Make sure you are sitting by your radio at 7.30pm this evening, with the dial set between 90-93FM. Tonight sees the return of live weekday evening broadcasts on Radio 3.
In a move that has been widely praised since it was announced in February, Performance on 3 will, from this evening, broadcast a live concert at 7.30pm every day from Monday to Friday for 46 weeks a year. The new live format will replace the pre-recorded 7pm concerts that have been in place since 2007.
Welcoming in the new era will be The Sixteen under Harry Christophers, who will be performing works by Victoria from Sherborne Abbey, Dorset, as part of their tour celebrating the Spanish composer’s 400th anniversary.
As for the rest of the week, tomorrow will bring the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Vladimir Jurowski from the Royal Festival Hall and Thursday sees the Hallé and Mark Elder perform Sibelius, Prokofiev and Elgar at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall. A return will be made to the Bridgewater on Friday, when trumpeter Alison Balsom will be joining the BBC Philharmonic under Vassily Sinaisky.
For full details of all concerts, see the May issue of BBC Music Magazine, on sale now.