Another program featuring memorable commercially released piano performances from the BBC Archives this Friday (2/6, rebroadcast Saturday 2/7)

for this week’s program (2/8 3:00 p.m.), we’re heading back to the 18th century for an opera that takes place around the 12th century BC in Christoph Willibald Gluck’s “Demonfoonte” or “Demofonte” or a variety of other titles. Based on a very popular libretto by Pietro Metastasio, the opera had its premier in Milan in 1743. The story is set in ancient Thrace during a “legendary and mythical” time.

Once again, we’re getting ready for Valentine’s Day on this week’s Dress Circle (2/8 7:00 p.m.), and even if you don’t have a Valentine per se, you should really treat yourself by tuning in this week for “Non Love Love Songs” for the day that you make as special as you want. These are “Non-Love Love Songs” because they aren’t the usual “Moon – June – Spoon – I love you songs” one generally expects at this time. These, sometimes in a rather sneaky manner, hint or imply love and possible happy endings.