Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach’s life throws a light on the political turbulence and identity within 19th century Europe. He struggled to break into ...
26 Jan 20241h 10min
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Donald Macleod explores Mendelssohn’s experience in the British IslesMendelssohn’s relationship with Britain began when he was 20 years old, when London became the first stop of his Grand Tour. This w...
19 Jan 20241h 5min
Caroline Shaw
Kate Molleson talks to Pulitzer Prize winning composer, Caroline Shaw At the age of just 30, in 2013 American composer Caroline Shaw made the headlines when she became the youngest person to win a Pul...
5 Jan 20241h 27min
Greatest Showstoppers
The 19th century was an exciting time for classical musicians. Urban centres across Europe and the New World were expanding rapidly, creating a profitable music circuit for touring performers – partic...
29 Des 20231h 5min
A Vaughan Williams Christmas
“I’ve always loved carols,” Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist” by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic”, ...
22 Des 20231h 18min
Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921)
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of German composer Engelbert Humperdinck German composer, Engelbert Humperdinck, became an international celebrity with his music for the stage. His lasting ...
15 Des 20231h 2min
A Medieval Christmas
This week, Donald Macleod marks the beginning of the season of Advent by exploring Christmas music and stories from the Middle Ages. Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful tra...
8 Des 20231h 17min
Ned Rorem (1923-2022)
Ned Rorem was an American composer and writer, and was hailed by some as the greatest art-song composer of his time. Writing over 500 songs, his music has been described as Neoromantic, leaning at tim...
1 Des 20231h 5min
