Radio 3 introduces a new world service

THE SOUND of Mahler or Mussorgsky will be replaced on Radio 3 next July with strains of Albanian folk music and the beat of African drums.

Radio 3 is broadcasting Womad, the world music festival, but the station's new controller has assured his listeners that he is not dumbing down. In fact, he says, he is increasing its heavyweight output.

Roger Wright announced a greater commitment to live music and drama and confirmed his commitment to Music Matters, the much-loved music current affairs show. His pledges will please Radio 3 fans who were dismayed at changes made by the previous controller Nicholas Kenyon, who is now running the BBC's Proms and millennium projects. Kenyon stood accused of trying to win audiences from Classic FM and "dumbing down" the station's content in the process. Wright said: "There's an increase in live and specially recorded music, the sort of thing Radio 3 does uniquely. And we'll continue to make full use of the BBC orchestra and singers." Two losses to the schedule are Artist of the Week and Sound Stories which will be replaced by the new live performance slot, kicking off with concerts from the Edinburgh Festival. New drama has been commissioned. Wright said: "When I took over three months ago, partly because I am known as a classical music person, I found myself thinking a lot about drama." The results are promising. Anne Michaels's prize-winning novel, Fugitive Pieces, has been recorded for Radio 3 entirely on location on a Greek island, while Juliet Stevenson is to star in Howard Barker's House of Correction.

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