Composer of the Week
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09-Jan-2026
Composer of the Week - Aaron Copland (1900-1990): 04. Friends and Foes
Copland makes allies and enemies. With Donald Macleod.
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07-Jan-2026
Composer of the Week - Aaron Copland (1900-1990): 03. An American Sound
Copland forges a bold new American voice. With Donald Macleod
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06-Jan-2026
Composer of the Week - Aaron Copland (1900-1990): 02. Aaron in Paris
Copland meets Nadia Boulanger and faces the critics. With Donald Macleod.
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05-Jan-2026
Composer of the Week - Aaron Copland (1900-1990): 01. In the Beginning
Copland’s American dream starts in Brooklyn. With Donald Macleod
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26-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - A Georgian Christmas: 05. Servants and Soldiers
Donald Macleod discovers the seasonal customs and Christmas music of late-Georgian Britain
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25-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - A Georgian Christmas: 04. Family Entertainments
Donald Macleod discovers the seasonal customs and Christmas music of late-Georgian Britain
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24-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - A Georgian Christmas: 03. Church and Country
Donald Macleod discovers the seasonal customs and Christmas music of late-Georgian Britain
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23-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - A Georgian Christmas: 02. Winter Balls
Donald Macleod discovers the seasonal customs and Christmas music of late-Georgian Britain
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22-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - A Georgian Christmas: 01. At home with Jane Austen
Donald Macleod discovers the seasonal customs and Christmas music of late-Georgian Britain
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19-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953): 05. The Prodigal Son
Prokofiev encounters snow, Shakespeare and the Soviet Union. With Kate Molleson.
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18-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953): 04. Love, Loss and Three Oranges
Kate Molleson tells Prokofiev’s life-changing love story.
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18-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953): 03. To New York with Love
Kate Molleson follows Prokofiev’s journey from Russian storms to Broadway lights.
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16-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953): 02. From Duckling to Swan
Kate Molleson follows Prokofiev from bleak classrooms to concert platforms.
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15-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953): 01. The Soviet Storyteller
Kate Molleson unwraps Prokofiev’s childhood of fairytales and fantasy.
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06-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - John Rutter (born 1945): 05. At Home
Donald Macleod speaks to John Rutter about new ventures and the sanctuary of home.
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04-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - John Rutter (born 1945): 04. Making Peace
Donald Macleod and John Rutter discuss composing during life’s most difficult times.
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03-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - John Rutter (born 1945): 03. Across the Pond
John Rutter talks to Donald Macleod about his formative experiences in America.
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02-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - John Rutter (born 1945): 02. Opportunity Knocks
John Rutter talks about his love of Cambridge, the city where he got his big break.
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01-Dec-2025
Composer of the Week - John Rutter (born 1945): 01. London Town
John Rutter shares memories of his musical childhood.
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28-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Roach (1924-2007): 05. Late Collaborations
Kate Molleson explores the many collaborations of Max Roach’s later decades.
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27-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Roach (1924-2007): 04. M'Boom
Kate Molleson explores Max Roach’s percussion ensemble M'boom.
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26-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Roach (1924-2007): 03. We Insist!
Kate Molleson explores drummer and composer Max Roach as a political force.
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25-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Roach (1924-2007): 02. Bandleader
Kate Molleson follows drummer and composer Max Roach into the 1950s.
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24-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Roach (1924-2007): 01. Coppin' the Bop
Kate Molleson explores the life and work of drummer and composer Max Roach.
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22-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 05. Wagner in Wahnfried
Wagner builds a theatre, a legacy, and a home. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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20-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 04. A Royal Affair
Wagner finds a prince, a muse, and a scandal. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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19-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 03. Wagner in Wunderland
Wagner’s wild dreams take him from fjords to fantasies. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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18-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 02. The Revolutionary
Wagner’s political dreams lead to chaos and exile. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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17-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 01. Prologue
A week with Wagner begins with a centenary celebration of conductor Sir Charles Mackerras.
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14-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929): 05. Sagas and Sea Voyages
Donald Macleod delves into Andrée's final decades.
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13-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929): 04. Journeys Abroad
Donald Macleod sees Andrée leave her native Sweden to travel abroad.
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12-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929): 03. Publications and Prejudice
Donald Macleod sees Elfrida Andrée work to reposition herself as an orchestral composer
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12-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929): 02. Lobbying the King
Andrée battles to become the only female cathedral organist in Europe. With Donald Macleod
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11-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929): 01. Breaking Boundaries
Donald Macleod journeys into the early life of Elfrida Andrée.
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07-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Michael Haydn (1737-1806): 05. Serene, Bright Spirit
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the often overlooked younger Haydn brother
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06-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Michael Haydn (1737-1806): 04. A Happy Reunion
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the often overlooked younger Haydn brother
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05-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Michael Haydn (1737-1806): 03. Rivalry and Allegations
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the often overlooked younger Haydn brother
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04-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Michael Haydn (1737-1806): 02. A New Start
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the often overlooked younger Haydn brother
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03-Nov-2025
Composer of the Week - Michael Haydn (1737-1806): 01. The Other Haydn
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the often overlooked younger Haydn brother
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31-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Luciano Berio (1925-2003): 05. The boundaries of future and past
Kate Molleson explores Berio’s final decades back in Europe.
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30-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Luciano Berio (1925-2003): 04. The boundary of Europe
Kate Molleson explores the years after Berio moved to the United States of America.
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29-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Luciano Berio (1925-2003): 03. The boundaries of other people
Kate Molleson explores the other people who helped Berio push musical boundaries.
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28-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Luciano Berio (1925-2003): 02. The boundary of the voice
Kate Molleson explores the relationship between Berio and Cathy Berberian.
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27-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Luciano Berio (1925-2003): 01. The boundaries of youth
Kate Molleson explores Luciano Berio’s youth in Mussolini’s Italy.
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24-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Strauss the younger: 05. Highs and Lows
Donald Macleod explores the final years of Strauss’ life.
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23-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Strauss the younger: 04. Romancing
Donald Macleod explores the romantic intrigues of Johann Strauss II.
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22-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Strauss the younger: 03. One Strauss
Donald Macleod explores how Johann Strauss II fared after his father’s death.
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21-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Strauss the younger: 02. Revolution
Donald Macleod sees Johann Strauss II take sides, as revolution sweeps across Europe.
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20-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Strauss the younger: 01. Waltzing in Vienna
Donald Macleod explores the Vienna of Johann Strauss II, the “waltz king”.
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17-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): 05. The Last Laugh
DonaLd Macleod explores the artistic crisis of Bach’s late years.
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16-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): 04. But First, Coffee
Donald Macleod follows Bach to Leipzig, where his creativity combines with caffeine.
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15-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): 03. Köthen Calls
Donald Macleod charts the highs, lows and instrumental gems of Bach’s courtly era.
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14-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): 02. Holding Court
Donald Macleod tells the story of Bach’s turbulent chapter in Weimar.
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13-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): 01. Rebellious Streak
Donald Macleod introduces Bach, the young rulebreaker.
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10-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Eleanor Alberga: 05. Arise Athena
Alberga seeks out new inspirations.
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09-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Eleanor Alberga: 04. The Forest at Night
Alberga falls into a fairytale world.
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08-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Eleanor Alberga: 03. Dancing with the Shadow
Alberga discovers the world of modern dance.
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07-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Eleanor Alberga: 02. No Man's Land
Alberga leaves Jamaica and arrives in a very chilly London.
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06-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Eleanor Alberga: 01. Jamaican Medley
Kate Molleson speaks to Jamaican-born composer Eleanor Alberga.
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03-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): 05. Estelle
Donald Macleod sees Berlioz’s life come full circle as he tries rekindling an old flame.
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02-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): 04. Marie
Donald Macleod introduces us to Berlioz's enigmatic mistress and second wife.
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02-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): 03. Harriet
Donald Macleod follows the drama as Berlioz finally marries the woman of his dreams.
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01-Oct-2025
Composer of the Week - Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): 02. Camille
Donald Macleod explores the twists and turns of Berlioz’s first engagement.
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30-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): 01. Ophelia
Donald Macleod pulls back the curtain on Berlioz’s greatest obsession.
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26-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999): 05. Don Quixote
Rodrigo finally finds fame.
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26-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999): 04. Phantom of sound
National and personal tragedy inspire Rodrigo's most famous work.
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25-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999): 03. Sacred fire
Rodrigo returns to his homeland.
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23-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999): 02. Tower of Babel
Rodrigo makes a pilgrimage to Paris.
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23-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999): 01. Shadow world
Donald Macleod explores the life of Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo.
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20-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): 05. The Curtain Lowers
Donald Macleod delves into the later career of Broadway giant, Richard Rodgers.
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18-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): 04. Reaching New Heights
Donald Macleod explores the early collaboration between Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
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17-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): 03. Bliss and Disharmony
Donald Macleod follows the Broadway composer as he looks for a new collaborator
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16-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): 02. A Love Story
Donald Macleod explores the the life and work of Broadway giant, Richard Rodgers
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15-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): 01. An Emerging Genius
Donald Macleod delves into the early successes of Broadway giant, Richard Rodgers
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12-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 05. The allure of the Rhineland
Donald Macleod examines Schumann’s connection to the landscape around Düsseldorf.
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12-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 04. Troubles
Donald Macleod explores the first signs of trouble for Robert Schumann in Dusseldorf.
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10-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 03. A celebrated arrival
Donald Macleod explores Schumann’s welcome in Dusseldorf.
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09-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 02. The road to Dusseldorf
Donald Macleod explores the circumstances which led Schumann to Dusseldorf.
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08-Sep-2025
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 01. The last days of Robert Schumann
Donald Macleod explores the end of Robert Schumann’s life.
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22-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - A last hurrah
Delius flees France - and faces an uncertain future.
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21-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Success and supporters
Delius gains a powerful fan.
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20-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Pleasures and responsibilities
Delius falls in with the artistic crowd.
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20-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - A bid for freedom
Delius defies his father.
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18-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Fred and Eric
Donald explores the life of Delius through five of his relationships.
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08-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 05. Victory?
Donald Macleod looks at how the end of the second World War changed life for Shostakovich
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07-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 04. Moscow
Donald Macleod explores Shostakovich’s move to Moscow in the midst of World War II
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06-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 03. Evacuation
Donald Macleod explores the time Shostakovich spent after being evacuated from Leningrad.
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05-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 02. Leningrad
Donald Macleod explores Shostakovich’s relationship with Leningrad, the city of his birth.
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04-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 01. Outbreak
Donald Macleod explores Dmitri Shostakovich’s life and work during World War II.
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01-Aug-2025
Composer of the Week - Arvo Pärt: 05. Home At Last
Kate Molleson and Michael Pärt discuss his father’s homecoming and his growing legacy.
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31-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Arvo Pärt: 04. New Horizons
Kate Molleson and Michael Pärt discuss his family’s journey into the unknown.
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30-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Arvo Pärt: 03. A Window Opens
Michael Pärt tells Kate Molleson about his father’s creative breakthrough.
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29-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Arvo Pärt: 02. Searching in Silence
Kate Molleson explores Pärt’s ideological point of no-return and his remarkable hiatus.
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28-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Arvo Pärt: 01. Pushing Boundaries
Kate Molleson traces Pärt’s avant-garde spirit as he comes of age in Soviet era Estonia.
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25-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 05. Final Journeys
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s busy life away from home.
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24-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 04. The lost decade 1878-1888 (Part 2)
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s busy life away from home.
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24-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 03. The lost decade 1878-1888 (Part 1)
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s busy life away from home.
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22-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 02. Adventures in Italy
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s busy life away from home.
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21-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 01. The Russian Summer
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s busy life away from home.
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11-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Grace Williams (1906-1977): 05. Notes and Revisions
A figure from the past makes a surprise visit. With Donald Macleod
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10-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Grace Williams (1906-1977): 04. Return to Wales
Williams retreats to her parents' home in Barry. Presented by Donald Macleod
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09-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Grace Williams (1906-1977): 03. Evacuee
War is declared and Williams is evacuated out of London. Presented by Donald Macleod
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08-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Grace Williams (1906-1977): 02. Music in the Blood
Determined to become a composer, Williams moves from Wales to London. With Donald Macleod
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07-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Grace Williams (1906-1977): 01. Honesty, Integrity, Poetry
Donald Macleod unpacks the defining qualities of Welsh composer Grace Williams.
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04-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Erik Satie (1866-1925): 05. Enfant
Satie gets caught in the crossfire between Dadaists and Surrealists.
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03-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Erik Satie (1866-1925): 04. Socrate
Satie winds up in court.
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02-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Erik Satie (1866-1925): 03. Humourist
Satie goes back to school.
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01-Jul-2025
Composer of the Week - Erik Satie (1866-1925): 02. Rosicrucian
Satie falls under the spell of a very unusual priest.
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30-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Erik Satie (1866-1925): 01. Gymnopédiste
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie.
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27-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Gavin Bryars: The Essential Bryars
Gavin Bryars talks to Kate Molleson about some of his more recent projects.
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26-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Gavin Bryars: the Mastery of Middle Age
Kate Molleson and Gavin discuss why ‘established’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘establishment’
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25-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Gavin Bryars: Fame and Fortitude
Gavin Bryars tells Kate Molleson about the shock of achieving massive mainstream success.
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24-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Gavin Bryars: Embracing Medea
Kate Molleson asks Gavin about his early policy of saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity.
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23-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Gavin Bryars: On the outside, looking out
Kate Molleson meets the much-loved composer, whose career defies categorisation.
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20-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594): 05. Crowning Gloria
Palestrina joins a collective, gets tempting job offers and even becomes a businessman.
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19-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594): 04. Father of the Chapel
After hard times, a celebrated composer Palestrina is thinking about entering priesthood.
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18-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594): 03. Saving Music
Close to the Pope's ear, Palestrina helps define the new rules of music writing.
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17-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594): 02. What a Mass
Palestrina composes a major piece that will mark a turning point in music history.
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16-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594): 01. Rome, Here I Come
Donald Macleod investigates the life of a Renaissance genius, Giovanni da Palestrina.
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13-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847): 05. Fanny Hensel in Print
Donald Macleod explores Fanny Hensel’s final years when she published her own music.
