No Conquering Hero

Ruth Smith uncovers the surprising truth about the many meanings of Judas Maccabeus.

• 20 mins

The Trojan Horse Has Bolted

Paul Allen examines how, despite losing the war, the Trojans have shaped Western culture.

• 30 mins

Goethe and the West-Eastern Divan

Episode 1

Paul Farley explores Goethe's verse tribute to Persian poetry, The West-Eastern Divan.

• 20 mins

Goethe and the West-Eastern Divan

Episode 2

Paul Farley on how Goethe's West-Eastern Divan poems were fuelled by a love affair.

• 20 mins

Entertaining Toscanini

Suzy Klein explores the drama engendered by Toscanini's visits to the BBC SO in the 1930s.

• 20 mins

The Sunken City

Phil Carradice investigates a lost kingdom submerged beneath the waves of Cardigan Bay.

• 20 mins

Are You Musical?

Exploring how in Edwardian Britain Tchaikovsky became a symbol of male homosexuality.

• 20 mins

Wallace and Gromit: Feet of Clay

Poet Michael Rosen visits the Aardman Studios to meet Nick Park and Wallace and Gromit.

• 20 mins

A Herball for the 21st Century

A mysterious discovery prompts Anna Pavord to celebrate her botanical hero William Turner.

• 20 mins

Herschel Grynszpan, the Forgotten Assassin

The story of Herschel Grynszpan, whose actions provided the pretext for Kristallnacht.

• 20 mins

The Greatest Poem Never Read

Danny Karlin considers Robert Browning's Sordello: is it the best worst poem ever?

• 20 mins

The Global Flute Fraternity

Keith Waithe gives Julian May a tour of his collection of 207 flutes from around the globe

• 20 mins

Judas

Richard Holloway explores the myth of Judas Iscariot and his depiction through the ages.

• 20 mins

The Invitation

Author Ian Sansom explores the meaning and mystery of invitation giving and receiving.

• 20 mins

How to Play a Cactus

Robert Worby explores the adventures undertaken by performers tackling John Cage's music.

• 20 mins

Ballet and Musicians

Catherine Bott and guests on the benefits of ballet music without accompanying dance.

• 20 mins

The Captain's Apprentice

The history of a traditional song that influenced Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes.

• 20 mins

Suffolk Sounds

Simon Barnes on the sounds of the Suffolk coast, which inspired Britten's Peter Grimes.

• 20 mins

The Last Heretic

Andrew Brown and Diarmaid MacCulloch consider why we burned heretics and why we stopped.

• 20 mins

Ne'er Cast a Clout ...

David Bramwell meets natural weather forecaster David King.

• 20 mins

From Neptune to Nixon

Adrian Mourby examines the history of the operatic plot.

• 20 mins

The German William Morris

Lesley Chamberlain tells the story of German artist and architect Heinrich Vogeler.

• 20 mins

Miles and Me

Soweto Kinch explores the profound impressions Miles Davis made on his fellow artists.

• 20 mins

A Darker Shade of Green

How 1930s novelists and composers used the pastoral mode to address the legacy of WWI.

• 20 mins

Spencer de Grey

Matthew Sweet meets architect Spencer de Grey whose designs include The Sage Gateshead.

• 20 mins

Twenty Ways to Stuff a Cat

Ian Sansom reflects on the art of taxidermy and our need to preserve life by stuffing it.

• 20 mins

Ronald Blythe in Conversation

Writer Ronald Blythe talks to Mark Cocker about his career and times.

• 20 mins

The Life and Genius of Michael Rabin

Jonathan Coffey explores the life and legacy of American virtuoso violinist Michael Rabin.

• 20 mins

Wajda: Voice of a Generation

Ian Christie explores the life and work of Polish film director Andrzej Wajda.

• 20 mins

Katharina Wolpe

Distinguished pianist and teacher Katharina Wolpe talks to Martin Handley.

• 20 mins