Page 3 - Third Programme News Today

Introduction On 15 November 1950 the RAI (Radio Televisione Italiana) Third Programme broadcast I due timidi, an ‘opera radiofonica’ composed by Nino Rota to a libretto by Suso Cecchi d’Amico, for the first time. It had been commissioned by the Italian public broadcasting company, which aimed to create an original...

Born September 30, 1934; died February 19, 2023

<strong>Brief letters: </strong>Music, not chat | Who’s being stung? | Obvious ethics | Our fiends in the north | Belated response

<strong>Editorial: </strong>Besieged by cuts, falling audiences and rows about ‘dumbing down’, BBC radio’s classical music flagship is small but still vitally important

Alan Davey, controller at BBC Radio 3, takes us through celebrations for the BBC's centenary, reflecting on the unique joy in sound that radio can bring

Our musical tastes haven’t changed, and yet listeners are deserting Radio 3 and Classic FM

A rediscovered comic opera, orchestral froth and a spectacular 20th century symphony Reviews by Bernard Hughes and Graham Rickson

The cold months of 1947 brought weeks of fuel shortages as coal routes to power stations were cut off by huge snow falls. Above: Bank clerks in London work by candlelight.

The BBC overcomes its objection to Attenborough’s teeth, the flower pot men strike gibberish gold, Blue Peter sets sail, Samuel Beckett is silenced – and a ‘dee jay’ plays some pop

Desert Islands Discs launched, a raffish bachelor made sitcom history, hoofers had a riot and a man called Alan hosted Woman’s Hour – which revealed how to keep your husband’s suits crease-free