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12-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847): 04. Possible Sibling Rivalry
Donald Macleod explores Fanny’s wish to publish her own music, and her brother’s response.
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11-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847): 03. Bliss and Disharmony
Donald Macleod delves into Fanny Hensel’s early married life and her Sunday concerts.
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10-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847): 02. Marriage on the Horizon
Donald Macleod traces the time Fanny Mendelssohn forms a relationship with Wilhelm Hensel.
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09-Jun-2025
Composer of the Week - Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847): 01. An Emerging Talent
Donald Macleod traces the musical development of Fanny Mendelssohn.
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30-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 05. Declining Years
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s final years with Karl.
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29-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 04. Adolescent Conflicts
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s dependence upon his nephew Karl.
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28-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 03. Possessiveness and Jealousy
Donald Macleod delves into Beethoven’s possessiveness over his nephew Karl.
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27-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 02. Humiliated in Court
Donald Macleod follows Beethoven's courtroom battles for custody of his nephew, Karl.
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26-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 01. Becoming a Guardian
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s endeavours to become his nephew's guardian.
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23-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Leos Janacek (1854-1928): 05. Fatal Attraction
Kate Molleson unpacks the dramatic final scenes of Janacek’s life.
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22-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Leos Janacek (1854-1928): 04. Burn After Reading
Kate Molleson follows the sharp turns of Janáček’s escalating love triangle.
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21-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Leos Janacek (1854-1928): 03. Eternal Youth
Kate Molleson follows Janáček’s eventful 70th birthday year.
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20-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Leos Janacek (1854-1928): 02. A New Muse
Kate Molleson tells the story of the encounter which upturned Janáček's life and music.
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19-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Leos Janacek (1854-1928): 01. On the Cusp
Kate Molleson explores the struggles of Janáček's long-awaited breakthrough era.
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16-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Bruch (1838-1920): 05. A Happy Place
Donald Macleod transports us to Bruch’s spiritual and creative haven, the Igeler Hof.
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15-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Bruch (1838-1920): 04. Berlin and the Brood
Donald Macleod takes us inside the Bruch family home and its dynamics.
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14-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Bruch (1838-1920): 03. Love and Liverpool
Donald Macleod follows Bruch as he grapples with a new life chapter on British shores.
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13-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Bruch (1838-1920): 02. Making an Impression
Donald Macleod explores Bruch’s journey towards his hugest hit, his first Violin Concerto.
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12-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Max Bruch (1838-1920): 01. On a Quest
Donald Macleod charts Bruch’s restless early years of musical soul-searching.
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09-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 05. Wobbling On
Donald Macleod follows Elgar on a bicycle ride through the countryside.
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08-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 04. Friends and Enigmas
Donald Macleod decodes Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
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07-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 03. God Against Art
Donald Macleod explores Elgar’s faith and falling out with God.
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07-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729): 05. The Prime Musician of the World
Jacquet de La Guerre brings us to the fair, and still explores new musical territories.
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07-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 01. Folk Songs of England
Donald Macleod explores five of Elgar’s greatest passions - beginning with England itself.
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07-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 02. Love’s Greeting
Donald Macleod explores Elgar’s relationship with wife and greatest supporter: Lady Alice.
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01-May-2025
Composer of the Week - Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729): 04. Sacred Art
While posing for a portrait and moving back home, Jacquet shines with her sonatas.
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30-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729): 03. It’s a Lyrical Life
Jacquet de La Guerre plunges into mythical stories to write her very first opera.
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29-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729): 02. Dancing King and Keyboard Queen
Jacquet joins the court in Versailles and the circle of the most powerful woman in France.
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28-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729): 01. Music Runs in the Family
A young Elisabeth Jacquet makes an impression on the Sun King.
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18-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Last Years: 05. 1791 - The Final Bars
Donald Macleod tells the story of the months leading up to Mozart’s swansong, his Requiem.
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17-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Last Years: 04. 1790 - Royally Rejected
Donald Macleod journeys through Mozart’s frustrating and fruitless penultimate year.
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16-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Last Years: 03. 1789 - Travels and Tribulations
Donald Macleod follows Mozart on an eventful PR exercise, hitching a ride with a prince.
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15-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Last Years: 02. 1788 - Empty Pockets
Donald Macleod joins Mozart as he tries to charm his way out of serious financial trouble.
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14-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Last Years: 01. 1787 - Highs and Lows
Donald Macleod follows Mozart through 1787, a year of extremes, from glory to grief.
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11-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): 05. Inextinguishable
Join the party! Sixty candles for a now acclaimed and yet unstoppable composer.
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10-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): 04. Sanguine
Whatever the personal plot twists, Carl Nielsen was always full of life, as was his music.
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09-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): 03. Melancholic
Lots of love and a bit of sorrow... Nielsen meets his soulmate, and sheds a few tears.
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08-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): 02. Phlegmatic
Donald Macleod chills with a passionate composer, who had a very composed temperament.
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08-Apr-2025
Composer of the Week - Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): 01. Choleric
Donald Macleod explores the Danish composer through his temperaments, starting with anger.
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28-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): 05. To Cherish and to Hold
Mahler's Italian refuge is the scene for yet more turmoil and grief. with Kate Molleson
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27-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): 04. Extinguished Joyful Light
Mahler morbid fascination with death and grief may be tempting fate. With Kate Molleson
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26-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): 03. An Unequal Partnership
Mahler finds a bride but, for Alma Mahler, marriage brings sacrifice. With Kate Molleson
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25-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): 02. Goodbye to Hamburg
Mahler makes an important decision about his future. Presented by Kate Molleson.
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24-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): 01. Among Lakes and Mountains
Kate Molleson follows Mahler to the places where he sought escape and inspiration.
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14-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953): 05. A Singing Family
Everyone sings in the Seeger household! Meanwhile, Ruth plans her composing comeback...
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13-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953): 04. Folk Tales
From composing new music to arranging folk tunes, Crawford's life changes radically.
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12-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953): 03. The Dissonances of Life
Ruth Crawford reaches composing pinnacles, visits Berlin, and meets one her music heroes.
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11-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953): 02. Kaleidoscopic Changes
Finding her voice as a composer, Crawford embarks on new adventures of music, and love.
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10-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953): 01. First Waltz
Between new sounds and old songs, Kate Molleson introduces the story of a unique composer.
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07-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 05. Acclaim
Donald Macleod sees Ravel battle tragedy and sickness in his final years.
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06-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 04. Tour of Duty
As war threatened France, Ravel was determined to serve his country. With Donald Macleod.
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05-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 03. Social Circles
Donald Macleod examines what Ravel’s close friends can reveal about his real character.
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04-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 02. An independent Mind
Ravel’s resolve to follow his own rules wins him friends and enemies. With Donald Macleod.
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03-Mar-2025
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 01. A life in chamber music
Donald Macleod charts Ravel’s story through his works for instruments and small ensembles
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28-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - The Turkish Five: 05. Legacy of the Turkish Five
Donald Macleod explores the ongoing legacy of the Turkish Five.
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27-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - The Turkish Five: 04. Continued ties with the West
Donald Macleod explores the Turkish Five's continued links with the West.
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26-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - The Turkish Five: 03. Return to Turkey
Donald Macleod follows the Turkish Five as they return home after their studies.
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25-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - The Turkish Five: 02. Studying in Europe
Donald Macleod follows the Turkish Five to Europe.
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24-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - The Turkish Five: 01. Formation of the Turkish Republic
Donald Macleod delves into musical life prior to the Turkish Republic.
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21-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): 05. Goodbye Britten
Donald Macleod follows a successful but tormented Britten as he finds a home in Aldeburgh.
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20-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): 04. Sound Awake
Donald Macleod sees how Benjamin Britten finds a fresh composing breath in...cinema.
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19-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): 03. The Power of Invention
Britten discovers it wont be easy for an aspiring composer in London. With Donald Macleod.
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18-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): 02. School-Bored
Musical ambitions and extravagant lessons: Donald Macleod explores Britten's school years.
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17-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): 01. Baby Beni
This week Donald Macleod explores the early life of the British composer Benjamin Britten.
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07-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): 05. A Prophet
Have a seat at the opera with Donald Macleod, who's exploring Meyerbeer's The Prophet.
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06-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): 04. Hail to the King
Time for a new job: Meyerbeer gets the highest musical honours. With Donald Macleod.
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05-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): 03. Monsieur Jacques
Donald Macleod joins Meyerbeer as he arrives in the City of Light, determined to shine.
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04-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): 02. Musica Paradiso
Next stop: Italy! Donald Macleod sees how Meyerbeer reinvents himself in the Peninsula.
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03-Feb-2025
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): 01. A New Mozart
Curtain-up on the life of 19th-century opera star Giacomo Meyerbeer, with Donald Macleod.
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31-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Voices of Terezin: 05. Lullabies, Anthems and Reminiscences
Donald Macleod discovers four composers whose music had a powerful impact on the camp.
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30-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Voices of Terezin: 04. Pavel Haas
Donald Macleod looks at the extraordinary life and output of Czech composer Pavel Haas.
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29-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Voices of Terezin: 03. Hans Krása
Donald Macleod follows the life of Hans Krása, whose opera captivated Terezin's children.
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28-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Voices of Terezin: Viktor Ullmann
Donald Macleod explores the story, style and satire of Viktor Ullmann.
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27-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Voices of Terezin: 01. Gideon Klein
Donald Macleod charts the short life and unstoppable talent of Gideon Klein.
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24-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Imogen Holst (1907-1984): 05. An Indian Summer
Donald Macleod explores Imogen Holst’s Indian Summer.
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23-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Imogen Holst (1907-1984): 04. Amanuensis to Britten
Donald Macleod explores Imogen Holst’s relationship with Britten.
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22-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Imogen Holst (1907-1984): 03. Music at Dartington
Donald Macleod follows Imogen Holst's adventures during and after World War Two.
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21-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Imogen Holst (1907-1984): 02. Adventures in Europe
Donald Macloed follows Imogen Holst as she experiences music around Europe.
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20-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Imogen Holst (1907-1984): 01. A Musical Background
Donald Macleod delves into the early life of Imogen Holst.
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10-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Michel Legrand (1932-2019): 05. Without a Past
In his 80s, Legrand continues to reinvent.
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09-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Michel Legrand (1932-2019): 04. Urgent
Legrand meets his match in Barbra Streisand.
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08-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Michel Legrand (1932-2019): 03. Second Dialogue
Legrand makes his mark at the movies.
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07-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Michel Legrand (1932-2019): 02. Audacious
Legrand meets Miles Davis - and the French New Wave.
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06-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Michel Legrand (1932-2019): 01. Between Worlds
When his father walks out, Legrand finds an unlikely friend.
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03-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Schubert and Vienna: 05. Theatres and Churches
Donald Macleod takes a tour of Vienna’s Churches and Theatres with Franz Schubert.
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02-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Schubert and Vienna: 04. Garden, Home and Taverns
Donald Macleod explores the spaces for music making in Schubert’s Vienna.
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01-Jan-2025
Composer of the Week - Schubert and Vienna: 03. Secret Police
Donald Macleod explores the role of police surveillance in Schubert’s Vienna.
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31-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Schubert and Vienna: 02. Centre of the Universe
Donald explores the incredible Congress of Vienna which reignited the city’s fortunes
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30-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Schubert and Vienna: 01. A divided city
Donald Macleod explores the Vienna Schubert was born into
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27-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Christmas in Latvia: 05. Christmas Hope
Donald Macleod visits Riga to find music inspired by the idea of hope at Christmas time.
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26-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Christmas in Latvia: 04. Winter Lights
Donald Macleod meets composer, Ēriks Ešenvalds, and Latvian folklorist, Ilona Dzērve.
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25-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Christmas in Latvia: 03. Christmas Joy
Donald Macleod celebrates Christmas alongside ‘Ziemassvētki’, or Winter Solstice, in Riga.
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24-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Christmas in Latvia: 02. Christmas Mysteries
Donald Macleod explores Latvian music evoking the magic and mystery of the Christmas story
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23-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Christmas in Latvia: 01. Welcome to Riga
Donald Macleod visits Riga to experience seasonal music and Christmas traditions in Latvia
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13-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - A Latin American Christmas: Puerto Rico
Kate Molleson uncovers the music of the island with the world’s longest festive season.
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12-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - A Latin American Christmas: 04. Brazil
Kate Molleson unwraps the musical festivities of Brazil, from baroque to bossa nova.
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11-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - A Latin American Christmas: 03. Argentina
Kate Molleson celebrates the sounds of a southern-hemisphere Christmas.
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10-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - A Latin American Christmas: 02. Venezuela
Kate Molleson discovers Venezuela’s festive traditions, from rollerskates to folk revivals
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09-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - A Latin American Christmas: 01. Mexico
Kate Molleson explores Mexico’s vibrant seasonal music, from polyphony to ranchera.
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06-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927): 05. Withdrawing from the battle
Donald Macleod explores the final decades for Le Beau after the death of her parents.
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05-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927): 04. Rebuffed in Wiesbaden and Berlin
Donald Macleod explores Le Beau’s life in Wiesbaden and then Berlin.
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04-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927): 03. Derailed by Intrigues
Donald Macleod delves into the period Le Beau leaves Munich and moves to Wiesbaden.
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03-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927): 02. Tuition with Josef Rheinberger
Donald Macloed follows Le Beau as she and her family move to Munich.
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02-Dec-2024
Composer of the Week - Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927): 01. Family Support
Donald Macleod delves into the early life of Luise Adolpha Le Beau.
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29-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): 5. Unfinished business
Donald Macleod explores the soundworlds of Puccini's Madama Butterfly and Turandot.
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28-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): 4. Troubles at home
Donald Macleod details the tragic event which plunged Puccini into depression.
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27-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): 3. Confusion and mayhem
Donald Macleod follows the dramas linked to Tosca and Madam Butterfly.
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26-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): 2. Rivalries and Reputation
Donald Macleod looks at the background to Puccini's La Bohème.
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25-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): 1. Success at last
Donald Macleod recounts how Puccini made his name and his fortune with 'Manon Lescaut'.
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22-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 05. Tributes
Donald Macleod explores the tributes made to Purcell after his early death.
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21-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 04. London's Theatres
Donald Macleod explores Purcell’s role in London’s theatre scene.
