Highlights - Saturday 21st February - Friday 27th February

WEEKEND CLASSICS WITH CLAUDIA BOYLE

Soprano Claudia Boyle sets the mood for a relaxing weekend. Whether you are catching up on things, chilling out or enjoying leisure activities, unwind to some of the world's most beautiful classical music. Claudia promises lots of treats on the show including her Musical Menu where she looks at Classical Music connections with food and drink; she will have many musical greats on the show (excluding herself!) in Divas and Divos. There will be something for the little ones in the house in Claudia's Kids' Classics plus the show will be topped off with much loved melodies from across the genres and new releases including Boyne, the new recording from Laoise O'Brien that combines centuries-old melodies with the music of the natural world around the River Boyne. Join Claudia Saturday and Sunday from 4pm as she brings you the ultimate weekend playlist.

RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 21st February, 4pm-6pm

OPERA NIGHT WITH PAUL HERRIOTT

The Metropolitan Opera New York presents Puccini's Manon Lescaut

Powerful soprano Mirella Freni takes on Puccini's fiery and defiant heroine in this archival production from 1990 of the opera chosen by Asmik Grigorian. Tenor Peter Dvorsky is Chevalier des Grieux, who pursues Manon beyond the point of no return, and Nello Santi conducts.

RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 21st February, 7pm-10pm

VOX NOSTRA WITH VLAD SMISHKEWYCH

Isabella Leonarda was one of the most important composers of sacred music in the latter 17th century and perhaps the most notable among the female composers of her time. Even though she was already composing by age 20, four years after she entered the Convent of St. Ursula in Novara which would be her home until her death in 1704, she didn't compose regularly until she was over the age of 50. However, once she was on a roll, there was no stopping: all but a few dozen of her works date from after 1670. We'll get to hear from her many motets, psalm settings, vocal trios, plus movements from her Concerted Mass, Op.4, Naturally, she'll feature on the Sunday sonata as well, especially since she is the first woman composer to have sonatas published under her name. We'll also get a listen to the music of her teacher, the talented but little-known composer Gasparo Casati.

RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 22nd February, 7am-10am

THE LYRIC FEATURE

Out of The Marvellous

Out of the Marvellous asks what can artists learn from the monastic way of life? Writer Sara Baume visits St. Mary's Cistercian Abbey in Glencairn, Co. Waterford. She speaks to the nuns there about prayer, silence and mystery and hears from other artists about how these themes also inform their work.

Exploring the grounds of the Abbey with her friend, the radio producer Regan Hutchins, Sara takes stock of her own spiritual crisis and finds inspiration from the women who live and work there. In the process, the pair discover that the prayerful life and the artistic life have much in common.

Presented by Sara Baume and Regan Hutchins
Out Of The Marvellous is a Regan Hutchins production for RTÉ lyric fm made with funding from RTÉ Independent Radio Productions and from the Coimisiún na Meán Sound and Vision Fund

RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 22nd February, 6pm-7pm

LORCAN MURRAY'S CLASSIC DRIVE

Classic Drive brings you the perfect musical soundtrack, including Lorcan's Pick of the Week: Jane Austen's Piano by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason. Jeneba has chosen Händel's Suite in B flat major/Menuet and his Suite in D minor/Allemande for inclusion on the recording. Jane Austen would have been very familiar with Händel's music, as his works were regularly featured at the local music festival and several arrangements of his vocal works formed part of her family's own personal music collection. And with news, weather and sports, Lorcan's with you all the way!

RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 23rd February, 4pm-7pm

THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN

Today's Full Score concert features a recent performance by the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Purcell's dramatic Abdelazer draws you into a world of baroque splendour, while Dvorak's much-loved Serenade unfolds with lyrical warmth. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.

RTÉ lyric fm, Tuesday 24th February, 1pm-4pm

NIALL CARROLL’S CLASSICAL DAYTIME

Niall Carroll plays music from the heart of the classical repertoire with Sounds on Screen a piece from either the big or the small screen at 11am, and at midday Five of a Kind. This week Niall chooses five pieces by the Irish composer, and originator of the nocturne, John Field.

RTÉ lyric fm, Wednesday 25th February, 10am-1pm

MARTY IN THE MORNING

Join Marty as he takes the chill out of your early mornings with music, news, weather and travel updates.

RTÉ lyric fm, Thursday 26th February, 7am-10am

THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN

Under the baton of conductor Lorenzo Viotti, known for his captivating interpretations, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra presents two Romantic masterpieces: Camille Saint-Saëns' Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1 in A minor and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic suite, Scheherazade. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.

Anton Webern: Im Sommerwind
Camille Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor. Op. 33
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35, symphonic suite
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Lorenzo Viotti (conductor)
Sol Gabetta (cello)

RTÉ lyric fm, Thursday 26th February, 1pm-4pm

AEDÍN IN THE AFTERNOON

Coming up this afternoon, Stephen Hough as pianist and composer, gorgeous songs from Joni Mitchell, Laura Mvula, Laufey, Sarah Vaughan and Joan Baez. Irish gems from Zoë Conway, Laoise Kelly and The Gloaming, and a new release from Trio Barclay; Beyond the Pacific, which features a selection of never-before-recorded works by living composers including Sheridan Seyfried and John Wineglass.

RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 27th February, 1pm-4pm

RTÉ LYRIC LIVE WITH PAUL HERRIOTT

Join Paul Herriott as he brings us one of the greatest violinists of our time, Maxim Vengerov as he joins forces with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland for Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto under the baton of Kristian Sallinen.

Sibelius: En Saga
Bartók: Divertimento for Strings
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
Kristian Sallinen, conductor
Maxim Vengerov, violin

RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 27th February, 7pm-10pm