Radio 3

As part of the BBC's 'Once Upon a Time...' week, Elizabeth Alker continues her celebration of the fairy tale with concert performances and specially recorded performances of pieces inspired by the folk collections of the German Grimm Brothers and France's Charles Perrault. Also in today, more from lutenist Thomas Dunford’s recent series of concerts from LSO St. Luke’s. Including: Engelbert Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel Suite BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Anja Bihlmaier (conductor) From LSO St. Luke’s - Thomas Dunford and Friends: Robert de Visse Sarabande en ré mineur Chaconne Eric Satie Gnossienne 1 Thomas Dunford (lute) Sergei Prokofiev Movements from Cinderella (arranged by Yevgeny Sudbin for piano 4 hands) Yevgeny Sudbin & Bella Sudbin (piano) Maurice Ravel Mother Goose (full ballet version) BBC Symphony Orchestra Kristian Sallinen (conductor) From LSO St. Luke’s - Thomas Dunford and Friends: John Dowland Semper Dowland Semper Dolens Mrs Winter’s Jump Thomas Dunford (lute) Gustav Mahler Cantata: Song of Lamentation (Das klagende Lied) (original three part 1893 version) Chen Reiss (soprano) Stefanie Irányi (alto) Attilio Glaser (tenor) Dominik Wagner (baritone) Czech Philharmonic Choir, Brno Dominik Pernica (conductor of of the offstage orchestra) Brno Philharmonic Dennis Russell Davies (conductor) The BBC’s ‘Once Upon a Time…’ week celebrates fairytales and storytelling in partnership with the British Library. On BBC Radio 3 Edith Bowman explores fairytales and fantasy in 'Sound of Cinema', actors Pearce Quigley and Lydia Wilson delve into the worlds of princesses, frogs, and spells in 'Words & Music', Sara Mohr-Pietsch charts a course to Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf in 'Music Map', and Elizabeth Alker presents music inspired by enchanted lands, magical creatures, and timeless tales, in 'Classical Live' and 'Unclassified'. Just search ‘Once Upon a Time…’ in BBC Sounds. The British Library’s major new exhibition Fairy Tales runs from 27th March – 23rd August 2026.