Stories That Sing

Julian Barnes: Opera - Coming to it Late

Opera used to baffle Julian Barnes, then something happened and everything changed.

• 14 mins

Stories That Sing

Patricia Duncker: How I Fell in Love with Opera

Patricia Duncker on the dangerous and seductive ways opera can overwhelm the senses.

• 14 mins

Stories That Sing

David Threlfall

Actor David Threlfall ponders his ambivalent responses to opera.

• 14 mins

Stories That Sing

Rachel Cooke

Rachel Cooke examines the trappings that surround opera-going.

• 14 mins

Stories That Sing

Garth Greenwell

The journey of an awkward teenager in Kentucky towards opera and literature.

• 14 mins

The Meaning of Flowers - Series 2

Bluebells

Bluebells are a British icon, voted our favourite flower but now a besieged Brexit symbol.

• 14 mins

The Meaning of Flowers - Series 2

Orchids

Fiona Stafford studies orchids, the largest flowering plant family, and a UK favourite.

• 14 mins

The Meaning of Flowers - Series 2

Daffodils

Fiona Stafford reveals that daffodils are awash with literary surprises, and are not Welsh

• 14 mins

The Meaning of Flowers - Series 2

Lavender

Fiona Stafford explores why Lavender is now more popular than ever after 2000 years.

• 14 mins

The Meaning of Flowers - Series 2

Poppies

Fiona Stafford explores why poppies are a globally significant flower.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

1 Choices

Writer Martin Sixsmith considers how the Russian Revolution affected choices for artists.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

2 John Reed, Eye-Witness

Historian Helen Rappaport reappraises American eyewitness to the Revolution, John Reed.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

3 Nijinsky

Former ballerina Deborah Bull on Nijinsky and the impact of his ballet The Rite of Spring.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

4 Meyerhold

Richard Eyre appraises the Revolution's impact on theatre director Meyerhold.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

5 Tatlin

Art historian Christina Lodder describes the influence of sculptor Vladimir Tatlin.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

6 Mosolov

Musicologist Tamsin Alexander considers the industrially inspired music of Mosolov.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

7 Akhmatova and Tsvetaeva

Writer Elaine Feinstein compares the impact of the Revolution on two great Russian poets.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

8 The State Porcelain Factory

Ceramicist Claire Curneen tells the strange story of the State Porcelain Factory.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

9 Moisei Ginzburg

Political historian Tariq Ali recalls a tour of Constructivist Moscow in the 1980s.

• 15 mins

Ten Artists that Shook the World

10 Eisenstein

Silent movie accompanist Neil Brand reappraises Eisenstein's influential film October.

• 15 mins

Dear Marianne Moore

Ian Sansom writes to poet Marianne Moore and asks her about that tricorn hat

• 14 mins

Dear Dante

Ian Sansom drops a quick line to Dante

• 13 mins

Dear Mary Shelley

Ian Sansom writes to Frankenstein author, Mary Shelley, to ask her how on earth she coped

• 13 mins

Dear William Trevor

Ian Sansom writes to Irish novelist and playwright, William Trevor

• 14 mins

Dear Oscar Wilde

Ian Sansom is in the gutter looking at the stars as he writes to Oscar Wilde

• 13 mins

More Letters to Writers

Dear Dante...

Ian Sansom drops a quick line to Dante.

• 14 mins

More Letters to Writers

Dear Mary...

Ian Sansom writes to Frankenstein author, Mary Shelley, to ask her how on earth she coped?

• 14 mins

More Letters to Writers

Dear Oscar...

Ian Sansom is in the gutter looking at the stars again as he writes to Oscar Wilde.

• 14 mins

More Letters to Writers

Dear Marianne ...

Ian Sansom writes to poet Marianne Moore to finally ask her about that tricorn hat

• 14 mins

More Letters to Writers

Dear William...

Ian Sansom writes to William Trevor to ask if every silver lining must have a cloud.

• 14 mins