Composer of the Week

Jan 10 2025 612 ep. 65 mins 31.4k
Composer of the Week Podcast artwork

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.

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Michel Legrand (1932-2019)

Jan 10 2025 74 mins  
Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Michel Legrand Michel Legrand is best known for creating the soundtracks for over 200 films, including The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair and The Go-Between. But he had an insatiable creative spirit that led him into the world of theatre, ballet, opera and more.Donald is joined by theatre director and composer Jeremy

Schubert and Vienna

Jan 03 2025 74 mins  
Donald Macleod explores Vienna in the company of Franz SchubertOf all Europe’s major cities, perhaps Vienna is the one with the reputation as the most comfortable, the most sophisticated, and the most musical. In fact, has any other city been home to so many great composers as Vienna? Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, and Salieri all spent their best years working there. Yet none of thos

Christmas in Latvia

Dec 27 2024 81 mins  
Donald Macleod visits the city of Riga to experience the seasonal music and Christmas traditions of Latvia – a country overflowing with choral excellence. Music Featured:trad.: Kaladô (arr. J. Vaivods) Dubra: Duo Seraphim Dubra: In Nativitate Domini (excerpts) anon.: Res est admirabilis Dubra: Te Deum Pēteris Butāns: In the Beginning was the Word Praulinš: Missa Rigensis: Cre

A Latin American Christmas

Dec 13 2024 69 mins  
Kate Molleson journeys through the Christmas season in Latin America, introducing the composers who shaped local festivities across centuries and longitudes. From cathedrals to countryside to the deep heat of megacities, we revel in music for worship, friendship, family and fiestas.Music Featured: Trad: Esta Noche es Nochebuena Juan Garcia de Zespedes: Convidando esta la noche Gasp

Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927)

Dec 06 2024 75 mins  
Donald Macleod delves into the life of Luise Adolpha Le Beau Luise Adolpha Le Beau was a German composer, concert pianist, teacher and music critic. Although her music was performed as far afield as Calcutta and Sydney, her story is one of continual struggle for recognition and respect. Le Beau frequently met opposition to her works and to performance opportunities, Despite these s

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Nov 22 2024 68 mins  
Donald Macleod explores Henry Purcell’s LondonHenry Purcell was the most important English composer of the era, described as the "Orpheus Britannicus" for his ability to combine Baroque counterpoint with dramatic settings of English words. He composed music for the church, the royal court, the theatre and for England’s newly emerging concert scene, with an intelligence and crea

Bud Powell (1924-1966)

Nov 15 2024 90 mins  
Kate Molleson explores the life and work of the amazing Bud PowellThis week Kate Molleson explores the life and work of a jazz giant in his centenary year: the amazing Bud Powell, in the company of Powell’s biographer Peter Pullman. Focusing on Bud Powell as a performer, prioritising his own compositions but also appreciating the art of improvisation as spontaneous composition.Bu

Ballroom Blockbusters

Nov 15 2024 65 mins  
Donald Macleod takes a whirl around the world through the music of ballroom dancing. With the help of Hilary French, author of Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing, Donald waltzes across Viennese ballrooms, foxtrots through New York clubs, tries the tango in the arrabales of Buenos Aires, sambas on the streets of Salvador and finally cha-cha-cha’s his way to Havana.Presented

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Nov 01 2024 74 mins  
Donald Macleod uncovers key aspects of Liszt’s soul and identity Franz Liszt was the original musical heartthrob - the most photographed man of the 19th century, who left a legacy of more than 700 compositions and in the course of his career made well over 1000 concert appearances. With his electrifying talent at the keyboard, he transformed the status of musician from servant to

Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)

Oct 25 2024 76 mins  
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of African American composer Margaret BondsThis week, Donald Macleod is joined by musicologist and pianist Dr Samantha Ege to delve into the life and music of African American pioneer composer, Margaret Bonds (1913-1972). Bonds was one of the most important composers and pianists of her time. She wrote several dozens of art songs, arrange