You, O Lord

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Dobri Hristov

    Great Doxology

    Choir: Mixed Choir of The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Conductor: Georgi Elenkov.
    • BGBNR.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Celebrando a María

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Kyrie & Gloria ('Misa Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore')

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Salve regina

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Ave regina

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Credo ('Misa Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore')

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Lauda Jerusalem

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Matizada flor del campo

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Sanctus & Agnus Dei ('Misa Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore')

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Fuego es María, señores

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • Carlos Patiño

    Maria mater Dei

    Ensemble: Los Afectos Diversos. Director: Nacho Rodriguez.
    • ESRTVE.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: I The Exile from Eden

    Singer: Elizabeth Watts. Singer: Matthew McKinney. Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: II Abraham and the Three Visitors

    Singer: Elizabeth Watts. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: III Jacob and the Ladder Reaching to Heaven

    Singer: Matthew McKinney. Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: VI Ezekiel's Vision

    Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: VIII Temptation in the Wilderness

    Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: IX The Song of Nathanael

    Singer: Elizabeth Watts. Singer: Matthew McKinney. Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: X The Song of Mary Magdalena

    Singer: Elizabeth Watts. Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: XI The Song of Peter

    Singer: Matthew McKinney. Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

  • James MacMillan

    Angels Unawares: XII The Vision of John

    Singer: Elizabeth Watts. Singer: Matthew McKinney. Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Harry Christophers.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday16:00
    BBC Radio 3