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20-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 03. London's royal houses
Donald Macleod explores Purcell’s music for royalty.
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19-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 02. London's city spires
Donald Macleod explores Purcell’s music for London’s churches.
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18-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 01. A city in turmoil
Donald Macleod explores Henry Purcell’s childhood in London.
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15-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Bud Powell (1924-1966): 05. The Return of Bud Powell
Bud Powell return to New York in 1964 was heralded with great fanfare.
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14-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Bud Powell (1924-1966): 04. Bud Powell in Paris
Tracing Bud Powell's move to Paris in 1959.
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13-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Bud Powell (1924-1966): 03. Bud Powell's Moods
Following Bud Powell into the late 1950s.
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12-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Bud Powell (1924-1966): 02. The Genius of Bud Powell
Exploring Bud Powell's 1951 arrest and the period of incaceration that followed.
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11-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Bud Powell (1924-1966): 01. The Amazing Bud Powell
Kate Molleson explores the life and work of the amazing Bud Powell.
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08-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Ballroom Blockbusters: 05. Cha-cha-cha
The most recognisable rhythm in dance: two, three, cha-cha-chà.
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07-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Ballroom Blockbusters: 04. Samba
A dance of defiance is born on the streets of post-slavery Brazil.
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06-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Ballroom Blockbusters: 03. Tango
In the slums of rural Argentina, cultures blend and the tango is born.
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05-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Ballroom Blockbusters: 02. Foxtrot
A dangerous new dance debuts in New York.
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04-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Ballroom Blockbusters: 01. Waltz
How did a scandalous peasants’ dance evolve into the waltz?
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01-Nov-2024
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 05. Wanderer
Donald Macleod explores Liszt’s rootlessness and nomadic nature.
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31-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 04. Goth
Donald Macleod looks at the dark and demonic side of Liszt’s life and music for Halloween.
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30-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 03. Saint
Donald Macleod explores Liszt’s midlife pivot towards his faith.
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29-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 02. Sinner
Donald Macleod unpacks Liszt’s love life and his brushes with scandal.
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28-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 01. Superstar
Donald Macleod explores the showman side of Liszt’s personality.
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25-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Margaret Bonds (1913-1972): 05. A Laugh for the Road
Donald Macleod concludes Margaret Bonds' story, ending in glories and heartbreaks.
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24-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Margaret Bonds (1913-1972): 04. Black Pride
Donald Macleod meets Margaret Bonds at a crucial time in the fight for racial equality.
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23-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Margaret Bonds (1913-1972): 03. Sing With All Your Soul
Donald Macleod accompanies Margaret Bonds as she embarks on a new exciting adventure.
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22-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Margaret Bonds (1913-1972): 02. Glorious Revelations
Donald Macleod follows Margaret Bonds as she is about to make life-changing discoveries.
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21-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Margaret Bonds (1913-1972): 01. Welcome to the House of Music
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of African American composer Margaret Bonds.
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18-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Ives (1874-1954): 05. Crisis, Climax and Close
Kate Molleson explores the final decades for Charles Ives when he stopped composing.
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17-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Ives (1874-1954): 04. Rebuffs and Recognition
Kate Molleson explores Charles Ives the composer, writer and thinker.
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16-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Ives (1874-1954): 03. Knockbacks and War
Kate Molleson delves into the period Charles Ives establishes his own insurance company.
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15-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Ives (1874-1954): 02. Journey into Adulthood
Kate Molleson follows Charles Ives through his sporty time at Yale.
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14-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Ives (1874-1954): 01. Father and Son
Kate Molleson delves into the early musical influences upon Charles Ives.
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11-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Dorothy Howell (1898-1982): 05. Final Years
Donald Macleod and Leah Broad survey the life and work of British composer Dorothy Howell.
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10-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Dorothy Howell (1898-1982): 04. Traveller
Donald Macleod looks at why the 1930s brought challenging times for Dorothy Howell.
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09-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Dorothy Howell (1898-1982): 03. Radio Star
In the mid-1920s Dorothy Howell appeared regularly on the new medium of radio.
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08-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Dorothy Howell (1898-1982): 02. Next Moves
Howell struggles to follow up on the huge success of her first orchestral work.
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07-Oct-2024
Composer of the Week - Dorothy Howell (1898-1982): 01. The English Strauss
Donald Macleod and Leah Broad survey the life and work of British composer Dorothy Howell.
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27-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787): 05. The Baton Passes
Donald Macleod explores Gluck’s final years and friendships with Mozart and Salieri.
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26-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787): 04. Opera's Radical
Donald Macleod looks at Gluck’s revolutionary innovations in both ballet and opera.
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25-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787): Viennese Master
Donald Macleod explores how Gluck finally became a fixture of Vienna’s musical scene.
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24-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787): The Wanderer
Donald Macleod unravels Gluck’s multifarious travels in Europe, including a trip to London
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23-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787): A Boy from Bohemia
Donald Macleod explores the effervescent music of a composer who changed opera forever
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20-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Gustav Holst (1874-1934): 05. The Duty of a Teacher
Holst finds his way back to planet Earth.
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19-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Gustav Holst (1874-1934): 04. Bringer of War
As war breaks out, Holst hurries to complete The Planets.
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18-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Gustav Holst (1874-1934): 03. The Mystic
Holst’s mystical expedition into the solar system.
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17-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Gustav Holst (1874-1934): 02. Fool in Music
Holst meets a kindred spirit.
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16-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Gustav Holst (1874-1934): 01. Early Horrors
Who was Holst before The Planets?
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13-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): 05. Exile
Kate Molleson explores Schoenberg’s final years in exile in the US.
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12-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): 04. Faith
Kate Molleson explores Schoenberg’s relationship with religion.
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11-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): 03. Systems
Kate Molleson explores Schoenberg’s breakthrough musical system.
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10-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): 02. Crisis
Kate Molleson explores Schoenberg’s traumatic first marriage.
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09-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): 01. Vienna
Kate Molleson explores Schoenberg’s relationship with the city of his birth – Vienna.
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06-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 05. Finale
Can Bruckner follow through on the high expectations he’s created? With Donald Macleod
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05-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 04. Friends and Champions
Bruckner pins his hopes on a new symphony and new supporters. With Donald Macleod.
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04-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 03. Friends and Enemies
Donald Macleod follows Bruckner to Vienna, where he finds a mixed reception for his music.
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03-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 02. Passions and Preoccupations
Donald Macleod sees how Bruckner’s ambitions were threatened by his fragile mental health.
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02-Sep-2024
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 01. For the Glory of God
Donald Macleod examines how Bruckner was shaped by his strict religious upbringing.
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09-Aug-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Joseph Bologne: 05. Revolution: 1789 - 1799
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for his sporting prowess.
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08-Aug-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Joseph Bologne: 04. Instability: 1780 - 1788
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for his sporting prowess.
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07-Aug-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Joseph Bologne: 03. Intrigue at the opera: 1775 - 1780
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for his sporting prowess.
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06-Aug-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Joseph Bologne: 02. Pushing the limits: 1764 - 1774
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for his sporting prowess.
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05-Aug-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Joseph Bologne: 01. Basse-Terre to Paris: 1745 - 1764
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for his sporting prowess.
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02-Aug-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Ethel Smyth: Final Muse
Donald Macleod explores Ethel Smyth's bond with the writer Virginia Woolf.
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01-Aug-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Ethel Smyth: 04. Questions of Devotion
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for her sporting prowess.
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31-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Ethel Smyth: 03. Kindred Spirits
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for her sporting prowess.
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30-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Ethel Smyth: 02. Soulmate
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for her sporting prowess.
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29-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Musical Olympians - Ethel Smyth: 01. First Love
Donald Macleod explores a musician also remarkable for her sporting prowess.
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26-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940): 05. Breakdown
Kate Molleson and Alejandro Madrid examine Silvestre Revueltas’s return to Mexico.
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25-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940): 04. Spain
Silvestre Revueltas travels to Spain during the civil war.
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24-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940): 03. Breakup
Exploring the breakup of the friendship between Revueltas and Carlos Chavez.
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23-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940): 02. Revueltas and Chavez
Kate Molleson and Alejandro Madrid explore Revueltas’s friendship with Carlos Chavez.
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22-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940): 01. Across the border
Exploring Silvestre Revueltas’s early years in Mexico and then in the USA.
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12-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778): 05. Misfortune or Misadventure
Donald Macleod investigates Tom’s early death and asks if we can be sure it was accidental
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11-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778): 04. Caught in the spotlight
Tom struggles as work and his growing fame begin to overwhelm him. With Donald Macleod.
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10-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778): 03. The Maid of Bath
Tom returns from Italy to discover his sister has become a celebrity. With Donald Macleod.
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09-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778): 02. Italian Adventures
Donald Macleod follows Tom to Italy, where he's finally able to escape his father’s eye.
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08-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778): 01. The Thomas Conundrum
Donald Macleod introduces us to young Tom and some of the mysteries surrounding his story.
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05-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Richard Strauss (1864-1949): 05. Dramatis Personae
Donald Macleod explores key figures in Strauss’s life. Today, the characters of his fancy.
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04-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Richard Strauss (1864-1949): 04. Riding with the Reich
Donald Macleod explores key figures in Strauss’s life. Today, the Nazi High Command.
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03-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Richard Strauss (1864-1949): 03. Best Frenemies
Donald Macleod explores key figures in Strauss’s life. Today, Gustav Mahler.
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02-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Richard Strauss (1864-1949): 02. Tempestuous Muse
Donald Macleod explores key figures in Strauss’s life. Today, his wife, Pauline de Ahna.
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01-Jul-2024
Composer of the Week - Richard Strauss (1864-1949): 01. The Odd Couple
Donald Macleod explores key figures in Strauss’s life. Today, Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
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28-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Lou Harrison (1917-2003): 05. Commissions in retirement
Donald Macleod explores Harrison’s final decades including his varied artistic endeavours.
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27-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Lou Harrison (1917-2003): 04. A creative partnership
Donald Macleod delves into a time Lou Harrison settles down with Bill Colvig.
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26-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Lou Harrison (1917-2003): 03. Settling in California
Donald Macleod journeys with Lou Harrison on his first trip to Asia.
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25-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Lou Harrison (1917-2003): 02. Traumatised in the city
Donald Macleod follows Harrison to Los Angeles and New York.
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24-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Lou Harrison (1917-2003): 01. Inspirations and Collaborations
Donald Macleod delves into the early life and influences of Lou Harrison.
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21-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): 05. Trainspotter
Kate Molleson journeys across Dvořák’s life through his passion for all things transport.
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20-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): 04. Homeland
Kate Molleson discusses Dvořák’s identity and nationhood.
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19-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): 03. In Good Faith
Kate Molleson takes a look at Dvořák’s religious life.
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18-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): 02. Pigeons and Prairies
Kate Molleson explores Dvořák’s vital connection to nature.
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17-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): 01. Family Man
Kate Molleson uncovers Dvořák’s devotion to his nearest and dearest.
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14-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625): A Legacy Reborn 1620-1625
By 1623 Orlando Gibbons had consolidated his position as the leading musician in the land.
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13-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625): 04. ‘The Best Finger of that Age’ 1617-1620
Donald Macleod looks at the last - eventful - decade of Gibbons’s short life.
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12-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625): 03. The New Band in Town 1612-1617
Gibbons joins the new musical group formed by the Prince of Wales, the future Charles I.
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11-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625): 02. The Court Musician and The British Problem 1603-1612
Gibbons joins the royal household of the newly crowned King James.
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10-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625): 01. What Is Our Life? 1583-1603
Gibbons’s early life in Cambridge and Oxford, amidst Britain’s political turbulence.
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07-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894): A tragic loss to music
Donald Macleod tells of a life cruelly cut short by illness.
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06-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894): 04. Four hands better than two
Donald Macleod introduces Maier’s happy life and world in the early 1880s.
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05-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894): Love and Fame
Donald Macleod explores Maier’s skyrocketing career as a violin virtuoso in the 1870s.
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04-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894): In Bach’s footsteps
Donald Macleod tells the story of Maier’s first years in Leipzig.
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03-Jun-2024
Composer of the Week - Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894): Swedish sensation
Donald Macleod explores the remarkable, tragic story of a gifted violinist and composer.
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24-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): 05. Summing up...
Donald Macleod surveys the life and music of Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
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23-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): 04. A watershed
Donald Macleod surveys the life and music of Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
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22-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): 03. Consolidating
Donald Macleod surveys the life and music of Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
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21-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): 02. Building a reputation
Donald Macleod surveys the life and music of Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
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20-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): 01. Casting off
Donald Macleod surveys the life and music of Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
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17-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994): 05. No Escape
The ageing Maconchy admits that 'composing is a life sentence'. With Kate Molleson.
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16-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994): 04. Departures
Depressed and disenchanted, Maconchy decides to change direction. With Kate Molleson.
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15-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994): 03. Digging for Britain
Maconchy is forced to shift her focus from music to the war effort. With Kate Molleson.
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14-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994): 02. Rising Star
Maconchy faces some harsh realities as she works to build a career. With Kate Molleson.
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13-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994): 01. Destined for Greatness
Maconchy explodes onto Britain’s music scene, dazzling her teachers. With Kate Molleson.
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10-May-2024
Composer of the Week - CPE Bach (1714-1788): 05. Intimations of Immortality
Bach takes his music critics to task and considers his legacy. With Donald Macleod.
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09-May-2024
Composer of the Week - CPE Bach (1714-1788): 04. A home in Hamburg
After thirty years in the same job, Bach makes a fresh start. With Donald Macleod.
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08-May-2024
Composer of the Week - CPE Bach (1714-1788): 03. Escape from Berlin
Bach makes plans to give up his job. How will his boss respond? With Donald Macleod.
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07-May-2024
Composer of the Week - CPE Bach (1714-1788): 02. Royal Favours
Bach finds his new boss loves music but not musicians. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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06-May-2024
Composer of the Week - CPE Bach (1714-1788): 01. Family Ties
Donald Macleod examines what Bach has to tell us about his musical family and upbringing.
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03-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Claude Debussy (1862-1918): The Fall
Scandal in the concert hall as Donald Macleod traces the end of Debussy’s life.
