Once Upon A Time... Across Europe

As part of the BBC's 'Once Upon a Time...' week, Elizabeth Alker journeys into Europe in her celebration of music with its roots in the fairy tale, today featuring pieces by Leoš Janáček and Robert Schumann inspired by the spirit of the genre. Also in today’s Classical Live, more from lutenist Thomas Dunford from LSO St. Luke’s and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra present a live concert of 18th- and 19th-century classics from its home in Salford. Including:

Giacchino Rossini
Overture - La Cenerentola
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

Robert Schumann
Märchenerzählungen, Op. 132
Annelien Van Wauve (clarinet)
Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad (viola)
Pavel Kolesnikov (piano)

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13:30
BBC PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - LIVE
Jospeh Haydn
Cello Concerto in D
Robert Schumann
Symphony No.1 in Bb major, Op. 38 (Spring)
Marie Elisabeth-Hecker (cello)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier (conductor)

From LSO St. Luke’s - Thomas Dunford and Friends
Thomas Dunford
Toccata
Girolamo Kapsberger Libro Primo d'intavolatura di lauto - Toccata 6
Juan Ambrosio Dalza Intabulatura de Lauto, Libro 4 - Calata alla Spagnola
Thomas Dunford (lute)

Leoš Janáček
Pohadka for cello and piano
Anastasia Kobekina (cello)
Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula (piano)

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.