RADIO CHOICE

THE STATION (RADIO 4 EXTRA, 6.30AM, 1.30PM, 8.30PM) is a strange and rather marvellous piece of radio, put together by one of the world’s greatest sound recordists, Chris Watson. Starting with a dawn solo from a robin, Chris captures the sounds and acoustics of Newcastle’s magnificent railway station. We hear staff arriving and the whole place coming to bustling life — then, after the midnight train has roared, a ghostly quiet returns. A piece of radio poetry.

THE tender choral piece The Shepherds’ Farewell is a highlight of Berlioz’s oratorio L’Enfance Du Christ, which is performed by the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales for tonight’s RADIO 3 IN CONCERT (7.30PM). This gentle song is sung as the Holy Family flee to Egypt to escape the murderous

wrath of Herod. Tonight’s concert starts a weekend of musical celebrations across the country marking the 150th anniversary of Berlioz’s death.

n TOM CHAPLIN, the lead singer of Keane, performs some of Queen’s greatest hits for this week’s FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT

(RADIO 2, 8PM). Tom (pictured) will be backed by the Leo Green Orchestra at the London Palladium, and the songs include Don’t Stop Me Now, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Under Pressure, Somebody To Love and that fine piece of musical rococo, Bohemian Rhapsody.