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02-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Claude Debussy (1862-1918): 04. The Hooligans
Debussy ascends to a new level of fame as his opera Pelléas et Mélisande is premiered.
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01-May-2024
Composer of the Week - Claude Debussy (1862-1918): 03. Monsieur Croche
Donald Macleod explores Debussy’s work as an outspoken critic.
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30-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Claude Debussy (1862-1918): 02. 'Claude' the bohemian
Donald Macleod follows Debussy as he adopts a bohemian lifestyle in Paris.
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29-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Claude Debussy (1862-1918): 01. 'Achilles' the rascal
Donald Macleod explores Debussy’s wayward youth.
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29-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Marianna Martines (1744-1812): 05. Death of Metastasio
Donald Macleod looks at Martines’s final years when she became fully independent.
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25-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Marianna Martines (1744-1812): 04. A Visitor from England
Donald Macleod examines Martines's encounter with English music historian Charles Burney.
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24-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Marianna Martines (1744-1812): 03. Triumphs in Italy
Donald Macleod explores Martines’s popularity beyond Vienna.
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23-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Marianna Martines (1744-1812): 02. Tutored by Greats
Donald Macleod explores the building where Martines lived alongside Metastasio and Haydn.
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22-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Marianna Martines (1744-1812): 01. Protégé
Donald Macleod explores the relationship between Martines and the famed poet Metastasio.
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19-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 05. Settling down at Troldhaugen
Grieg’s final years are spent either touring Europe or at Troldhaugen, the house he built.
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18-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 04. Hiking in Hardangerfjord
Grieg is inspired by the music and landscape of Hardangerfjord. With Donald Macleod.
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17-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 03. Marriage to Nina
Donald Macleod explores the impact of Grieg’s wife Nina on his songs and other works.
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16-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 02. The Spirit of Norway
Grieg is inspired to capture Norway’s national spirit in his music. With Donald Macleod.
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15-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): Breakthrough
Using recordings by Neville Marriner, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Grieg.
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12-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): 05. Creature Comforts
Kate Molleson explores Brahms’s final decade, when he most valued his friends.
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11-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): 04. Homes from Home
Kate Molleson joins Brahms at some of his most beloved and inspiring holidays spots.
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10-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): 03. Bachelor Pad
Kate Molleson follows Brahms as he puts down roots in Vienna.
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09-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): 02. More than Friends
Kate Molleson tells the story of Brahms’s all-consuming friendship with the Schumanns.
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08-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): 01. Flying the Nest
Kate Molleson looks at Brahms’s love-hate relationship with his home city of Hamburg.
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05-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Grand Tour: Homeward Bound
Donald Macleod joins Mozart and his family on an epic European adventure
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04-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Grand Tour: 04. Encounters with scientists and doctors
Donald Macleod joins Mozart and his family on an ambitious European adventure.
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03-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Grand Tour: 03. Mixed fortunes in London
Donald Macleod joins Mozart and his family on an epic European adventure.
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02-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Grand Tour: 02. A rocky road to Paris
Donald Macleod joins Mozart and his family on an ambitious European adventure.
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01-Apr-2024
Composer of the Week - Mozart's Grand Tour: 01. Setting out
Donald Macleod follows Mozart and his family on an ambitious European adventure.
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29-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924): 05. Final Years in Decline
Donald Macleod explores Stanford’s last years, when his popularity as a composer dwindled.
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28-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924): 04. Becoming Old-Fashioned
Donald Macleod explores the early 20th century, when Stanford becomes less popular.
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27-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924): 03. Stanford on Broadway
Donald Macleod explores Stanford’s influence as a teacher.
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26-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924): 02. Appointed Professor of Composition
Donald Macleod delves into Stanford’s influence in setting up the Royal College of Music.
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25-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924): 01. Musical beginnings in Dublin
Donald Macleod journeys into the early years of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford.
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22-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli: Magnificence
Donald Macleod looks at the twilight years and legacy of Giovanni Gabrieli.
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21-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli: Side Hustles
Donald Macleod looks at Giovanni’s little black book and moneymaking ventures
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20-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli: Year from Hell
Donald Macleod journeys through Giovanni Gabrieli’s annus horribilis
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19-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli: High Office
Donald Macleod explores the Gabrielis’ groundbreaking music for St Mark’s Basilica
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18-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli: Uncle and Nephew
Donald Macleod follows Andrea Gabrieli’s quest for his dream job
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15-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Ennio Morricone (1928-2020): 05. We all Love Ennio
Donald Macleod finds Morricone nominated for multiple Academy Awards.
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14-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Ennio Morricone (1928-2020): 04. Once Upon a Time in America
Donald Macleod explores Ennio Morricone’s move to writing music for Hollywood movies.
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13-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Ennio Morricone (1928-2020): 03. A shock to the system
Donald Macleod explores Morricone’s work in Italian auteur cinema and giallo.
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12-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Ennio Morricone (1928-2020): 02. Ennio and Sergio
Donald Macleod explores Ennio Morricone’s work with the film director Sergio Leone.
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11-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Ennio Morricone (1928-2020): 01. Mario’s gambit
Donald Macleod explores Ennio Morricone’s early years.
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08-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Johanna Senfter (1879-1961): 05. World War II
Senfter’s career is seriously affected by World War II.
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07-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Johanna Senfter (1879-1961): 04. Productivity
Senfter emerges from her self-imposed exile from public life.
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06-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Johanna Senfter (1879-1961): Retreat
Exploring the series of setbacks which led to Senfter retreating from public life.
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05-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Johanna Senfter (1879-1961): 02. Finding a champion
Kate Molleson and Natasha Loges explore Johanna Senfter’s years of study with Max Reger.
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04-Mar-2024
Composer of the Week - Johanna Senfter (1879-1961): 01. The Senfter Millions
Exploring Johanna Senfter’s very prosperous early family life in provincial Germany.
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23-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Maddalena Sirmen and her World: 05. A return to Venice
Donald Macleod explores a fiasco for Sirmen in London.
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22-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Maddalena Sirmen and her World: 04. A sensation in London
Donald Macleod explores Maddalena Sirmen’s entry into London's cultural society.
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21-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Maddalena Sirmen and her World: 03. Sirmen the Virtuoso Violinist
Donald Macleod explores Sirmen’s rise to fame as a virtuoso violinist in Europe.
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20-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Maddalena Sirmen and her World: 02. Lessons with Tartini
Donald Macleod follows Sirmen as she meets a new mentor who will transform her fortunes.
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19-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Maddalena Sirmen and her World: 01. Training in an Orphanage
Donald Macleod delves into the world of Venetian composer Maddalena Sirmen.
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16-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Karl Jenkins: 05. The Future
Donald Macleod talks to composer Sir Karl Jenkins on the eve of his 80th birthday.
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15-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Karl Jenkins: 04. Peace, Peace!
Donald Macleod talks to composer Sir Karl Jenkins on the eve of his 80th birthday.
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14-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Karl Jenkins: 03. From Advertising to Adiemus
Donald Macleod meets composer Sir Karl Jenkins on the eve of his 80th birthday.
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13-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Karl Jenkins: Fusion
Donald Macleod talks to composer Karl Jenkins on the eve of his 80th birthday.
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12-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Karl Jenkins: 01. In the Beginning
Donald Macleod talks to multi-instrumentalist and composer Sir Karl Jenkins.
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09-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): 05. Internal Battles: 1917-19
Donald Macleod explores the end of Sibelius’s seven teetotal years
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08-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): 04. The Sixteen Swans: 1915-16
Donald Macleod explores Sibelius’s battles with his Fifth Symphony
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07-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): 03. America: 1914
Donald Macleod explores Sibelius’s time in America.
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06-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): 02. Going International: 1912-13
Donald Macleod looks at the impact of Sibelius’s international travels on his outlook.
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05-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): 01. Sober, Rejuvenated, Broke: 1910-11
Donald Macleod hears how Sibelius began the 1910s creatively rejuvenated.
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02-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): 05. In Memoriam
Kate Molleson explores Igor Stravinsky's return to religion.
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01-Feb-2024
Composer of the Week - Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): 04. Inexpressionism
Kate Molleson explores Stravinsky’s fascination for the drama of Greek antiquity.
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31-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): 03. Neoclassical Mask
Kate Molleson explores Stravinsky’s turn to the past to make sense of the present.
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30-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): 02. A Russia of the Mind
Kate Molleson explores the years of Stravinsky’s exile from Russia during WW1.
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29-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): 01. An Old, Old Story
Kate Molleson explores the legends and lore of Igor Stravinsky.
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26-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): 05. Immorality in America (1876-1880)
Offenbach’s later years, starting with his tour of America in 1875.
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25-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): 04. Identity Crisis (1864-1875)
Offenbach faced issues of identity during a time of political strife in Europe.
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24-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): 03. Living Beyond his Means (1854-1864)
Offenbach’s expensive tastes and lavish generosity meant he had no choice but to compose.
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23-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): 02. Satirical tendencies (1841-1853)
Offenbach’s satirical side and musical jokes often got him into trouble.
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22-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): 01. Prodigy and Upstart (1819-1848)
Offenbach’s early life in Cologne and Paris, amidst Europe’s political turbulence.
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19-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 05. Birmingham Festival 1846
Mendelssohn's final visits to Britain towards the end of his life.
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18-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 04. Tea at Buckingham Palace
Mendelssohn meets Dickens, Thackeray and the Queen in London.
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17-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 03. At a Crossroads
Mendelssohn's second visit to London in 1832 and his first paid commissions as a composer
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16-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 02. Wandering Britain
Mendelssohn's travels as a tourist of Scotland and Wales in the summer of 1829.
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15-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 01. London Debut
Mendelssohn's first visit to London and the beginnings of his relationship with Britain.
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12-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 05. A Man out of His Time
Donald Macleod explores how Elgar outlived the Edwardian peak of his popularity.
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11-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 04. Country Boy
Donald Macleod explores Elgar's relationship with the English countryside.
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10-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 03. Self-Made Man
Donald Macleod explores how Elgar's lack of formal musical training affected his career.
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09-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 02. A Catholic in an Anglican Country
Donald Macleod explores how Elgar's Catholicism set him apart from other British artists.
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08-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Edward Elgar (1857-1934): 01. Social Misfit
Donald Macleod explores Elgar's own belief that he was an outsider in British society.
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05-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Caroline Shaw: 05. Multimedia Projects
Kate Molleson and musician Caroline Shaw chat about working in multidimensional ways.
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04-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Caroline Shaw: 04. Collaboration
Kate Molleson and musician Caroline Shaw talk about being a performer and a composer.
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03-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Caroline Shaw: 03. One Hundred Different Instruments
Kate Molleson and musician Caroline Shaw talk about the role the voice plays in her music.
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02-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Caroline Shaw: 02. Building Blocks and Materials
Kate Molleson chats with violinist, vocalist, producer and composer Caroline Shaw.
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01-Jan-2024
Composer of the Week - Caroline Shaw: 01. Conversations with the Past
Kate Molleson talks to Caroline Shaw about her heritage and community music making.
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29-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Greatest Showstoppers: 04. Joseph Joachim
Donald Macleod explores Joachim's story of faithful admirers and broken friendships.
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28-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Greatest Showstoppers: 03. Maria Szymanowska
Donald Macleod follows Polish pianist Maria Szymanowska as she strikes out on her own.
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27-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Greatest Showstoppers: 02. Elias Parish Alvars
Donald Macleod explores the story of Devon-born harp virtuoso Elias Parish Alvars.
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26-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Greatest Showstoppers: 01. Teresa Carreño
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the 'Valkyrie of the Piano', Teresa Carreño.
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22-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Vaughan Williams Christmas: 05. Hanover Terrace
Kate Molleson follows Vaughan Williams back to London and a new home on Hanover Terrace.
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21-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Vaughan Williams Christmas: White Gates
Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams’s time living at the house White Gates in Surrey.
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20-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Vaughan Williams Christmas: 03. At War
Kate Molleson explores what Christmas was like for Vaughan Williams during World War I.
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19-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Vaughan Williams Christmas: 02. Christmases in Italy and London
Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams’s early Christmases with his wife Adeline.
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18-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Vaughan Williams Christmas: 01. Leith Hill Place
Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams’s Christmases as a child and as a student.
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15-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921): 05. The Miracle in London
Donald Macleod delves into Humperdinck’s final successes.
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14-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921): 04. Failure and success
Donald Macleod explores Humperdinck’s creative output after Hansel and Gretel.
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13-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921): 03. An Operatic Triumph
Humperdinck waits to see how Hansel and Gretel will be received. With Donald Macleod.
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12-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921): Composing Hansel and Gretel
Donald Macleod follows Humperdinck as he starts work on what will become his major hit.
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11-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921): 01. Themes of Youth
Donald Macleod uncovers the magical childhood of German composer Englebert Humperdinck.
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08-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Medieval Christmas: 05. Carols and Revelries
Donald Macleod presents seasonal music for dancing, feasting and social occasions.
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07-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Medieval Christmas: 04. The Cult of the Virgin
Donald Macleod presents songs for Mary and lullabies to the infant Jesus.
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06-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Medieval Christmas: 03. Christmas at Notre-Dame
Donald Macleod explores musical innovations at Paris’s newly built gothic cathedral.
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05-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Medieval Christmas: 02. Daniel and the Feast of Fools
Donald Macleod investigates some unusual festive celebrations, popular in the Middle Ages.
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04-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - A Medieval Christmas: 01. Blowe, Northerne Wynd
Medieval carols and the story of St Nicholas, with Donald Macleod.
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01-Dec-2023
Composer of the Week - Ned Rorem (1923-2022): 05. The final years in New York
Donald Macleod delves into Rorem’s final years as a composer.
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30-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Ned Rorem (1923-2022): 04. Death of a partner
Donald Macleod explores a period of great personal loss for Rorem.
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29-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Ned Rorem (1923-2022): 03. Life in Nantucket
Donald Macleod explores a period when AIDS became a growing concern for Rorem.
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28-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Ned Rorem (1923-2022): 02. Scandalous escapades in New York
Donald Macleod explores Rorem’s growing obsessions with alcohol, drugs and men.
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27-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Ned Rorem (1923-2022): 01. The student and traveller
Donald Macleod delves into Rorem’s early years in America and France.
