George Gershwin
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of George Gershwin.When a second-hand piano was hoisted through the window of the Gershwin family’s Lower East Side apartment, a window was quite literally o...
4 Jan 201950min
Heinrich Schütz
Donald Macleod journeys through Christmas week in the company of Heinrich Schütz.Donald begins by dipping a toe into the fertile archival territory of Schütz’s own writings, a fascinating window onto ...
28 Dec 201856min
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Donald Macleod surveys the life and work of Nikolai Rimsky-KorsakovRimsky-Korsakov’s music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a l...
21 Dec 20181h 9min
Camille Saint-Saëns
Donald Macleod delves into the character and music of Camille Saint-SaënsThis week’s episode begins with a look at Saint-Saëns the innovator, who introduced new-fangled ideas to an opera-loving Parisi...
7 Dec 20181h 7min
Billy Strayhorn
Donald Macleod looks at five key environments that shaped Billy Strayhorn's personal and musical trajectory.Donald starts the journey in Homewood, Pittsburgh, where Billy Strayhorn’s early life was ov...
23 Nov 20181h 12min
Gioachino Rossini
Donald Macleod presents five takes on the life and music of Gioachino Rossini.Donald starts by unpacking the winning formula Rossini hit on right at the start of his operatic career. Aged 18, Rossini ...
16 Nov 20181h 1min
François Couperin
Donald Macleod marks 350 years since the birth of François Couperin, one of France’s most dazzling musical talents.Donald begins by leading us through a gallery of the musical portraits that Couperin ...
9 Nov 201851min
Anton Bruckner
Donald Macleod explores five personality traits of the strange genius Anton Bruckner.Donald starts with Bruckner’s obsessive tendencies – from bar-counting to full-blown ‘numeromania’ which landed him...
2 Nov 20181h 5min
