Just into the inbox, a press release from Radio 3 outlining plans for next year. They have anointed Purcell, Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn "composers of the year" since all of them have major anniversaries in 2009. We will not (you may be relieved to hear) be getting "complete works" adventures with these composers, as we have previously done with Beethoven, Bach, Webern and Chopin. But there will be broadcasts of all Handel's operas, plus a special Handel week in April; the complete Haydn symphonies, plus his "mature" string quartets in 17 concerts from Wigmore Hall; and Purcell will get performances of King Arthur, Dido and Aeneas, and The Fairy Queen, plus an airing of "much" of his keyboard music.
Sounds like good stuff – only surely it's time for another free downloads offer, as when, in 2005, Radio 3 gave away Beethoven's complete symphonies as part of its broadcast of the composer's complete works. Come on Roger Wright, do your bit against capitalism and spread the music for free!
