THE HAMILTON SCORES
Let the Hamilton Scores become one of your regular weekend fixtures as George kicks off an unbeatable line-up of musical greats and tales from his travels.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 21st March, 10am-1pm
OPERA NIGHT WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
The Metropolitan Opera New York presents Wagner's Tristan and Isolde
After years of anticipation, a truly unmissable event arrives as the electrifying Lise Davidsen tackles one of the ultimate roles for dramatic soprano: the Irish princess Isolde in Wagner's transcendent meditation on love and death. Heroic tenor Michael Spyres stars opposite Davidsen as the love-drunk Tristan. The momentous occasion also marks the advent of a new, Met-debut staging by Yuval Sharon, the first American to direct an opera at Bayreuth as well as Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin's first time leading Tristan und Isolde at the Met. Mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova reprises her signature portrayal of Brangäne, alongside bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny, who sings Kurwenal after celebrated Met appearances in Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer and Ring cycle. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green makes an important role debut as King Marke.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 21st March, 7pm – 1am
Photo | Met Opera
THE LYRIC FEATURE
The Blind Poetess of Ulster
Born in Stranorlar in County Donegal in 1816, Frances Browne was blinded by smallpox at an early age, but despite this became a prolific and well-known Victorian author of poetry, novels, essays, and a best-selling collection of children's stories. In recent times there has been a revival of interest in her life and work. There is now an annual Frances Browne Literary Festival, and a statue has been erected in Stranorlar's Historical Park. Shirley-Anne Godfrey, who is both a fellow Stranorlar woman and a fellow writer presents this portrait of Frances Brownes, Ulster's blind poetess.
Producer: Claire Cunningham
Sound design by Regan Hutchins
A Rockfinch Production for RTÉ lyric fm supported by RTÉ Independent Radio Productions and Coimisiún Na Meán's Sound and Vision broadcasting funding scheme.
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 22nd March, 6pm-7pm
VESPERTINE WITH ELLEN CRANITCH
'Why waste money on therapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass?' Good question, Michale Torke. And if anyone deserves not one, but two birthdays, it's J.S. Bach. Born on this day 1685, (and baptised on 31st) his music is the yardstick by which all other is measured. Of the hundreds of thousands of recordings of his music, I've whittled it all down to fit a three hour Bachfest tonight on Vespertine. Music from Aoife Ní Bhriain, Radio String Quartet, The Modern Jazz Quartet playing the Brandenburg Concertos, Al Di Meola diving into the flute sonatas, and some excerpts from the towering St. Matthew Passion. Blow out 341 candles tonight, and thank the universe for the healing and health that comes with listening to the master.
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 22nd March, 9pm-12am
LORCAN MURRAY'S CLASSIC DRIVE
Classic Drive brings you the perfect musical soundtrack, including Lorcan's Pick of the Week: Puccini: Orchestral Music, Sinfonia of London, conducted by John Wilson. This album features rare instrumental works from the Italian composer's early career, including Preludio sinfonico and Capriccio sinfonico. And with news, weather and sports, Lorcan's with you all the way!
RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 23rd March, 4pm-7pm
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 German romantic era composer Robert Schumann.
RTÉ lyric fm, Tuesday 24th March, 10am-1pm
THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN
Enjoy a lunchtime treat in our live concert with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and pianist Finghin Collins in a programme devoted entirely to Mozart. Piano Concertos No. 12 in A and No. 21 in C showcase Mozart at his most elegant. From sparkling dialogue between piano and orchestra to the famous serene slow movement of K467, these two works show different sides of Mozart’s style.
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12 in A, K414
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K467
Finghin Collins, piano
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
RTÉ lyric fm, Wednesday 25th March, 1pm-4pm
THE BLUE OF THE NIGHT WITH BERNARD CLARKE
The Blue of the Night connects different musical landscapes - bringing you through centuries, genres and soundscapes.
RTÉ lyric fm, Thursday 26th March, 9pm-12am
MARTY IN THE MORNING
Join Marty Whelan for the perfect morning mix - great chat, great music, the latest news and traffic, plus a visit from chef Neven Maguire with cooking tips and a new recipe.
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 27th March, 7am-10am
RTÉ LYRIC LIVE WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
On tonight's programme Paul Herriott showcases the work of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with two concerts recorded in the autumn of 2025. First Drogheda Classical Music presents the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in a concert recorded in St Peter's Church with Mia Cooper leading the orchestra in a programme including Haydn, Vivaldi, Rossini and Schubert with soloists Emma Roche, Shaun Hooke and Eamonn Nolan. Then Paul Herriott transports us to the National Concert Hall in Dublin where Gavin Maloney conducts the RTÉ CO in music by Beethoven and Schubert and the orchestra is joined by renowned Irish pianist Finghin Collins for Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor.
Haydn: Symphony No. 6 'Le Matin'
Vivaldi: Piccolo Concerto in C
Vivaldi: Concerto for two Trumpets in D
Rossini: String Sonata No. 1 in G
Schubert: Symphony No. 5
Mia Cooper Leader/Director
Emma Roche, piccolo
Shaun Hooke, Eamonn Nolan, trumpets*
Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus Overture
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Gavin Maloney, conductor
Finghin Collins, piano
(First broadcast - 9th January 2026)
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 27th March, 7pm-10pm
