Our Classical Century
Our Classical Century is a celebration of the most memorable musical moments from 1918 – 2018. It is a season of programming on ±«Óãtv Four, ±«Óãtv Radio 3, ±«Óãtv Two and ±«Óãtv iPlayer from November 2018 through to June 2019. A host of well-loved guests & presenters guide us through the century in documentaries, features and performances.
Sir Lenny Henry is the first to join Suzy Klein in a four-part chronological series on ±«Óãtv Four as part of Our Classical Century, followed by John Simpon CBE, Joan Bakewell and Alexandra Burke. A range of guides across the season include Brian Cox and Lucy Worsley on ±«Óãtv Two, and Katie Derham, Tom Service, Josie D’Arby on ±«Óãtv Four. The ±«Óãtv Orchestras welcome television audiences into the studio for a series of broadcast ‘Discovery Concerts’ and ±«Óãtv Radio 3 celebrates the season throughout the year with coverage across the network.
:: ±«Óãtv Media Centre - 100 years of great music-making marked in landmark ±«Óãtv season
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Our Classical Century on iPlayer
Watch highlights from the season on ±«Óãtv iPlayer
Season Timeline
PART FOUR: June – July 2019 (1980s – Present)
:: ±«Óãtv Four
Our Classical Century Episode 1, 1981-1936
Wednesday 12th June at 02:00
Presented by Lenny Henry and Suzy Klein
Our Classical Century Episode 2, 1936-1953
Thursday 13th June at at 02:00
Presented by John Simpson and Suzy Klein
Our Classical Century Episode 4, 1980s-Present
Thursday 13th June at 21:00
Presented by Alexandra Burke and Suzy Klein
Our Classical Century Episode 3, 1953-1971
Friday 14th June at 03:00
Presented by Joan Bakewell and Suzy Klein
Discovering…Saariaho’s Graal Théâtre
Sunday 16th June at 23:00
Performed by the ±«Óãtv Philharmonic conducted by Ludovic Morlot
Presented by Tom Service
:: ±«Óãtv Two
Holst: The Planets with Professor Brian Cox
Thursday 6th June at 23:00
Queen Victoria and the British Musical Revolution
Saturday 15th June at 18:00
Presented by Lucy Worsley
:: ±«Óãtv Radio 3
Top 100 Countdown (76-100)
in Essential Classics
First Night of the Proms 2019
Previously on Our Classical Century
PART ONE: November – December 2018 (1918 - 1936)
:: ±«Óãtv Four
Our Classical Century Episode 1, 1918-1936
Thursday 15th November 2018 at 21:00
Presented by Suzy Klein and Sir Lenny Henry
Discovering… Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
Sunday 18th November 2018 at 20:00
Performed by the ±«Óãtv Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Dausgaard
Presented by Josie D’Arby
The Prince and the Composer
Sunday 18th November 2018 at 21:00
Prince Charles on Hubert Parry by HRH The Prince of Wales (archive)
:: ±«Óãtv Two
Holst & Vaughan Williams – Making Music English
Saturday 17th November 2018 at 21:00
Presented by Tom Service & Amanda Vickery
:: ±«Óãtv Radio 3
The Listening Service: What counts as 'classical music'?
Sunday 11th November 2018
Monday 12th November – Friday 14th December 2018
in Essential Classics
Afternoon Concert: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
Friday 23rd November at 14:00
Time Travellers podcast
Wednesday 21st November 2018
Special music-themed edition featuring material from the Our Classical Century moments on Essential Classics
PART TWO: February – March 2019 (1936 – 1953)
:: ±«Óãtv Four
Our Classical Century Episode 1 1918-1936 (repeat)
Sunday 3rd February 2019 at 02:00
Presented by Suzy Klein and Sir Lenny Henry
Our Classical Century Episode 2 - In War and Peace, 1936-1953
Thursday 7th February 2019 at 21:00
Presented by Suzy Klein and John Simpson CBE
Discovering… Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Sunday 10th February 2019 at 20:00
Performed by the ±«Óãtv National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Moritz Gnann
Presented by Katie Derham
Britten’s War Requiem: Staging a Masterpiece
Sunday 10th February 2019 at 22:30
at English National Opera
Leningrad and the Orchestra that Defied Hitler (repeat)
Monday 11th February 2019, 00:30
Dancing in the Blitz: How WW2 Made British Ballet (repeat)
Monday 11th February 2019, 01:35
:: ±«Óãtv Radio 3
Top 100 Countdown (26-50)
Monday 4th February – Friday 8th March 2019
in Essential Classics Time Traveller feature
5x Afternoon In Concerts
Fridays from February 8th
5x In Tune Mix Tapes
Mondays from February 4th
Time Travellers podcast
Wednesday 6th March 2019
Special music-themed edition featuring material from the Our Classical Century moments on Essential Classics
:: ±«Óãtv Sounds
±«Óãtv Sounds Music Mix
based on 1936-1953 section of the 100 Moments Countdown
PART THREE: April – May 2019 (1953 – 71)
:: ±«Óãtv Four
Discovering... The Bridge on the River Kwai – Malcolm Arnold
Sunday 7th April 2019 at 20:00
Performed by the ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra
Presented by Katie Derham
Our Classical Century – Sound and Vision (1953-1971)
Sunday 7th April 2019 at 21:00
Presented by Joan Bakewell and Suzy Klein
Our Classical Century Episode 1, 1918-1936 (repeat)
Tuesday 9th April 2019 at 02:00
Presented by Suzy Klein and Sir Lenny Henry
Our Classical Century Episode 2 - In War and Peace, 1936-1953 (repeat)
Wednesday 10th April at 02:00
Presented by Suzy Klein and John Simpson CBE
Janet Baker In Her Own Words
Sunday 14th April 2019 at 21:00
The great British classical singer discusses the excitements and pitfalls of her long career
:: ±«Óãtv Radio 3
Top 100 Countdown (51-75)
Weekdays from 9am to 12 noon, Monday 1st April – Friday 3rd May 2019
Radio 3's Essential Classics will be exploring 1954-1979 during Part 3 of the season
Afternoon Concerts
Fridays from 2pm, 5th April – 3rd May 2019
A piece from Our Classical Century explored in full as part of the programme
:: ±«Óãtv Sounds
The Music of Our Classical Century
Weekly throughout April
Full works and excerpts published online throughout the season
Our Classical Century Mix
Monday 1st April
A selection of classical greats from the last 100 years
