Composer of the Week
533 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★ - 219 ratingsBBC 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.
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Episodes
Bridge
August 05, 2011 16:26 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBExamining the life and works of composer Frank Bridge, who for the last century has defied every attempt to pigeonhole his style
Cavalli
July 22, 2011 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and music of unsung baroque hero Francesco Cavalli, best known for composing more than 40 operas
Menotti
July 08, 2011 13:00 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBDonald Macleod introduces the music of Gian Carlo Menotti - a composer who stood apart from his age, creating delightful operas when the genre was considered nearly moribund.
British Light Music
June 24, 2011 15:27 - 1 hour - 66.9 MBTo accompany Light Fantastic, Radio 3's celebration of light music, Donald Macleod explores the world of British light music with his studio guest, singer, conductor and broadcaster Brian Kay
Svendsen
June 17, 2011 13:00 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBDonald Macleod marks the centenary of Johan Svendsen, who became a Norwegian cultural hero as composer, conductor and saviour of a faltering musical tradition
Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach
May 27, 2011 13:00 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and music of CPE Bach, and discovers that there is more to him than his famous name.
George Gershwin
May 20, 2011 13:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBDonald Macleod presents an overview of some of George Gershwin's greatest works, from both the concert stage and the world of musicals - exploring his gift for melody, and his
Music at Versailles
April 01, 2011 12:30 - 58 minutes - 53.2 MBDonald Macleod explores the music that was performed at the Palace of Versailles before the French Revolution in 1789
Bruch
March 11, 2011 13:02 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and work of German Romantic composer and conductor Max Bruch
Dukas
March 04, 2011 13:02 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and work of Paul Dukas. An influential voice in musical circles, he comfortably sharedhis time between roles as a composer, musicologist, music critic and teacher
Geminiani
February 25, 2011 13:11 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBDonald Macleod surveys the life and music of Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762), now largely forgotten, but in his time considered almost a musical god, deemed to be the equal of Handel and Corelli.
Balakirev
February 18, 2011 13:05 - 1 hour - 59 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and work of Mily Balakirev, a pivotal member of the 'mighty handful' group of Russian composers
Paisiello
February 11, 2011 13:05 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBDonald Macleod introduces the life and music of the Italian composer whose comic operas were the toast of some of the greatest world leaders of the day.
Paisiello
February 11, 2011 11:50 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and music of Giovanni Paisiello.
Cherubini 28th January 20011
January 28, 2011 13:54 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBDonald Macleod investigates the life and work Luigi Cherubini, a composer often spoken of as 'an Italian composer writing German opera for a French audience'
Donald Macleod's Mozart
January 12, 2011 13:10 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBDonald Macleod maps out Mozart's life story, plays many of his favourite works and trys to fathom why for him Mozart's music will always remain a constant companion
Donald Macleod's Mozart
January 07, 2011 14:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBDonald Macleod maps out Mozart's life story, plays many of his favourite works and trys to fathom why for him Mozart's music will always remain a constant companion
Russian Opera
December 31, 2010 14:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBAs part of the BBC's focus on opera in 2010, Donald Macleod explores the rich tradition of Russian opera, from Glinka in the early 19th century to Schnittke in the late 20th
Bach in Cothen
December 24, 2010 14:00 - 57 minutes - 53 MBDonald Macleod explores Bach's six years in service at the court of Cothen. It gave him the opportunity to explore fresh musical ground and open himself up to new styles of music making
The MacDowell Colony
December 17, 2010 13:05 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBThe MacDowell Colony was founded in 1907 by the American composer Edward MacDowell and his pianist wife Marian. America's first artistic residency programme has played host to more than six thousand artists. As part of its centenary year celebrations, in 2007 Donald Macleod was allowed exclusive access to the colony set in its own grounds in New Hampshire, USA. There he meets composer Stewart Wallace, working on his opera The Bonesetter's Daughter, and Blake Tewksbury, an authority on the Ma...
Campra
December 10, 2010 13:15 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBDonald Macleod and musicologist, harpsichordist and conductor William Christie explore the life and work of Andre Campra, to mark the 350th anniversary of the French composer's birth
Moeran
December 03, 2010 14:00 - 1 hour - 59 MBDonald Macleod explores the work of Moeran, who was a pioneer in the collecting of British folk music. Greatly influenced by Delius and Vaughan Williams, much of Moeran's output is inspired by nature
Drottningholm
November 26, 2010 14:00 - 1 hour - 65.4 MBDonald Macleod explores the history and music connected with the Drottningholm Opera House in Stockholm. It flourished in the 18th century, especially during the reign of King Gustavus III
Britten
November 19, 2010 15:03 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBDonald Macleod explores Benjamin Britten's music in the light of two enduring influences - his life partner, the tenor Peter Pears and his beloved native county of Suffolk
Steve Reich
October 29, 2010 13:00 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBDonald Macleod talks exclusively to one of the world's most celebrated living composers, Steve Reich, and presents music spanning his remarkable musical career
Milhaud
October 22, 2010 13:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and work of French composer Darius Milhaud. Once a member of the influential group Les Six, he was prolific, but known for a handful of works.
Wagner
October 08, 2010 12:58 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and controversial work of Richard Wagner. His life was every bit as much of a titanic saga as the epic music dramas which he created.
Tallis
October 01, 2010 12:01 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBTallis - musical genius of the English Tudor age: Donald Macleod presents highlights from five Composer of the Week episodes exploring the life and work of Thomas Tallis. Tallis worked at the hub of English church music, the Chapel Royal, for forty years during which the country shuddered with political and religious upheaval. Music was one of the battlegrounds, with significant risks attached for its practitioners. Through it all, Tallis turned out piece after piece of glorious music, seemi...
Albéniz
September 24, 2010 12:01 - 58 minutes - 53.2 MBAlbéniz: Piano music - in its original form and a variety of other guises. Donald Macleod presents highlights from five Composer of the Week episodes exploring the composer’s finest achievements including his masterpiece ‘Iberia’. Isaac Albéniz is responsible for some of the best known Spanish guitar pieces but originally wrote them for piano!
Ole Bull
September 17, 2010 15:04 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBHighlights of Donald Macleod's visit to Anglesey for a celebration of Ole Bull: violinist extraordinaire, prolific composer, and spearhead of a Norwegian cultural revolution which enabled the likes of Grieg to carry the nation's music to the world.
Leonard Bernstein
September 13, 2010 16:08 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBDonald Macleod explores the extraordinary life of Leonard Bernstein; inexhaustible conductor, educator, performer and personality.
Arne
October 09, 2009 11:26 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBDonald Macleod explores the life and work of Thomas Arne, one of British music's most lively characters. He is remembered mainly for Rule Britannia and his setting of Shakespeare's Where the Bee Sucks
JC Bach
October 09, 2009 11:12 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBDonald Macleod introduces music and stories from the life of Johann Christian Bach, these days best known as the younget son of JS Bach, but in his day, the most famous Bach of all. Following JC Bach as he veers away from a typically Bach career as a provincial organist, and heads instead to Italy, and opera. Covering his move to London, his friendships with Carl Abel, Thomas Gainsborough and the eight-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his decline.