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Thank you Karla. Took a long time to find the motif.
Nice construction

Shelley's To a Skylark, for example, is also a very famous work of its kind, more famous than this week's theme, but it too would be 'niche'. Ozymandias, on the other hand, would not be 'niche' because it is widely taught in schools. Similarly, a selection of Shelley's poems, would make a broader theme.
It's also unusual to have to refer to a single line in a work, where the line is not reasonably common knowledge (as an online search will confirm). It's not exactly: 'Hail to thee, blithe spirit...'

I enjoyed this. A nice elaborate journey to the motif. It actually felt like less of a niche than some this year. Thanks, Karla.

As per Barnacle. 90% of crossword end games appear to be 'niche'. Maybe 'niche' means 'within my sphere of interest'.

In this case I think considerably less niche than Shelley. 🙂

Thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle. The Listener and the Inquisitor have been excellent this week.

The Magpie this month, however, has left me standing at the altar at the last minute for most of them.

At the risk of getting into an argument, I think my explanation at post 32 makes it clear that this has nothing to do with 'within my sphere of interest'.
I certainly do not agree that 90% of endgames are 'niche'. I can usually complete endgames just from logic and my own general knowledge.

Enjoyed this, and (unusually for me) finished within a day!

For what it’s worth, most Listener themes are new to me (science and maths being a possible exception). The themes tend to skew towards films, songs, etc from before I was born, or literature I have nothing more than a passing familiarity with. Enjoy learning about new things though, and if the endgame is fairly signposted can usually get there!

And this week’s offering was completely new to me (although I’ve of course heard of the work’s producers)

Mack, at the risk of agreeing with you, I'd only add that it varies with each individual's general knowledge. The donkey trick puzzle last year was a good example of something I'd never heard of but was happy to discover. As an arts graduate, I particularly enjoy discovering the scientific and mathematical subjects.

In 34a, I'm a bit confused as to why they chose that particular third word, as the 4th word could then be extra and you'd still get the correct answer to the clue. Obviousy I know it wouldn't work thematically, but why pick a word that gives the same first letter to the answer?

Sorry, I meant

34d - Colour somewhat spoilt telecast in Gettysburg (5)