Radio 3 celebrates opera greats in 2013

BBC Radio 3 is to celebrate three opera greats in their anniversary years, Wagner 200, Verdi 200 and Britten 100.

The station will showcase over 140 hours of opera allowing audiences the opportunity to hear the entire opera catalogues of the three composers in the anniversary year of their births.

Throughout the year Radio 3 will broadcast recordings from opera houses across the globe, including The Met, the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Vienna State Opera, La Scala and from the Aldeburgh Festival, among others.

Roger Wright, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director, BBC Proms says: “As the home of classical music, BBC Radio 3 will make 2013 a year to remember for all opera lovers. For the first time in the station’s history we will be broadcasting in one year all the operas by Verdi, Wagner and Britten, three masters of the genre, as well as providing unique contextual programming and downloadable guides for each work.”