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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3's Composers Of The Year marks major anniversaries for Henry Purcell (1659-1695), George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) and Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) throughout 2009 and is Radio 3's most ambitious year of classical music programming.

Among the extensive plans for the year are:

• in-depth weekend and week-long focuses, which build on the success of previous initiatives such as The Beethoven Experience, Bach Christmas and The Chopin Experience
• broadcasts of major performances by leading artists, ensembles, orchestras and opera companies taking place throughout the UK and Europe
• specially-staged concerts and events
• commissions of new music inspired by the anniversary composers
• features, essays, discussion, drama and debate, which give listeners insight and context to their music
• a major new four-part television series for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two called The Birth Of British Music presented by Charles Hazlewood
• a dedicated new website for the composers

Roger Wright, Controller of Radio 3, says: "Building on the success of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3's ground-breaking composer experiences, we are thrilled to celebrate the work of these four great composers.

"By telling their story through the year, and by placing their music in context, we can open up the worlds of much-loved composers to both new and existing listeners alike. This promises to bring much pleasurable listening to a wide audience, with the rich background experience that only Radio 3 can offer."

Composer highlights:

Purcell

The main focus of the Purcell celebrations is two weekends in March and November, marking 350 years since his birth. Highlights include two special editions of Choral Evensong, the first of which comes from Westminster Abbey, where Purcell is buried; much of his keyboard music specially performed by Radio 3's first period-instrument New Generation Artist, Mahan Esfahani; and top performances of his best-loved operas including King Arthur from the Barbican, The Fairy Queen from Glyndebourne and Dido And Aeneas from the Royal Opera House (which will also be televised alongside Handel's Acis and Galatea).

Handel

Handel is commemorated with a week of in-depth programming surrounding the 250th anniversary of his death (14 April). Highlights include the first complete broadcast cycle of his 40-plus operas, on Thursday afternoons throughout the year (except during the Proms season); Messiah specially mounted at Westminster Abbey on the anniversary of his death; a concert of his "Eight Great" Harpsichord Suites played by Laurence Cummings, recorded at the Handel House Museum; and the opera Acis And Galatea in Wayne McGregor's new production for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden (also for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four).

Haydn

Among the highlights are all 104 of his symphonies, broadcast every Wednesday and Friday morning throughout the year; a Haydn Day from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on 31 May, the 200th anniversary of his death; a series of 17 concerts devoted to his mature string quartets from Wigmore Hall; and a series of Essays exploring different aspects of the composer – from his humour, his faith and fascination with exotic musical instruments to the unlikely story of how his head became detached from his body shortly after he died!

Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn's five symphonies are broadcast around the 200th anniversary of his birth (2-6 February), while explorations of his life and work dominate Radio 3's schedule for a weekend in May, when, among other highlights, choirs across the UK give performances of O For The Wings Of The Dove – as well as a new response to Songs Without Words from six leading young composers. There is also a major performance of Elijah and a live In Tune from Birmingham Town Hall, where Elijah was premiered.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two Television – The Birth Of British Music

The four anniversary composers are also the subject of a new four-part series for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two for spring 2009, The Birth Of British Music. Here Charles Hazlewood tells the story of the building of our national identity through music between 1650 and 1850.

Each episode focuses on one of the composers and, though only Purcell was born in Britain, Charles's journey shows how the music of all four composers was fully absorbed into British musical life, forming part of the cultural melting-pot that makes us who we are.

Charles Hazlewood also conducts his own ensemble, Army Of Generals, with soloists including Sir John Tomlinson, Danielle de Niese and Ian Bostridge, as he explores the transformation of the composer from servant of the King to celebrity idol.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four will televise Wayne McGregor's new productions of Handel's Acis And Galatea and Purcell's Dido And Aeneas from the Royal Opera House.

Online – bbc.co.uk/composers

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3's Composers Of The Year has a dedicated interactive website featuring Radio 3's Composers Of The Year, and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two's The Birth Of British Music. Highlights of the site will include "what's on" guides; video interviews and workshops; music streams; picture galleries; and blogs offering listeners and viewers the chance to comment and share knowledge around the four composers.

Radio 3 Publicity