BBC Radio 3 is to celebrate Schubert’s 215th anniversary with an eight-day marathon devoted to his music. From March 23 to 31 the station will devote its entire schedule – 200 hours of continuous broadcasting - to the composer, in celebration of the large body of work he left upon his death at the age of 31. The Spirit of Schubert Season will each day explore a different aspect of the composer’s life, and will feature all of his complete works, alongside many fragments and finished versions of incomplete compositions.

The station has also commissioned Schubert expert Brian Newbould to complete the Symphony in D, D708a to be broadcast live on March 29 in a world premiere from Salford, performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra under Juanjo Mena. The performance is one of 24 live concerts broadcast throughout the season from around the UK.

Other highlights include a daily In Tune Schubert Salon with Graham Johnson, who will play live Lieder recitals with leading singers including Ian Bostridge and Lucy Crowe; a talk by Alfred Brendel on the last three Piano Sonatas; and intimate lunchtime Schubertiades featuring artists Imogen Cooper, Melvyn Tan, Michael Collins and many of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists.

For full details click here. 

Gramophone’s March 2012 issue, which focuses on the masterpieces composed by Schubert in the final years of his life is on sale now.