Composer Of The Week

Dr John Near joins Donald Macleod to journey through the world of Widor, looking beyond his famous organ Toccata to explore the composer's chamber and orchestral music.

As part of Young Artists Day on Radio 3, Martin James Bartlett, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, joins Donald to explore the early life of Mozart. Donald continues with Mozart’s pioneering piano concertos.

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of the virtuoso pianist and composer Alexander Scriabin, described as 'one of the most enigmatic and controversial and artistic personalities of all time'

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Germaine Tailleferre, whose published legacy reveals a rich treasure trove of chamber works, solo piano, concertos, ballets, operas and songs

Donald Macleod explores the music and life of Chopin, zooming in on five key places on his lifetime itinerary

Donald Macleod is joined by composer Judith Weir to discuss her life and work. Her music draws on a wide variety of sources: fairy tales, folk stories, Chinese philosophy and Indian music and culture

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of English composer Gustav Holst

Donald Macleod explores works by Carl Maria von Weber

Donald Macleod speaks to five members of a new generation of British composers about their work and the issue of women in music from a contemporary perspective

Hailed by scholars as one of the most successful women in the history of French music, Donald Macleod explores with Mary Cyr, the life and music of Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre.

Donald Macleod explores Giuseppe Verdi’s middle period.

Henry Purcell's stageworks: William and Mary's accession heralds a change in direction for one of England's most brilliant and respected composers. Donald Macleod charts Purcell's activities during their reign.

Donald Macleod explores music written in a critical time in Schubert's life, following the diagnosis of serious illness

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today he focuses on Bartok's sickly childhood, early life and musical beginnings, including his first major work Kossuth, influenced by Strauss and inspired by a Hungarian revolutionary.

Exploring Haydn's time at the Hungarian palace of Eszterhaza, the composer's primary base of operations for nearly a quarter of a century and where, he said, he 'was forced to become original'

Donald Macleod surveys the life and music of Orlande de Lassus, a cosmopolitan composer who became so famous he was known as 'the divine Orlando'.

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Franz Liszt with a rare opportunity to hear all 13 of his symphonic poems

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Emmanuel Chabrier, a composer whose originality is acknowledged by leading voices of French music in the 20th century.

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Antonio Vivaldi, a Venetian priest, feted in his lifetime as both composer and violinist, yet destined to die in obscurity in faraway Vienna

In conversation with Donald Macleod, celebrated conductor, composer, jazz performer and classical pianist Andre Previn discusses his remarkable life and music