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Presented by Kate Molleson

As autumn gets under way, Radio 3's Forest season continues its exploration of how the darkness and mystery of the woods has inspired composers throughout time. Today's journey Into the Forest starts & ends with music by Arnold Schoenberg, with Stravinsky, Humperdinck & Schreker en route.
We open with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Philharmonic under Juanjo Mena performing Schoenberg's symphonic poem Pelleas and Melissande, the story of a doomed love affair which starts atmospherically in a forest. The afternoon continues with a concert given in Portugal by the Gulbenkian Orchestra with Matthias Pintscher as conductor - and also composer, as we hear his piece for violin and orchestra 'Mar'eh', with soloist Renaud Capucon. It's followed by Stravinsky's complete ballet version of The Firebird, a magical creature from the forest. Finally, Schoenberg's orchestration of his Verklärte Nacht - Transfigured Night - is based on Richard Dehmel's poem of the same name which opens with the words "Two people are walking through a bare, cold wood; the moon keeps pace with them and draws their gaze."

Schoenberg: Pelleas and Melisande - symphonic poem, Op. 5
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Philharmonic
Juanjo Mena, conductor

2.40pm
Pintscher: 'Mar'eh' for violin and orchestra
Stravinsky: The Firebird (complete ballet version)
Renaud Capucon, violin
Gulbenkian Orchestra
Matthias Pintscher, conductor

3.50pm
Humperdinck: Hansel und Gretel – Overture
Dresden State Orchestra
Colin Davis, conductor

Franz Schreker: Der ferne Klang: Nachtstuck - orchestral interlude
Royal Swedish Orchestra
Lawrence Renes, conductor

4.15pm
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht
German Symphony Orchestra Berlin
Riccardo Chailly, conductor