'I get to look smart and sophisticated'

Rose Matafeo has curated a fantasy classical music concert for Radio 3.

The stand-up is presenting one of fiveCelebrity Choice editions of Radio 3 In Concert  to air next month.

She said the opportunity was ‘a treat, particularly at a time where the shared live concert experience isn’t possible’, adding: ‘It’s also going to make me seem very smart and sophisticated to all of my friends and I will brag about it for years to come.’

Her episode airs on Thursday March 4 at 7.30pm, featuring music from the BBC Experience Classical Archive.

Her selection comprises Elgar’s Cockaigne (In London Town), Ravel’s Jeux d’Eau, Debussy’s La Mer. Delius: On  Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring;  Respighi’s Pines Of Rome, Bernstein’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano; Gershwin’s An American In Paris and the Prelude and Liebestod from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.

A different celebrity will be in conversation with  presenter Sean Rafferty each day of the week, with Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell, actor and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, actress Joanna Lumley and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter also taking part.

BBC Radio 3 controller Alan Davey says:  ‘We are thrilled that guests from other spheres have agreed to create their ideal concerts for us and to share the emotion, solace, refuge and joy that classical music has brought them.

‘BBC Radio 3 is always keen to open the treasure chest of classical music to new audiences and to find imaginative ways of bringing great music in new ways to existing audiences.  We hope Celebrity Choice does both.’

The Celebrity Choice programmes will be available on BBC Sounds for 30 days after initial broadcast.

Matafeo's stand-up show Horndog is currently available on iPlayer, and will be screened on BBC One this Wednesday   at 10:45pm, while her debut romcom Starstruck, is set to launch later this year on BBC Three and HBO Max.

Published: 22 Feb 2021