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24-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Franz Schubert (1797-1828): 05. Afterlife
Donald Macleod explores the afterlife of Franz Schubert’s music.
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17-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - John and Alice Coltrane: 05. Eternal Sounds
Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre look at Alice’s musical and spiritual homecoming.
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16-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - John and Alice Coltrane: 04. A New Journey
Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre chart Alice’s creative response to grief.
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15-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - John and Alice Coltrane: 03. Higher Love
Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre explore John and Alice’s powerful partnership.
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14-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - John and Alice Coltrane: 02. Trial and Error
Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre follow John’s continuing quest for the perfect sound.
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13-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - John and Alice Coltrane: 01. Stepping Up
Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre discuss the turning points in John’s early career.
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10-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Berlioz and Shakespeare: 05. What might have been
Berlioz finds lightness and laughter in his final music. With Donald Macleod.
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09-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Berlioz and Shakespeare: 04. Heroes and Devils
Donald Macleod explores more of Berlioz’s ambitious experiments in musical storytelling.
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08-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Berlioz and Shakespeare: 03. Love and disappointment
Berlioz decides to bring Shakespeare into the concert hall. With Donald Macleod.
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07-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Berlioz and Shakespeare: 02. Ophelia and Ariel
Donald Macleod sees Berlioz deeply unsettled by his first encounter with Shakespeare.
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06-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Berlioz and Shakespeare: 01. A passion for stories
Donald Macleod investigates the origins of Berlioz’s flair for drama.
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03-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 05. Learning from the Past - The Grosse Fuge
Donald Macleod explores one of Beethoven’s greatest late-period works – the Grosse Fuge.
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02-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 04. Joy through Suffering - The ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata
Exploring the composition of one of Beethoven’s greatest sonatas, the 'Hammerklavier'.
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01-Nov-2023
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 03. An Invaluable Patron – The Archduke Trio
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's relationship with Archduke Rudolph of Austria.
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31-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 02. Death of the Hero - The ‘Eroica’ Symphony
Donald Macleod explores the troubled composition of Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony.
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30-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 01. Birth of a Legend - The First Piano Concerto
Donald Macleod explores the story of Beethoven making his debut as a performer in Vienna.
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27-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Edouard Lalo (1823-1892): 05. A winning formula
Donald Macleod finds Lalo enjoying success when he hits the jackpot with his second opera.
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26-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Edouard Lalo (1823-1892): 04. A scandal erupts
Donald Macleod unravels the bitter arguments opposing forces hurled at Lalo's only ballet.
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25-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Edouard Lalo (1823-1892): 03. A fiasco over Fiesque
Donald Macleod discovers why Lalo's first opera remained unperformed for over a century.
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24-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Edouard Lalo (1823-1892): 02. An independent spirit
Donald Macleod follows the budding musician's adventures during his early years in Paris.
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23-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Edouard Lalo (1823-1892): 01. A man of mystery
Donald Macleod takes a fresh look at the composer behind Symphonie espagnole.
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20-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Errollyn Wallen: 05. Public and Private
Donald Macleod and Errollyn Wallen discuss the role of the composer in today’s world.
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19-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Errollyn Wallen: 04. Songbook
Donald Macleod chats to composer Errollyn Wallen about songwriting.
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18-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Errollyn Wallen: 03. Finding New Feet
Donald Macleod and composer Errollyn Wallen discuss her breakthrough moment.
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17-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Errollyn Wallen: 02. First Steps
Donald Macleod speaks to Errollyn Wallen about her lifelong love of dance.
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16-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Errollyn Wallen: 01. Roots
Donald Macleod chats to Errollyn Wallen about her heritage and musical upbringing.
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13-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): 05. Director
Fauré brings reform and upset to France’s leading music school. With Donald Macleod.
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12-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): 04. A Position of Importance
Donald Macleod follows Fauré’s struggles to join the Paris Conservatoire.
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11-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): 03. Illustrious Circles
Donald Macleod finds Fauré navigating Parisian high society.
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10-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): 02. Marriage
Donald Macleod looks into Fauré's married life and his encounters with Wagner's music.
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09-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): 01. A Broken Engagement
Donald Macleod follows Fauré into the household of opera singer Pauline Viardot.
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06-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830): 05. Decline into Poverty
Kate Molleson explores Garcia’s final years in poverty.
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05-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830): 04. Rivalry at Court
Kate Molleson delves into a period of intrigues and rivalries for Garcia.
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04-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830): 03. Arrival of the Portuguese Court
Kate Molleson explores the impact of the Portuguese Court's arrival in Brazil.
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03-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830): 02. Preacher and Teacher
Kate Molleson delves into Garcia’s early career as a teacher and priest.
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02-Oct-2023
Composer of the Week - José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830): 01. The Father of Brazilian Classical Music
Kate Molleson explores Rio de Janeiro at the time of José Garcia’s birth
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29-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: A Welsh Quintet: 05. Hilary Tann
Donald Macleod explores the music of Hilary Tann with conductor David Wordsworth.
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28-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: A Welsh Quintet: 04. Rhian Samuel
Donald Macleod in conversation with one of Wales's pre-eminent composers, Rhian Samuel.
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27-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: A Welsh Quintet: 03. Grace Williams
Donald Macleod explores Grace Williams's colourful orchestral music with Rhiannon Mathias.
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26-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: A Welsh Quintet: 02. Dilys Elwyn-Edwards and Morfydd Owen
Donald Macleod's discovers the music of Morfydd Owen and Dilys Elwyn-Edwards.
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25-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: A Welsh Quintet: 01. Choral music from Wales
Donald Macleod marks Composer of the Week's 80th anniversary with the BBC Singers.
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22-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643): 05. A man of influence: Rome
Frescobaldi takes up his place as organist at St. Peter’s, Rome.
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21-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643): 04. Bread and circuses: Rome
Pope Urban VIII’s reign fostered a vibrant period of music.
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20-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643): 03. Composer says no: Milan, Mantua
Frescobaldi rejects households whose wooing of him wasn’t sufficiently enticing.
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19-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643): 02. Outside influences - Flanders
We follow Frescobaldi as he travels across Europe, trying to make a name for himself.
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18-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643): 01. Ferrara
Frescobaldi’s early life in Ferrara, one of the most brilliant courts of the Renaissance.
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15-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Carlos Chávez (1899-1978): 05. Rebirth
Chávez raises the next generation of Mexican composers - then leaves Mexico behind.
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14-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Carlos Chávez (1899-1978): 04. Power or Freedom?
Chávez is at an all-time high - but he finds himself composing less and less.
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13-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Carlos Chávez (1899-1978): 03. Return to Mexico
Chávez returns to his homeland.
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12-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Carlos Chávez (1899-1978): 02. The Roaring Twenties
Chávez arrives in New York at the height of the Roaring Twenties.
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11-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Carlos Chávez (1899-1978): 01. Educating a Rebel
The man who single-handedly revolutionised Mexican music.
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08-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): 05. A Vauxhall Extravaganza
Kate Molleson invites us to London’s classiest al fresco venue for an explosive premiere.
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07-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): 04. An Irish Welcome
Kate Molleson joins Handel in Dublin, the city where he released his biggest hit.
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06-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): 03. An Oxford Debut
Kate Molleson follows Handel on a performance-packed sojourn among the dreaming spires.
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05-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): 02. Golden Evenings at Cannons
Kate Molleson explores the home of Handel’s most extravagant employer.
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04-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): 01. A Royal Launch
Kate Molleson boards Handel’s riverboat for the tale of one of his most storied premieres.
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01-Sep-2023
Composer of the Week - Icons of British Light Music: 05. Finding a new stage
Donald Macleod explores the composers who fought to keep light music alive.
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31-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Icons of British Light Music: 04. An audience of millions
Donald Macleod explores the impact of radio on the British light music scene.
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30-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Icons of British Light Music: 03. The Talkies
Donald Macleod explores the use of British light music in cinema.
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29-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Icons of British Light Music: 02. Oh I do like to be beside the seaside
Donald Macleod explores how light music took over the holiday resorts of Britain.
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28-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Icons of British Light Music: 01. Born of the Theatre
Donald Macleod explores how light music emerged from the theatres of late-1800s Britain.
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25-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 05. Je suis hongrois
Liszt's final years and the conflict over his burial.
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24-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 04. Charitas
Liszt, charity and the obligation of genius.
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23-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 03. Uprising
Hungarian costume and a jewel-encrusted sword. With Donald Macleod.
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22-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 02. Flood
Liszt is inspired to action after news of a natural disaster in his homeland, Hungary.
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21-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Franz Liszt (1811-1886): 01. Recollections
Franz Liszt's Hungarian childhood in Raiding.
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18-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952): 05. Muse
Donald Macleod looks at Bosmans’s fiery relationship with singer Noëmie Perugia.
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17-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952): 04. A British Connection
Donald Macleod looks at the relationship between Henriëtte Bosmans and Benjamin Britten.
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16-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952): 03. Occupied Amsterdam
Donald Macleod explores the impact of World War II on Bosmans's circumstances.
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15-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952): 02. Concert Pianist
Donald Macleod explores Henriëtte Bosmans’s rise to fame as a pianist.
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14-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952): 01. Family Matters
Donald Macleod looks into Bosmans’s relationship with her parents.
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04-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: Composers in Conversation: 05. Anoushka Shankar and Oliver Knussen
Donald Macleod looks back on two memorable and very different live interviews.
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03-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: Composers in Conversation: 04. Adolphus Hailstork and Thea Musgrave
Donald Macleod revisits interviews with two of today's most prolific living composers
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02-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: Composers in Conversation: 03. Harrison Birtwistle and Hans Werner Henze
Donald Macleod celebrates the programme’s 80th birthday with some personal highlights.
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01-Aug-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: Composers in Conversation: 02. Meredith Monk and Steve Reich
Donald Macleod revisits his encounters with two of America’s most iconic living composers.
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31-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Anniversary Special: Composers in Conversation: 01. Stephen Sondheim and Judith Weir
Donald Macleod kicks off a week of 80th anniversary highlights from the archives.
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28-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983): 05. Music is Music
Kate Molleson discovers Tailleferre restarting her professional life in her eighties.
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27-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983): 04. An Escape Route
Kate Molleson tells the story of Germaine Tailleferre's escape from war-torn France.
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26-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983): 03. The new Romeo and Juliet
Kate Molleson follows Tailleferre's activities in America, including a whirlwind marriage.
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25-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983): 02. A meeting of minds
Kate Molleson considers why Germaine Tailleferre struck up a friendship with Ravel.
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24-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983): 01. Battles lost, battles won
Kate Molleson introduces the spry and subtly surprising music of Germaine Tailleferre.
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21-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Samuel Barber (1910-1981): 05. Relationships under strain
Donald Macleod delves into Samuel Barber’s final years of emotional turmoil.
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20-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Samuel Barber (1910-1981): 04. Barber’s operatic failure
Donald Macleod journeys through the 1960s, when Barber composes an Egyptian opera.
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19-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Samuel Barber (1910-1981): 03. An American Opera
Donald Macleod explores a time when Barber set out to be a conductor.
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18-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Samuel Barber (1910-1981): 02. Barber joins the Army
Donald Macleod delves into Barber’s time during and after the Second World War.
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17-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Samuel Barber (1910-1981): 01. Adagio for Strings
Donald Macleod journeys into Samuel Barber’s early career.
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13-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Marie Jaëll (1846-1925): Marie Jaëll and Isolation
Donald Macleod explores Marie Jaëll’s final years.
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12-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Marie Jaëll (1846-1925): Marie Jaëll: Composer and Scientist
Donald Macleod looks into Marie Jaëll’s journey from composition to science.
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11-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Marie Jaëll (1846-1925): Marie and Alfred Jaëll
Donald Macleod delves into Marie Trautmann’s marriage to Alfred Jaëll.
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10-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - Marie Jaëll (1846-1925): Marie Jaëll the Pianist
Donald Macleod explores the music of piano prodigy Marie Jaëll.
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07-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - William Byrd (1543-1623): 05. Stondon Massey
Donald Macleod sees Byrd retire to the country to pursue new and more personal projects.
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06-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - William Byrd (1543-1623): 04. Recusant
Donald Macleod examines Byrd the religious rebel.
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05-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - William Byrd (1543-1623): 03. The Chapel Royal
Byrd joins the queen’s choir and tries his luck in publishing. With Donald Macleod.
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04-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - William Byrd (1543-1623): 02. Lincoln
Byrd starts a new job, determined to impress. Can he compromise too? With Donald Macleod.
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03-Jul-2023
Composer of the Week - William Byrd (1543-1623): 01. A Man of Many Parts
Donald Macleod explores the tangle of relationships, duties and ideas surrounding Byrd.
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30-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - George Gershwin (1898-1937): 05. The First Great American Opera
Donald Macleod focuses on the origins and evolution of Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess.
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29-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - George Gershwin (1898-1937): 04. Gershwin in Hollywood
Donald Macleod tells the story of George Gershwin’s first experience of Hollywood.
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28-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - George Gershwin (1898-1937): 03. An American in Paris
Donald Macleod explores George Gershwin’s time in Paris in the spring of 1928.
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27-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - George Gershwin (1898-1937): 02. He Rhapsodises Blues
Donald Macleod explores the years after Gershwin’s huge success with Rhapsody in Blue.
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26-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - George Gershwin (1898-1937): 01. Melting Pot
Donald Macleod explores the early life of George Gershwin.
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23-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782): 05. Highwaymen and Debt Collectors
Donald Macleod delves into JC Bach’s eventful final years, including a visit to Paris.
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22-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782): 04. Painters and Prima Donnas
Donald Macleod explores JC Bach’s friendship with Abel and Gainsborough.
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21-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782): 03. Bach meets Mozart
Donald Macleod explores the period during which JC Bach mentored WA Mozart.
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20-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782): 02. The Opera Bug
Donald Macleod delves into JC Bach’s early career as a composer for the stage.
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19-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782): 01. Prefects and Patrons
Donald Macleod delves into Johann Christian Bach’s early life.
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16-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Manuel de Falla (1876-1946): 05. Strife and Struggle
Falla’s peaceful life is plunged into uncertainty as civil war looms. With Donald Macleod.
