Classical Collection

On 2 April Radio 3 launched Classical Collection, the successor to CD Masters. Classical Collection is presented by Sarah Walker, well-known to Radio 3 listeners, and James Jolly, Editor-in-Chief of `Gramophone’ Magazine.

Classical Collection will focus on great music, largely drawn from the core repertoire, in fine recordings, both contemporary and historic, but primarily from the stereo era onwards. The emphasis will be firmly on performance and interpretation.

Each week’s programmes will be loosely linked by a guiding theme, and the listener will be drawn from one piece to the next through an organic musical connection, which could be the use of a particular instrument, a motif, a genre, etc.

This programme will give the music space to breathe, and will concentrate on complete works. On Mondays, listeners will have the opportunity to hear a complete performance of the Building A Library critics’ choice from the previous Saturday.

At least twice a week, the programmes will feature a `Group of Three’ – a chance to compare and contrast performers’ interpretations or composers’ treatments of a group of three shorter pieces.

Each day’s playlist may be found on the BBC Radio 3 website by clicking here.