OPERA NIGHT WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
Paul Herriott brings us Irish National Opera's gala evening of powerful and emotional operatic masterpieces in a captivating concert recorded at the National Concert Hall, featuring the exceptional talents of soprano Sinéad Campbell Wallace, tenor Ryan Capozzo and baritone Yngve Søberg, conducted by the dynamic Keri-Lynn Wilson. Paul brings us through the operatic landscapes of Verdi and Wagner with some exhilarating performances.
(First broadcast 13th September 2025)
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 29th November, 7pm-10pm
VESPERTINE WITH ELLEN CRANITCH
A bird's eye view on tonight's Vespertine. I'll be looking at two new albums, both inspired by birds, their song and their important place in our world. Through The Storm is Carole Nelson's exploration of the songs of swallows and the Kaua'i 'ó'ó bird, whose final plaintive song was recorded in 1987. And hardanger maestra, Benedicte Maurseth was inspired to include birdsong in her compositions after a series of open air gigs in parks, where the birds provided a chatty accompaniment to the music. Her album Hárr is lyrical, atmospheric and intimate. I'll be dipping in to both tonight.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 29th November, 10pm-1am
THE LYRIC FEATURE
Our Half Lost Cousins
Theo Dorgan explores poetic, mythical, historical and cultural links between Ireland and Galicia in north-west Spain. In A Coruña, David Clark describes how the Celtic Revival inspired the Galician Revival, and in Santiago de Compostela Manuel Gago traces our shared cultural links back to neolithic times.
In the present day, Keith Payne is fostering exchanges between Irish and Galician poets, Su Garrido Pombo is reimagining traditional Galician music, and in Ribeira, Brídín Cannon and Jack O'Keefe bring currachs to a Traditional Boat Festival. Theo discovers that Galicians know a lot about Ireland, but we have a lot to learn about Galicia.
Produced by Claire Cunningham.
Sound supervision was by Tinpot Productions
A Rockfinch Production for RTÉ lyric fm supported by RTÉ IRP and the Coimisiún Na Meán Sound and Vision funding scheme.
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 30th November, 6pm-7pm
AMBIENT ORBIT
A carefully crafted mix of ambient sounds and field recordings that allows the listener to reset and escape the noise of everyday life.
RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 1st December, 12am-1am
NIALL CARROLL'S CLASSICAL DAYTIME
Niall Carroll plays music from the heart of the classical repertoire, with Sounds on Screen, a piece from the big or small screen each day at 11am, and each day at midday one of Niall's Five of a Kind. This week Niall chooses five pieces by the American composer Aaron Copland.
RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 1st December, 10am-1am
Photo | Getty Images
THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN
On today's Full Score concert, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra performs a programme of Fischer, Bach and Telemann with Gottfried von der Goltz directing from the violin. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer: Suite in D minor, Op. 1/4, from 'Le journal du printemps'
Johann Christoph Pez: Concerto Pastorale in F
Johann Sigismund Kusser: Overture in G minor, from 'Apollon enjoué'
Johann Ludwig Bach: Overture in G
Georg Philipp Telemann: Concerto in E minor for Flute and Violin
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Gottfried von der Goltz (violin, direction)
RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 1st December, 1pm-4pm
LORCAN MURRAY’S CLASSIC DRIVE
Classic Drive brings you the perfect musical soundtrack, including Lorcan's Pick of the Week: Louis Lortie plays Chopin, Vol. 8 - Mazurkas; Rondo; Variations; Cello Sonata; Introduction and Polonaise brillante. Louis Lortie's programme for this eighth and final volume of Chopin spans the composer's entire career, from the teenage Rondo, Op. 1, through to his final published piece, the Cello Sonata, Op. 65. And with news, weather and sports, Lorcan's with you all the way!
RTÉ lyric fm, Tuesday 2nd December, 4pm-7pm
MARTY IN THE MORNING
Join Marty live from Vienna, City of Music, to bring you a magical morning of music, culture and festive charm! Tune in as Marty waltzes through the heart of Austria's capital celebrating the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II, with an exclusive visit to the Vienna State Opera and Musikverein, plus a visit to the famous Christmas markets. It's Vienna like you've never heard it before!
RTÉ lyric fm, Wednesday 3rd December, 7am-10am
THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN
In our Full Score Concert today, the Banbha Quartet perform in a concert recorded as part of the National String Quartet Foundation Spring Series 2023, featuring works by Haydn, Bacewicz, Jane O'Leary and Dvořák. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.
Josef Haydn: String Quartet in D major, Op. 20 No. 4
Grazyna Bacewicz: String Quartet No. 4
Jane O'Leary: Forever begin... (Fanfare for a New Year)
Antonin Dvořák: String Quartet in F major, Op.96 'American'
Banbha Quartet
RTÉ lyric fm, Thursday 4th December, 1pm-4pm
LORCAN MURRAY’S CLASSIC DRIVE
Lorcan Murray presents Classic Drive’s Christmas Special, live with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, New Dublin Voices led by Bernie Sherlock, soprano Amy Ní Fhearraigh, and tenor Dean Power as they join forces to bring you the best of Christmas music and carols, including classical, popular, and traditional Irish melodies. Lorcan brings you on a musical journey through Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, to classic songs White Christmas and The Christmas Song. And it wouldn’t be Christmas without choral song; New Dublin Voices perform the haunting Irish carol Don Oiche Úd i mBeithil amongst other favourites.
Join Lorcan and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra as they celebrate through music, in those magical weeks before Christmas.
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 5th December, 4pm-7pm
RTÉ LYRIC LIVE WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
Anja Bihlmaier brings her illuminating insights into the music of Mozart and Bruckner with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland for an evening of grand drama and immense emotions. In the interval feature Séamus Crimmins considers Bruckner as 'a believer without compare' and shares some thoughts on Bruckner's music, his character and his development, all within the context of his fervent Christian faith.
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 15
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
Anja Bihlmaier, conductor
Boris Giltburg, piano
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 5th December, 7pm-10pm
Photo | Nikolaj Lund