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15-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Manuel de Falla (1876-1946): 04. A Simpler Life
Falla decides it’s time for a change, in his life and his music. With Donald Macleod.
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14-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Manuel de Falla (1876-1946): 02. A Theatrical Threesome
Donald Macleod views Falla through the eyes of two of his early collaborators.
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14-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Manuel de Falla (1876-1946): 01. New City, New Start
A young musician arrives in Paris in search of work and inspiration. With Donald Macleod.
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14-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Manuel de Falla (1876-1946): 03. Costumes and Castanets
Falla is delighted to welcome some old friends to his city. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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14-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868): 05. Sins of old age
Rossini returns from retirement. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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14-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868): 04. Indifferent to judgement
At the height of his fame, Rossini suddenly retires. Donald Macleod asks why?
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07-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868): 03. Lots of Barbers
Rossini fever sweeps Europe. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868): 02. Everything is amazing
Rossini meets his muse and makes his name. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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05-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868): 01. Son of a horn
At the peak of his fame, Rossini suddenly disappears. What led him to this moment?
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02-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757): 05. Farinelli
Scarlatti's world is transformed by the arrival of a singing celebrity.
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01-Jun-2023
Composer of the Week - Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757): 04. Maria Bárbara
Scarlatti meets the woman who will change the course of his life.
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31-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757): 03. Emancipation
Scarlatti puts his home and his family behind him.
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30-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757): 02. Adventures in Opera
Scarlatti looks to strike out on his own.
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29-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757): 01. Apprenticeship
Domenico takes his first job under the watchful scrutiny of his father.
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26-May-2023
Composer of the Week - György Ligeti (1923-2006): 05. Building Blocks
Kate Molleson explores György Ligeti's cultural past.
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25-May-2023
Composer of the Week - György Ligeti (1923-2006): 04. Renewal and Regeneration
Kate Molleson explores György Ligeti's process for writing music.
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24-May-2023
Composer of the Week - György Ligeti (1923-2006): 03. Time Past and Present
Kate Molleson explores György Ligeti's world-view and the first set of piano études.
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23-May-2023
Composer of the Week - György Ligeti (1923-2006): 02. Risk and Reward
Kate Molleson explores György Ligeti's arrival in the west.
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22-May-2023
Composer of the Week - György Ligeti (1923-2006): 01. Frontiers
Kate Molleson explores György Ligeti's formative years.
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19-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 05. The Nutcracker
Donald Macleod with Sir Matthew Bourne and Dame Monica Mason on Tchaikovsky's final ballet
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18-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 04. Visiting America
Donald Macleod follows Tchaikovsky on tour to America.
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17-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 03. Devising The Sleeping Beauty
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky's music with Dame Monica Mason and Sir Matthew Bourne.
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16-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 02. A Disastrous Marriage
Tchaikovsky make a significant mistake. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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15-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 01. Creating Swan Lake
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky's music with Sir Matthew Bourne and Dame Monica Mason.
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12-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pauline Viardot and Her Circle: 05. The Incomparable Viardot Salon
Donald Macleod considers the impact of Pauline Viardot's famous twice-weekly salons.
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11-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pauline Viardot and Her Circle: 04. A Composer and a Collaborator
Donald Macleod considers Pauline Viardot's role as a muse for Gounod and other composers.
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10-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pauline Viardot and Her Circle: 03. A Poet and a Civil Servant
Donald Macleod assesses Pauline Viardot's friendship with writer Ivan Turgenev.
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09-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pauline Viardot and Her Circle: 02. The New Sensation
Donald Macleod explores how Pauline Viardot was aided by Alfred de Musset and George Sand.
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08-May-2023
Composer of the Week - Pauline Viardot and Her Circle: 01. The García Clan
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of multi-talented musician Pauline Viardot.
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05-May-2023
Composer of the Week - William Walton (1902-1983): 05. A right royal knees-up
As Queen Elizabeth II is crowned, Walton steps up to the plate.
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04-May-2023
Composer of the Week - William Walton (1902-1983): 04. Tomorrow's black sheep
As World War II breaks out, Walton gets writer’s block.
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03-May-2023
Composer of the Week - William Walton (1902-1983): 03. Fit for a king
The crown calls on Walton. Will he abandon his avant-garde roots?
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02-May-2023
Composer of the Week - William Walton (1902-1983): 02. Nonsense through megaphones
Walton meets the Sitwell siblings.
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01-May-2023
Composer of the Week - William Walton (1902-1983): 01. Invisible wings
How did a boy from Oldham become the royals’ favourite composer?
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28-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): 05. Heart and soul
Donald Macleod assesses the roles of a confidante and a musician's widow in Haydn's life.
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27-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): 04. Coffee and hot chocolates
Donald Macleod appraises Haydn's close links with Mozart and his trickier pupil Beethoven.
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26-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): 03. Sibling rivalries
Donald Macleod takes a closer look at Haydn's family ties, including his brother Michael.
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25-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): 02. A cloud and a silver lining
Donald Macleod explains how a lucky break transformed Haydn's prospects.
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24-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): 01. Disappointment and solace
Donald Macleod compares and contrasts two of Haydn's closest relationships.
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21-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): 05. La voix humaine
Poulenc re-invents himself again.
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20-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): 04. Tu as vu la mort
As war changes Paris, Poulenc searches for hope.
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19-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): 03. Exaucez-nous
Poulenc undertakes a life-altering pilgrimage.
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18-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): 02. Les Six
Poulenc finds success and celebrity on the streets of Paris.
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17-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Fils à papa
Poulenc: pampered child or Parisian prodigy?
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14-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900): The Great Carpet Quarrel
Donald Macleod follows Sullivan’s final decade, including a highly-publicised court case.
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13-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900): A Tempestuous Relationship
Donald Macleod explores Sullivan’s increasing popularity and prominence.
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12-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900): Sullivan meets Gilbert
Donald Macleod explores the period when Sullivan meets the librettist W.S. Gilbert.
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11-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900): Sullivan at the Crystal Palace
Donald Macleod explores the impact of George Grove upon Arthur Sullivan.
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10-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900): An emerging genius
Donald Macleod traces Arthur Sullivan’s early development in music.
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07-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Hildegard of Bingen and Isabella Leonarda: 05. Transcendent voices
Hildegard’s secretaries prepare to preserve the story of her life. With Donald Macleod.
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06-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Hildegard of Bingen and Isabella Leonarda: 04. Beyond the Cloister
Donald Macleod examines how Leonarda’s music reached beyond the walls of her convent.
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05-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Hildegard of Bingen and Isabella Leonarda: 03. New rules
Hildegard becomes a leader and strikes out on her own. With Donald Macleod.
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04-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Hildegard of Bingen and Isabella Leonarda: 02. The Muse of Novara
Leonarda’s talent flourishes within the confines of her convent. With Donald Macleod
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03-Apr-2023
Composer of the Week - Hildegard of Bingen and Isabella Leonarda: 01. Visionary
Hildegard’s life is transformed after she reveals a long-held secret. With Donald Macleod.
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31-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): 05. Beverly Hills
Donald Macleod explores the final chapter of Rachmaninov's life - in California.
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30-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): 04. Switzerland
Rachmaninov attempts to recreate his Russian home in Switzerland.
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29-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): 03. New York
Rachmaninov is forced to embark on a new full-time career as a concert pianist.
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28-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): 02. Leaving Ivanovka
Rachmaninov finds himself having to take on the running of the Ivanovka estate.
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27-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): 01. Ivanovka
Donald Macleod explores Rachmaninov’s life in exile from Russia.
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24-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Georges Bizet (1838-1875): 05. Sudden Death
Tragedy looms for Bizet. Plus, we reach Carmen’s shocking finale. With Donald Macleod.
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23-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Georges Bizet (1838-1875): 04. Love and War
Bizet becomes a soldier. In Act 3 of Carmen, love turns to regret. With Donald Macleod
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22-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Georges Bizet (1838-1875): Reality Bites
Carmen is falling for José, but she's soon distracted by another man! With Donald Macleod.
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21-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Georges Bizet (1838-1875): Roman Holiday
Bizet’s naive hero, Don José, falls under Carmen’s alluring spell. With Donald Macleod.
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20-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Georges Bizet (1838-1875): 01. Great Expectations
Donald Macleod Introduces us to Carmen, Bizet’s most feted operatic creation.
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17-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 05. An Incomplete Life
Donald Macleod explores what we know of Purcell’s private life.
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16-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 04. Backstage, Onstage
Donald Macleod takes us backstage in London’s new Restoration-era theatres.
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15-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 03. Music on Demand
Donald Macleod explores the music Purcell wrote to mark specific occasions.
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14-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 02. Sacred Journey
Donald Macleod explores Purcell’s sacred writing.
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13-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Henry Purcell (1659-1695): 01. Music Born of Turmoil
Donald Macleod explores Purcell’s turbulent early years.
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10-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Johanna Müller-Hermann (1868-1941): 05. Life during World War II
Donald Macleod delves into Müller-Hermann’s final years during the Second World War.
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09-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Johanna Müller-Hermann (1868-1941): 04. International Teacher
Donald Macleod explores Müller-Hermann’s growing reputation as a composer and teacher.
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08-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Johanna Müller-Hermann (1868-1941): 03. Vienna and the Great War
Donald Macleod follows Müller-Hermann during the period of the World War I.
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07-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Johanna Müller-Hermann (1868-1941): 02. Studying with Zemlinsky
Donald Macleod explores the impact of marriage on Johanna Müller-Hermann.
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06-Mar-2023
Composer of the Week - Johanna Müller-Hermann (1868-1941): 01. A Musical Family
Donald Macleod explores Müller-Hermann’s early musical experiences.
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28-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677): 02. To be a woman
Exploring how Barbara Strozzi navigated the 17th-century male-dominated music scene.
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27-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677): 01. Raised for success
Donald Macleod and Laurie Stras explore Barbara Strozzi’s early success as a singer.
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24-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 05. Journey’s End
Wagner’s inaugural Bayreuth Festival leaves him mired in debt. With Donald Macleod.
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23-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 04. Opening Night
Opening night of the very first Bayreuth Festival approaches. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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22-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 03. A New Beginning
Wagner selects a new site for his theatre, but the costs soon spiral. With Donald Macleod.
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21-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 02. Deceit and Disillusion
Will King Ludwig save Wagner's dream project, or ruin it? Presented by Donald Macleod.
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20-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Richard Wagner (1813-1883): 01. Total Artwork
Wagner dreams of creating a new kind of musical experience. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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17-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585): 05. Elizabeth I
Donald Macleod explores Tallis’s success under the reign of Elizabeth I.
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16-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585): 04. All Change
Donald Macleod explores how life was for Tallis under King Edward and Queen Mary.
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15-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585): Henry VIII's Chapel Royal
Donald MacLeod explores Tallis’s time in Henry VIII’s Chapel Royal.
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14-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585): 02. Reform
Donald Macleod examines how the reforms of Henry VIII impacted Thomas Tallis.
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13-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585): 01. All roads lead to London
Donald Macleod explores the circumstances that brought Thomas Tallis to London.
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10-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): Valediction
Dogged by ill health, Smetana worries about his future and his legacy. With Donald Macleod
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09-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): 04. Rivalries
Smetana campaigns to save his conducting job at the National Theatre. With Donald Macleod
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08-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): 03. Stage-struck
Smetana plans his conquest of Prague’s new opera theatre. With Donald Macleod.
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07-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): 02. Northern Exposure
Smetana decides to abandon his woes, his family and his homeland. With Donald Macleod.
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06-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): 01. Ambition and Struggle
Smetana’s talent was obvious, but would that be enough to survive? With Donald Macleod.
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03-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): 05. Winter - Vienna
Donald Macleod tries to piece together the last days of Antonio Vivaldi.
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02-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): 04. Autumn - Scandal
Donald Macleod explores the autumn of Vivaldi’s career as scandal breaks out.
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01-Feb-2023
Composer of the Week - Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): 03. Summer - Further Fields
Donald MacLeod explores Vivaldi’s successes outside his native Venice.
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31-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): 02. Summer - Carnival of Venice
Donald Macleod examines Vivaldi’s role in the world of the Venetian carnival.
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30-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): 01. Spring – Pietà
Donald Macleod explores Vivaldi’s association with the Ospedale della Pietà.
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27-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Mel Bonis (1858-1937): Reflections on a life
Donald Macloed explores Mel Bonis's preoccupations, musical and otherwise, in later life
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26-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Mel Bonis (1858-1937): Heartache in war-time
Donald Macleod considers why the Great War was especially difficult for Mel Bonis
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25-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Mel Bonis (1858-1937): An Affair of the Heart
Donald Macleod recounts how Mel Bonis came to find her musical training at an abrupt end
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24-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Mel Bonis (1858-1937): The learning years
Donald Macleod explores Mel Bonis's years of training at the Paris Conservatoire
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23-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Mel Bonis (1858-1937): The turning point
Donald Macleod surveys the life of nineteenth century French composer Mel Bonis
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20-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 05. Cornered
The composer makes a shocking decision.
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19-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 04. Puppet
The composer is caught in a new power struggle.
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18-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 03. Spectacle
Shostakovich attempts to save his reputation.
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17-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 02. Game
Stalin goes to the opera.
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16-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975): 01. Unplayable
Shostakovich: Soviet lackey... or undercover dissident?
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13-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): 05. Stirring the Pot
Donald Macleod explores Mozart's characterisation of the troublemakers in his operas.
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12-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): 04. Doing the Right Thing
Donald Macleod explores the themes of honour and duty in Mozart's operas.
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11-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): 03. Lessons in Love
Donald Macleod looks at Mozart's treatment of love in all its guises in his operas.
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10-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): 02. Life in Vienna
Donald Macleod looks at Mozart's characterisation of the gentry in his operas.
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09-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): 01. A Servant’s Lot in Life
Donald Macleod celebrates the servants in The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni.
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06-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Max Richter (b 1966): In the Studio
Donald Macleod joins composer Max Richter in his creative habitat
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05-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Max Richter (b 1966): Dreamscapes
Donald Macleod talks to record-breaking composer Max Richter about his iconic work, SLEEP.
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04-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Max Richter (b 1966): In Motion
Donald Macleod and composer Max Richter explore his diverse music for stage and screen.
