In celebration of the 30th anniversary of BBC Radio 3's Private Passions programme, presented by composer Michael Berkeley since 15 April 1995, we have created a playlist which comprises some of the illustrious guests' choices from the Early, Baroque and late 18th-century repertoire: 30 tracks to mark 30 years.

From Cardoso to Corelli, and Purcell to Pergolesi, explore the individual tracks below, or on our Spotify Playlist - Private Passions: 30 Years.

1. Cardoso: Missa pro defunctis a 6 – Ia. Introitus – Requiem Aeternam 1

The Tallis Scholars | Peter Phillips
chosen by Michael Berkeley for this playlist.

2. Purcell: Fantasia No. 5 in B-flat, Z736

Chelys Consort of Viols
chosen by Elvis Costello, singer-songwriter and producer.
(15 Apr 1995)

3. Monteverdi: Vespers (1610) – I: Deus in adiutorium

Dunedin Consort | John Butt
chosen by Sir David Attenborough, broadcaster, biologist and natural historian.
(6 Apr 1996)

4. JS Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 – III: Allegro

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
chosen by Dame Judi Dench, actor (Shakespeare in Love; Mrs Brown; Iris; Philomena).
(3 Oct 2004)

5. Leclair: Scylla and Glaucus – Premier air de démons

English Baroque Soloists | Sir John Eliot Gardiner
chosen by King Charles III (then HRH Prince of Wales).
(24 Aug 2019)

6. Schütz: St Matthew Passion – Finale: Ehre sei dir, Christi

Schütz Choir of London | Sir Roger Norrington
chosen by Sir Roger Norrington, conductor and Continuo Foundation Patron.
(31 Jan 1998)

7. JS Bach: Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue in D minor, BWV 903

Richard Egarr
chosen by Douglas Adams, author, humourist and screenwriter (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy).
(13 Sep 1997)

8. Vivaldi: Stabat Mater – I: Stabat Mater dolorosa

Carlo Vistoli | Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin | Georg Kallweit
chosen by Anthony Minghella, film director and screenwriter (Truly, Madly, Deeply; The Talented Mr Ripley; The English Patient; Cold Mountain).
(21 Mar 1998)

9. Salieri: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C – III: Andantino

Andreas Staier | Concerto Köln
chosen by Sir David Suchet, actor (The Way We Live Now; Agatha Christie’s Hercules Poirot).
(3 Apr 1999)

10. Vivaldi: Manchester Sonata No. 1 in C, RV 3 – III: Largo

Romanesca | Andrew Manze
chosen by Vikram Seth, novelist and poet (A Suitable Boy; The Golden Gate; An Equal Music).
(10 Apr 1999)

11. Beethoven: Piano Trio in D, Op 70 No. 1 Ghost – I: Allegro vivace e con brio

Rautio Piano Trio
chosen by Will Self, writer, journalist and broadcaster (The Book of Dave; Umbrella).
(29 Sep 2001)

12. JS Bach: Partita No. 1 in B flat, BWV 825 – I: Praeludium

Mahan Esfahani
chosen by Zoe Wanamaker, actor (National Theatre; Royal Shakespeare Company; BBC; ITV).
(28 Sep 2003)

13. JS Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV 232 – Agnus Dei: Air

James Bowman | The Sixteen | Harry Christophers
chosen by Alain de Botton, philosopher and author (Essays in love; Religion for Atheists).
(6 Jun 2004)

14. Palestrina: Motet ‘Si ignores te’ (Book IV, No. 5)

Oxford Camerata | Jeremy Summerly
chosen by Harrison Birtwistle (1934–2022), composer.
(31 Oct 2004)

15. Morales: Officium defunctorum 4v – ‘Parce mihi, Domine’

The Monteverdi Choir | Sir John Eliot Gardiner
chosen by Miranda Richardson, actor (Damage; Tom & Viv; Enchanted April).
(31 Jul 2005)

16. JS Bach: Harpsichord Concerto in A, BWV 1055 – II: Larghetto

Steven Devine | Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
chosen by Joanna David, actor (Miss Marple; Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility).
(15 Jul 2007)

17. Telemann: Concerto in B flat for three oboes, three violins & basso continuo, TWV 44:43 – III: Allegro

Musica Antiqua Köln | Reinhard Goebel
chosen by Professor Robin Wilson, mathematician (Balliol College, Oxford; University of Pennsylvania).
(9 Sep 2007)

18. JS Bach: Cantata, BWV 82: Ich habe genug – I: ‘Ich habe genug‘

Philippe Jaroussky | Freiburger Barockorchester | Petra Mullejans
chosen by Edmund de Waal, contemporary artist, potter, and author.
(18 Apr 2010)

19. Purcell: Come, ye sons of art away, Z323 – III: ‘Sound the trumpet, sound’

Michael Chance & Timothy Wilson | The English Concert | Trevor Pinnock
chosen by Sir Michael Morpurgo, author, poet and playwright (War Horse).
(2 May 2010)

20. Handel: Messiah – ‘How beautiful are the feet’

Judith Nelson | Academy of Ancient Music | Christopher Hogwood
chosen by Baroness Shirley Williams (1930–2021), politician and academic.
(31 Oct 2010)

21. Mozart: Così fan tutte – Act I Scene II: ‘Soave sia il vento’

Hillevi Martinpelto, Alison Hagley & Thomas Allen

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment | Simon Rattle
chosen by Mike Leigh, film director, screenwriter and producer (Secrets & Lies; Vera Drake).
(15 May 2011)

22. Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K626 – III: Sequenz, Lacrimosa

The Hanover Band & Chorus | Roy Goodman
chosen by Dan Stevens, actor (Downton Abbey).
(11 Dec 2011)

23. Handel: Rinaldo – ‘Lascia ch’io pianga’

Cecilia Bartoli | Academy of Ancient Music | Christopher Hogwood
chosen by Shirley Collins, folk singer and instrumentalist.
(31 Jan 2016)

24. Gesualdo: Madrigals, Book III – ‘Non t’amo, o voce ingrata’

Delitiæ Musicæ | Marco Longhini
chosen by Alfred Brendel, pianist, poet, and composer.
(31 Dec 2017)

25. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Spring, I: Allegro

Rachel Podger | Brecon Baroque
chosen by Isabel Allende, author (The House of the Spirits; The City of the Beasts).
(15 Mar 2020)

26. Hildegard von Bingen: O gloriosissimi lux (Antiphone to the Angels)

Sequentia | Benjamin Bagby
chosen by Peter Stanford, writer, biographer and presenter.
(14 Jun 2020)

27. Corelli: Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No 7 – I: Vivace

Tafelmusik | Jeanne Lamon
chosen by Gretchen Gerzina, American author and academic (Black England: Life Before Emancipation).
(4 Oct 2020)

28. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater in F minor – I: Stabat Mater dolorosa

Les Talents Lyriques | Christophe Rousset
chosen by Nadifa Mohamed, novelist (Black Mamba Boy; The Fortune Man).
(17 Jan 2021)

29. Henry VIII – Pastyme with good company

Oxford Camerata | Jeremy Summerly
chosen by Helen Macdonald, author and naturalist (H is for Hawk).
(16 May 2021)

30. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas – ‘Thy hand, Belinda… When I am laid in Earth’

Joyce di Donato | Il Pomo d’Oro | Maxim Emelyanychev
chosen by Rupert Everett, actor (My Best Friend’s Wedding; The Happy Prince).
(17 Nov 2024)