Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3's Composer Of The Week is a guide to composers and their music. The podcast is compiled from the week's programmes and published on Friday, it is only available in the UK.

Radio 3,403 episodes

Episodes

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Mozart's Last Years
Donald Macleod charts the highs and lows of Mozart’s last five years
18 Apr 2025,68 mins
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Donald Macleod explores Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, through his temperaments
11 Apr 2025,70 mins
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Kate Molleson navigates through the personal and professional struggles of Gustav Mahler
28 Mar 2025,71 mins
Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953)
Between new sounds and old songs, Kate Molleson shares the story of Ruth Crawford-Seeger
14 Mar 2025,101 mins
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Maurice Ravel
07 Mar 2025,53 mins
The Turkish Five
Donald Macleod delves into the lives and music of The Turkish Five
28 Feb 2025,82 mins
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Donald Macleod explores the early years in Benjamin Britten's creative story
21 Feb 2025,64 mins
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864)
Curtain-up on the life of 19th-century opera star Giacomo Meyerbeer, with Donald Macleod
07 Feb 2025,74 mins
Voices of Terezin
Donald Macleod shares music of composers interned in the concentration camp at Terezin
31 Jan 2025,79 mins
Imogen Holst (1907-1984)
Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Imogen Holst
24 Jan 2025,68 mins
Michel Legrand (1932-2019)
Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Michel Legrand
10 Jan 2025,74 mins
Schubert and Vienna
Donald Macleod explores Vienna in the company of Franz Schubert
03 Jan 2025,74 mins
Christmas in Latvia
Donald Macleod visits Riga to experience seasonal music & Christmas traditions in Latvia
27 Dec 2024,81 mins
A Latin American Christmas
Kate Molleson journeys through the Christmas season across Latin America
13 Dec 2024,69 mins
Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927)
Donald Macleod delves into the life of Luise Adolpha Le Beau
06 Dec 2024,75 mins
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Donald Macleod explores Henry Purcell’s London
22 Nov 2024,68 mins
Bud Powell (1924-1966)
Kate Molleson explores the life and work of the amazing Bud Powell
15 Nov 2024,90 mins
Ballroom Blockbusters
Donald Macleod puts on his dancing shoes and heads to the ballroom
15 Nov 2024,65 mins
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Donald Macleod uncovers key aspects of Liszt’s soul and identity
01 Nov 2024,74 mins
Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of African American composer Margaret Bonds
25 Oct 2024,76 mins
Charles Ives (1874-1954)
Kate Molleson delves into the life and music of the “Yankee Maverick”, Charles Ives
11 Oct 2024,75 mins
Dorothy Howell (1898-1982)
Donald Macleod and Leah Broad survey the life and work of British composer Dorothy Howell
11 Oct 2024,73 mins
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
Donald Macleod showcases the life and music of Christoph Willibald Gluck
27 Sep 2024,63 mins
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Donald Macleod charts Holst’s interplanetary expedition
20 Sep 2024,66 mins
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
Kate Molleson explores the twists and turns of Schoenberg’s life
13 Sep 2024,80 mins
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Donald Macleod examines Bruckner’s struggle to become the great composer we know today
06 Sep 2024,66 mins
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George (1745-1799)
Donald Macleod explores the life and work of the 18th century composer Joseph Bologne
09 Aug 2024,81 mins
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
Donald Macleod explores the world of Ethel Smyth through five love affairs
02 Aug 2024,65 mins
Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940)
Kate Molleson sheds light on the forgotten composer, Silvestre Revueltas
26 Jul 2024,87 mins
Thomas Linley Jnr (1756-1778)
Donald Macleod shines a light on charming and often enigmatic composer, Thomas Linley Jnr
12 Jul 2024,80 mins