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03-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Max Richter (b 1966): Daylight
Donald Macleod and composer Max Richter revisit a lightbulb moment in his career.
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02-Jan-2023
Composer of the Week - Max Richter (b 1966): Doorstep Discovery
Donald Macleod speaks to trailblazing composer Max Richter about his musical beginnings.
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30-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - More One Hit Wonders: 05. Monti and Rodrigo
Donald Macleod with another selection of composers who are most famous for a single work.
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29-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - More One Hit Wonders: 04. Clarke and Boccherini
Donald Macleod with another selection of composers who are most famous for a single work.
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28-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - More One Hit Wonders: 03. Canteloube and Cage
Donald Macleod with another selection of composers who are most famous for a single work.
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27-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - More One Hit Wonders: 02. Waldteufel and Paganini
Donald Macleod with another selection of composers who are most famous for a single work.
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26-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - More One Hit Wonders: 01. Ponchielli and Widor
Donald Macleod with another selection of composers who are most famous for a single work.
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23-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - JS Bach at Christmas: 05. Leipzig, 1745
Bach produces his final cantata for Christmas Day. With Donald Macleod.
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22-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - JS Bach at Christmas: 04. Leipzig, 1734
Bach makes plans for his most elaborate Christmas yet. With Donald Macleod.
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21-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - JS Bach at Christmas: 03. Cöthen, 1721
A new job means Bach's Christmases will now feel very different. With Donald Macleod.
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20-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - JS Bach at Christmas: 02. Weimar, 1717
Bach is put under arrest in Weimar and reflects on Christmases past. With Donald Macleod.
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19-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - JS Bach at Christmas: 01. Leipzig, 1723
Expectations are high as Bach plans his first Christmas in Leipzig. With Donald Macleod.
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16-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940): 05. Marriage to a revolutionary
Donald Macleod explores Kashperova’s final years when her music was silenced.
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15-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940): 04. Disagreements with Balakirev
Donald Macleod explores Kashperova’s relationship with fellow composer Balakirev.
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14-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940): 03. Journeys outside Russia
Donald Macleod follows Kashperova’s trips abroad to Estonia, Berlin and London.
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13-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940): 02. Teaching Igor Stravinsky
Donald Macleod explores Kashperova’s impact on her pupil Igor Stravinsky.
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12-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940): 01. Tutored by Rubinstein
Donald Macleod explores Kashperova’s relationship with her world-famous tutor Rubinstein.
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09-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - César Franck (1822-1890): 05. The golden years
Donald Macleod sees Franck firing on all cylinders with a succession of enduring works.
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08-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - César Franck (1822-1890): 04. Father Franck
Donald Macleod examines Franck's unorthodox methods and why he was such a revered teacher.
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07-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - César Franck (1822-1890): 03. Theatrical hopes
Donald Macleod follows César Franck's activities during the Siege of Paris.
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06-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - César Franck (1822-1890): 02. Escape
Romance and the 1848 revolution coincide for César Franck. With Donald Macleod.
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05-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - César Franck (1822-1890): 01. A musical puzzle
Donald Macleod explores the reasons why César Franck's reserved nature held him back.
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02-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849): 05. The End of the Affair
Donald Macleod explores how Chopin’s relationship with Sand came to a fractious end.
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01-Dec-2022
Composer of the Week - Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849): 04. The City of Light
Donald Macleod explores Chopin and George Sand’s shared lives in Paris.
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30-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849): 03. Garden of Eden
Donald Macleod explores Chopin and Sand’s time at her family home at Nohant.
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29-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849): 02. Hallucinations and Rainstorms
Donald Macleod explores Chopin and Sand’s eventful trip to Majorca.
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28-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849): 01. An Introduction from Liszt
Donald Macleod explores Liszt’s role in Chopin’s first meetings with novelist George Sand.
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25-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003): 05. Working in the Movies
Donald Macleod explores Doreen Carwithen's life as a film composer in the 1940s and 50s
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24-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003): 04. Crisis and Resolution
Donald Macleod recounts how Doreen Carwithen's elopement with William Alwyn came about.
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23-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003): 03. Drawing the Landscape
Donald Macleod and Leah Broad discuss the influence of the English landscape on Carwithen.
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22-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003): 02. London in the Blitz
Donald Macleod follows Doreen Carwithen's wartime experiences in the capital.
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21-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003): 01. A Buckinghamshire Childhood
Donald Macleod explores the life of 20th-century British composer Doreen Carwithen.
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18-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - The Harlem Renaissance: 05. Marching Out
Louis Armstrong gets his big break as the Harlem Renaissance comes to an end.
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17-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - The Harlem Renaissance: 04. Symphony in Black
Donald Macleod explores the work of Duke Ellington.
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16-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - The Harlem Renaissance: 03. Rivers
Langston Hughes arrives in Harlem.
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15-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - The Harlem Renaissance: 02. Shuffle Along
Two composers set out to create the first all-Black Broadway musical.
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14-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - The Harlem Renaissance: 01. Making Strides
Donald Macleod celebrates the explosion of jazz and blues in New York after World War I.
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11-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): 05. Verdi the outsider, Verdi the legend
Verdi returns to Milan in a late blaze of glory. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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10-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): 04. Addio
Things go badly wrong between Verdi and Milan. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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09-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): 03. Success
Donald Macleod sees Verdi thriving as he enjoys operatic success at La Scala, Milan.
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08-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): 02. Merelli’s La Scala
Donald Macleod explores Verdi’s relationship with Milan’s famous opera house – La Scala.
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07-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): 01. Endings and beginnings
Donald Macleod explores Verdi’s funeral in Milan, and his first experiences in the city.
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04-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912): 05. Steal Away
Donald Macleod reflects on Coleridge-Taylor’s premature death and his legacy.
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03-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912): 04. Weary Traveller
Donald Macleod follows Coleridge-Taylor on his adventures across Britain and America.
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02-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912): 03. At Home
Donald Macleod explores Coleridge-Taylor’s place in society, and steps inside his home.
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01-Nov-2022
Composer of the Week - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912): 02. Wedding Feast
Donald Macleod follows the twists and turns of Coleridge-Taylor’s wedding story.
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31-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912): 01. Going Up
Donald Macleod follows Coleridge-Taylor’s first steps up the musical ladder.
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28-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - England's Golden Age: 05. Thomas Tomkins – a last flowering of the Golden Age
Donald Macleod surveys the later life of the last surviving composer of the Golden Age.
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27-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - England's Golden Age: 04. James I's Chapel Royal and the short life of Orlando Gibbons
Donald Macleod explores the Chapel Royal under James I.
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26-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - England's Golden Age: 03. Composers in Exile
Donald Macleod explores the composers who lived in exile during England’s Golden Age.
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25-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - England's Golden Age: 02. The Italian Influence
Donald Macleod examines the impact of Italy on England’s Golden Age.
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24-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - England's Golden Age: 01. Oriana's Triumphs
Exploring the conditions which led to music flourishing under Elizabeth I's rule.
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21-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 05. 1849-50 - Draft Dodging
Would Schumann be forced to serve in Dresden’s revolutionary war? With Donald Macloed.
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20-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 04. 1845-47 - Fix Yourself through Counterpoint
When his mental health was fragile, Schumann took solace in musical technique.
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19-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 03. 1843-44 - An Insecure Paradise
Just as Robert realises his biggest work so far, his depression returns with a vengeance.
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19-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 02. 1841-42 - Peer Approval
Donald Macleod looks at Schumann’s need for the respect of his peers. With Donald Macleod.
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19-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 01. 1840-41 - Creative Tensions
How Robert and Clara Schumann reconciled their domestic creative tension.
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10-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 05. Early works
Donald Macleod and Ceri Owen discuss Vaughan Williams the emerging composer
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07-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Adolphus Hailstork (1941): 05. Other Sources of Inspiration
Donald Macleod explores how Norfolk Port inspired Adolphus Hailstork.
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06-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Adolphus Hailstork (1941): 04. Inspired by Anglican Choral Traditions
Donald Macleod delves into Hailstork’s early musical experiences in a cathedral.
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05-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Adolphus Hailstork (1941): 03. Inspired by European Traditions
Donald Macleod explores Nadia Boulanger’s impact on Adolphus Hailstork.
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04-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Adolphus Hailstork (1941): 02. Inspired by Spirituals
Donald Macleod explores the impact of spirituals on Adolphus Hailstork.
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03-Oct-2022
Composer of the Week - Adolphus Hailstork (1941): 01. Discovering Adolphus Hailstork
Donald Macleod journeys into the varied musical landscape of Adolphus Hailstork.
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30-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826): 05. Towards a London terminus
Weber’s last months, spent in London overseeing his opera Oberon.
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29-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826): 04. From gaffes to glory
Weber’s status as a composer is perceptibly changing: he’s a man clearly on the up.
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28-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826): 03. Ménage à trois
Weber’s love life was scarcely less complicated or scandal-ridden than his other affairs.
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27-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826): 02. Travelling troubadour
Weber’s affairs in Stuttgart reach crisis point when he is placed under arrest.
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26-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826): 01. Near-death experience
How did the young Weber survive the extreme dramas of his early years?
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23-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Emilie Mayer (1812-1883): 05. Indian Summer
Mayer makes a triumphant return to Berlin.
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22-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Emilie Mayer (1812-1883): 04. Goodbye to Berlin
Mayer returns to her roots in search of a more peaceful life.
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21-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Emilie Mayer (1812-1883): 03. Triumphs in Berlin
Mayer meets royalty and establishes her own salon.
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20-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Emilie Mayer (1812-1883): 02. Stepping Out
Mayer meets her mentor, Carl Loewe.
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20-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Emilie Mayer (1812-1883): 01. Early Tragedy
Donald Macleod uncovers the story of a forgotten luminary of 19th-century music.
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16-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 05. Afflictions and Obsessions
Donald Macleod delves into Bruckner’s struggles with his health.
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15-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 04. Hostility in the Press
Donald Macleod explores critic Eduard Hanslick’s vitriol towards Bruckner.
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14-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 03. Adoration of Wagner
Donald Macleod explores Wagner’s impact on Bruckner’s music.
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13-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 02. Organist Extraordinaire
Donald Macleod delves into Bruckner’s abilities at the organ.
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12-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): 01. The Eternal Student
Donald Macleod delves into Bruckner’s passion for learning.
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08-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Franz Schubert (1797-1828): 04. Divine Spark
Donald Macleod explores Franz Schubert's final year and his crowning glory, Winterreise.
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07-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Franz Schubert (1797-1828): 03. Disintegration
Donald Macleod focuses on Franz Schubert in 1824 - a year of trials and triumph.
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06-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Franz Schubert (1797-1828): 02. Transformation
Donald Macleod focuses on Franz Schubert in the years after 1820.
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05-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Franz Schubert (1797-1828): 01. Reluctant Schoolmaster
Donald Macleod focuses on Franz Schubert at the age of 18.
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05-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Dietrich Buxtehude (c1637-1707): 02. Father’s Footsteps
Donald Macleod traces Buxtehude’s first professional engagements.
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05-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Dietrich Buxtehude (c1637-1707): 05. Buxtehude, the Man
Donald Macleod tries to piece together an impression of what Buxtehude was like as a man.
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05-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Dietrich Buxtehude (c1637-1707): 03. Lübeck
Donald Macleod explores Buxtehude’s new life in the city of Lübeck.
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05-Sep-2022
Composer of the Week - Dietrich Buxtehude (c1637-1707): 04. An Ambitious Concertmaster
Exploring Buxtehude’s Abendmusiken concerts, devised to entertain Lübeck’s population.
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29-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Dietrich Buxtehude (c1637-1707): 01. The Great Dane
Bach pays Buxtehude a visit, and Donald Macleod explores the composer’s early life.
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26-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 04. Mendelssohn’s Early Demise
Donald Macleod explores Felix Mendelssohn’s final year.
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25-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 03. Mendelssohn and Jenny Lind
Donald Macleod explores the hectic years of 1845 and 1846 for Felix Mendelssohn.
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24-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 02. At the Height of His Fame
Donald Macleod surveys Mendelssohn’s life at the height of his career.
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23-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): 01. Between Two Cities
Donald Macleod journeys with Mendelssohn between Berlin and Leipzig.
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19-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Ruth Gipps (1921-1999): 04. A Voice for British Music
Donald Macleod considers Ruth Gipps' broad contribution to education and British music.
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18-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Ruth Gipps (1921-1999): 03. The Conductor
Donald Macleod looks at the challenges Ruth Gipps had to overcome as a conductor.
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17-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Ruth Gipps (1921-1999): 02. The Young Student
Donald Macleod follows Ruth Gipps' progress as a young music student in war-time London.
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16-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Ruth Gipps (1921-1999): 01. A Sussex Childhood
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the English composer Ruth Gipps.
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12-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 04. A Restless Spirit
Donald Macleod considers Grieg's wanderlust with the second suite from Peer Gynt.
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11-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 03. A Rural Retreat
Donald Macleod considers the role the Hardanger region played in Grieg's creative process
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10-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 02. Youthful Adventures
Donald Macleod looks at the decade Grieg spent in Oslo, with music including In Autumn.
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09-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): 01. A Difficult Relationship
Donald Macleod explores Grieg's links with Bergen, and Troldhaugen – the house he built.
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05-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): 05. The Very Reverend Claudio Monteverdi
Monteverdi enters the priesthood and plague comes to Venice.
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04-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): 04. La Serenissima
Donald Macleod explores a new chapter in Monteverdi’s life in Venice.
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03-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): 03. Opera
Donald Macleod explores Monteverdi’s role in the birth of opera.
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02-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): 02. Poverty in the swamps
Donald Macleod explores the reality of Monteverdi’s life at the Gonzaga court in Mantua.
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01-Aug-2022
Composer of the Week - Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): 01. Finding his Voice
Monteverdi’s prodigious musical talent leads him from Cremona to Mantua.
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29-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 05. The Diabellis
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s astonishing late Diabelli Variations.
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28-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 04. For… Therese?
Donald Macleod untangles the enigma of Beethoven’s most famous piano bagatelle.
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27-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 03. To Hope
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s re-emergence from the depths of personal torment.
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26-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 02. Heiligenstadt Variations
Donald Macleod tells the story of Beethoven’s harrowing personal crisis of 1802.
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25-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 01. Variations on a Lifelong Theme
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s life as a set of themes and variations.
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22-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 05. Little Master in a Big Country
Donald Macleod tells the story of Ravel’s thrill at first visiting the USA.
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21-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 04. A Return to Civility
Donald Macleod untangles the musical repercussions of Ravel’s war experience.
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20-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 03. A Classicist at War
Donald Macleod explores Ravel’s early war years and military service.
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19-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 02. Hotshot vs the Establishment
The story of Ravel’s scandalous failure to win France’s most famous composition prize.
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18-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): 01. A Dandy in a Hurry
Donald Macleod explores Ravel’s meteoric rise to fame.
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15-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Hélène de Montgeroult (1764-1836): 05. Unsilenced
Donald Macleod and Clare Hammond discuss Montgeroult’s powerful musical legacy.
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14-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Hélène de Montgeroult (1764-1836): 04. Behind Closed Doors
Donald Macleod explores the twists and turns of Montgeroult’s private life.
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13-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Hélène de Montgeroult (1764-1836): 03. Get out of Jail Card
Donald Macleod recounts how Hélène de Montgeroult’s piano playing saved her life.
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12-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Hélène de Montgeroult (1764-1836): 02. The Revolution Rumbles
Donald Macleod hears how France's Reign of Terror turned Montgeroult's life upside down.
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11-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Hélène de Montgeroult (1764-1836): 01. Noble Beginnings
Donald Macleod follows Montgeroult as she uses music to navigate her aristocratic society.
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08-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): 05. Debate and Dispute
Donald Macleod explores Rameau's prickly relationships with colleagues and friends.
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07-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): 04. Music and Movement
Donald Macleod considers the role of dance in Rameau's theatrical spectacles.
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06-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): 03. Royal Spectacle
Donald Macleod joins Madame de Pompadour in her private theatre at Versailles.
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05-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): 02. The Palais Royal
Donald Macleod follows Rameau backstage at the Paris Opera.
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04-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): 01. A Dream Realised
Donald Macleod marks the Tour de France cycle race with French composers throughout July.
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01-Jul-2022
Composer of the Week - Billy Strayhorn (1915-67): 05. Riverside Drive
Donald Macleod charts American jazz musician Billy Strayhorn's years in Riverside Drive.
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30-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Billy Strayhorn (1915-67): 04. The Mars Club
Donald Macleod looks into American jazz musician Billy Strayhorn's love affair with Paris.
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29-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Billy Strayhorn (1915-67): 03. Hollywood Beckons
Donald Macleod explores American jazz musician Billy Strayhorn's time in Hollywood.
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28-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Billy Strayhorn (1915-67): 02. 315 Convent Avenue
Donald Macleod assesses the impact New York had on American jazz musician Billy Strayhorn.
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27-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Billy Strayhorn (1915-67): 01. Something to Live For
Donald Macleod looks at the life and work of American jazz musician Billy Strayhorn.
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24-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611): 05. Death of the Empress
Donald Macleod explores Victoria’s final years in Spain employed by Empress Maria.
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23-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611): 04. Moving to a Convent
Donald Macleod follows Victoria as he leaves Rome and returns to Spain.
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22-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611): 03. Becoming a Priest
Donald Macleod follows Victoria as he seeks to improve his circumstances.
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21-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611): 02. Moving to the Eternal City
Donald Macleod follows the young composer from his home in Ávila to Rome.
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20-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611): 01. A Requiem for Maria
Donald Macleod surveys Victoria’s duties as chaplain to retired Empress Maria.
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17-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Dvořák and America: 05. Leaving America
Donald Macleod explores Dvořák’s final months in America.
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16-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Dvořák and America: 04. Homesick
Donald Macleod follows Dvořák as he makes a trip back home to Bohemia.
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15-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Dvořák and America: 03. Meeting Harry Burleigh
Dvořák forms a bond with African American musician Harry T Burleigh. With Donald Macleod
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14-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Dvořák and America: 02. Arrival in America
Donald Macleod explores Dvořák’s first impressions of America.
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13-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Dvořák and America: 01. An Invitation
Donald Macleod explores the circumstances leading up to Dvořák’s visit to America.
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10-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Holmès and Duparc: 05. When the Music Stops
Donald Macleod explores the music of Duparc and Holmès with Duparc's La vie antérieure.
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09-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Holmès and Duparc: 04. France’s Muse
Donald Macleod explores the music of Duparc and Holmès with a rarely heard chamber work.
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08-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Holmès and Duparc: 03. A Time of Conflict
Donald Macleod explores the music of Duparc and Holmès.
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07-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Holmès and Duparc: 02. A Composer in the Making
Donald Macleod explores the music of Duparc and Holmès. Today, lessons with César Franck.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 19. 1955-58 : The End
Donald Macleod explores the final, happy years of Vaughan Williams’s life.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 20. Legacy, with Alain Frogley
Donald Macleod and Alain Frogley explore changing attitudes to Vaughan Williams’s music.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 18. 1951-1954 - Celebrations
Vaughan Williams celebrates his eightieth birthday. Donald Macleod presents.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 16. 1948-1951 Nostalgia for Spring
Vaughan Williams, now in his mid-70s, begins to feel his age. Donald Macleod presents.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 17. Ralph, Adeline and Ursula, with Ceri Owen
Donald Macleod and Ceri Owen offer a fresh perspective on Vaughan Williams’s two wives.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 15. The Symphonies with Martyn Brabbins
Donald Macleod and conductor Martyn Brabbins explore Vaughan Williams’s symphonies.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 14. Fireworks and Searchlights
Donald Macleod explores Vaughan Williams’s life as the war drew to its end.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 12. Turning Tides
Amid acclaim, Vaughan Williams suffers a creative block. Donald Macleod presents.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 13. Entering Enchanted Woods
A new creative and romantic force enters Vaughan Williams’s life. Donald Macleod presents.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 11. Personal Difficulties
Donald Macleod explores Vaughan Williams’s troubles during the early 1930s.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 09. Cities and Country
Walking with friends and a move to the country. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 10. Relationships
Deep friendships and a lifelong commitment to amateur music. With Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 07. All Change for a New Start
New opportunities back in London and a trip to the US, presented by Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 08. Dramatic Works
Donald Macleod talks to Eric Saylor about Vaughan Williams's music for the stage.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Vaughan Williams Today: 06. To War and Back Again
Active service and amateur music-making during the Great War. With Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Holmes and Duparc: 01. A Tale of Two Composers
Donald Macleod explores the music of Henri Duparc and Augusta Holmès.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Handel and the Crown: 05. Politics and Pageantry
Jacobite rebels march against London, and Handel rallies to his king. With Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Handel and the Crown: 04. A Break with the Past
Handel decides his career needs a change of direction. Presented by Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Handel and the Crown: 03. New Broom
The death of King George I brings new challenges for Handel. With Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Handel and the Crown: 01. Divided Loyalties
Handel finds himself in demand at rival royal courts. With Donald Macleod.
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06-Jun-2022
Composer of the Week - Handel and the Crown: 02. Diplomatic Manoeuvres
Handel’s favour with the British queen proves useful in Hanover. With Donald Macleod.
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16-Nov-2013
Composer of the Week - Bill Evans (1929-1980): 5. Bill Evans Leaves the Stage
Bill Evans plays his last gig. He was called the Poet of the Piano, and the Chopin of Jazz, this week Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Bill Evans. Although Evans started off in the world of classical music, it wasn't long before he got the Jazz bug. His classical training wasn't wasted though, for it went on to influence the way he performed for the rest of his life. His touch at the piano became legendary, and his preferred ensemble for performing his own compositions, and those by others, was the Jazz trio combining piano, bass and drums. Evans came to prominence when invited to work alongside Miles Davis and, in time, Evans would go on to perform with the likes of Tony Bennett, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Stan Getz and Monica Zetterlund. Evans was starting to look quite ill. He needed to have all his teeth removed, which was done in the UK, between appearances at Ronnie Scotts, as it was cheaper. Another tour took Evans to Japan where he was given a film-star welcome. For that tour he had brought with him new repertoire, including the virtuosic Twelve Tone Tune Two. By the mid seventies, Evans had a son called Evan, later dedicating a work to him called Letter to Evan. Another huge event in his his family circumstances was the news that his brother Harry had committed suicide. Harry never knew that Evans had written a work for him called We Will Meet Again. By the late seventies Evans's health was in decline; he was suffering from hepatitis. Touring was making increasing demands upon Evans, including twenty-one European cities in twenty-four days. By nineteen-eighty, with his face gaunt, and his wrists and fingers bloated, Evans was too exhausted to perform, and a few days later he died.
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15-Nov-2013
Composer of the Week - Bill Evans (1929-1980): 4. Bill Evans and Helen Keane
Bill Evans gets a new manager He was called the Poet of the Piano, and the Chopin of Jazz, this week Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Bill Evans. Although Evans started off in the world of classical music, it wasn't long before he got the Jazz bug. His classical training wasn't wasted though, for it went on to influence the way he performed for the rest of his life. His touch at the piano became legendary, and his preferred ensemble for performing his own compositions, and those by others, was the Jazz trio combining piano, bass and drums. Evans came to prominence when invited to work alongside Miles Davis and, in time, Evans would go on to perform with the likes of Tony Bennett, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Stan Getz and Monica Zetterlund. Helen Keane had come into Bill Evans's life as his manager and, later on, also producer. Evans went on to dedicate two works to Keane, including One for Helen, and also Song for Helen. Evan's trio, what with touring and other pressures, was frequently changing in personnel. Soon, the bassist Eddie Gomez had joined the trio and he recorded a number of works with the Evans, including G Waltz, and Comrade Conrad. Evans kept up his collaborations with other musicians during the late nineteen-sixties, including the guitarist Jim Hall, recording a duo performance of Turn Out the Stars. Evans also sometimes invited musicians to expand his trio line-up to a quartet, including flautist Jeremy Steig who performed in Evans's composition, Time Out for Chris. This period was exceptionally busy, with frequent tours abroad and many studio recordings. One album won Evans two Grammy awards which featured his number, Sugar Plum.
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15-Nov-2013
Composer of the Week - Bill Evans (1929-1980): 3. Bill Evans Chased by Loan Sharks
Donald Macleod explores Bill Evans's life during the early sixties He was called the Poet of the Piano, and the Chopin of Jazz, this week Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Bill Evans. Although Evans started off in the world of classical music, it wasn't long before he got the Jazz bug. His classical training wasn't wasted though, for it went on to influence the way he performed for the rest of his life. His touch at the piano became legendary, and his preferred ensemble for performing his own compositions, and those by others, was the Jazz trio combining piano, bass and drums. Evans came to prominence when invited to work alongside Miles Davis and, in time, Evans would go on to perform with the likes of Tony Bennett, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Stan Getz and Monica Zetterlund. Evans was now frequently in and out of studio recordings. Quite simply he needed the money. He'd borrowed money from loan sharks who were now threatening to break his fingers. One of these financially driven projects included his work Interplay, which on top of his usual trio line-up, also included trumpet and guitar. Evans's need for money was partly due to his drugs habit and, at times, Evans found himself making albums he just wasn't happy with. One work he was pleased with was Fudgesicle Built for Four, referring to a popular chocolate ice-cream from the time. There were also some interesting collaborations for Evans during this period, including the saxophonist Stan Getz, the vocalist Monica Zetterlund who Evans had met on tour in Sweden, the orchestral leader and arranger Claus Ogerman, and also a collaboration with himself using multi-track techniques in his number, NYC's No Lark.
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15-Nov-2013
Composer of the Week - Bill Evans (1929-1980): 2. Bill Evans Records with Cannonball
Bill Evans performs alongside Cannonball Adderley He was called the Poet of the Piano, and the Chopin of Jazz, this week Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Bill Evans. Although Evans started off in the world of classical music, it wasn't long before he got the Jazz bug. His classical training wasn't wasted though, for it went on to influence the way he performed for the rest of his life. His touch at the piano became legendary, and his preferred ensemble for performing his own compositions, and those by others, was the Jazz trio combining piano, bass and drums. Evans came to prominence when invited to work alongside Miles Davis and, in time, Evans would go on to perform with the likes of Tony Bennett, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Stan Getz and Monica Zetterlund. Performing alongside Miles Davis had brought Bill Evans to a much wider audience. Evans soon left the band though, and pursued his own career making a new album called Everybody Digs Bill Evans, which included a new work Peace Piece. Towards the end of the 1950s, things were looking good for Evans, although his addiction to heroin was starting to take its toll. He'd agreed to work with Davis again on the album, Kind of Blue, which included a work by Evans called Blue in Green, although Davis claimed it as his own. By the time Evans was thirty, he was well known, popular, and was soon to form his own historic trio including Paul Motian and Scott LaFaro. They gelled together perfectly, and went into studio to record works such as Autumn Leaves, and Evans's Peri's Scope. This pinnacle of perfection for Evans, though, was short-lived; bassist Scott LaFaro died in a traffic accident shortly afterwards.
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15-Nov-2013
Composer of the Week - Bill Evans (1929-1980): 1. Bill Evans Works with Miles Davis
He was called the Poet of the Piano, and the Chopin of Jazz, this week Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Bill Evans. Although Evans started off in the world of classical music, it wasn't long before he got the Jazz bug. His classical training wasn't wasted though, for it went on to influence the way he performed for the rest of his life. His touch at the piano became legendary, and his preferred ensemble for performing his own compositions, and those by others, was the Jazz trio combining piano, bass and drums. Evans came to prominence when invited to work alongside Miles Davis and, in time, Evans would go on to perform with the likes of Tony Bennett, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Stan Getz and Monica Zetterlund. Family was very important to the composer Bill Evans. His earliest musical influences came from his mother, and his most famous work, Waltz for Debbie, was inspired by his niece. Evans won a scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana University, and around the same period he composed his earliest known composition, 'Very Early'. After a brief spell in the army, and by the time he was twenty-six, Evans recorded an album called New Jazz Conceptions, which included his new work, 'No Cover, No Minimum'. Bill Evans was starting to make quite a name for himself, and then came the call from Miles Davis offering Evans the chance of performing alongside the legendary trumpeter and his ensemble.
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