Composer of the Week Podcast
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.
UK Only
Episodes to download
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A Georgian Christmas
Fri 19 Dec 2025
Donald Macleod discovers the seasonal customs and music of late-Georgian Britain.
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Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Fri 19 Dec 2025
Kate Molleson tells a picture-book tale of Prokofiev’s life in music.
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John Rutter (born 1945)
Fri 5 Dec 2025
Donald Macleod visits John Rutter – choral legend and the sound of Christmas – at 80.
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Max Roach (1924-2007)
Fri 28 Nov 2025
From bebop to civil rights – Kate Molleson on Max Roach’s life in music.
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Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Fri 14 Nov 2025
Donald Macleod explores Wagner’s world of dreams – musical, romantic and revolutionary.
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Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929)
Fri 14 Nov 2025
Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Elfrida Andrée.
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Michael Haydn (1737-1806)
Sat 8 Nov 2025
Michael Haydn steps out of Joseph’s shadow. With Donald Macleod.
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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Fri 17 Oct 2025
Donald Macleod follows Johann Sebastian Bach as he makes his way in the world.
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Eleanor Alberga
Fri 10 Oct 2025
Kate Molleson speaks to Jamaican-born composer Eleanor Alberga about her life and career.
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Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Fri 26 Sep 2025
Donald Macleod explores the life of Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo.
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Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Fri 12 Sep 2025
Donald Macleod explores the last years of Robert Schuman’s life
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Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
Fri 22 Aug 2025
Donald explores the life of Delius through five of his relationships
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Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Fri 8 Aug 2025
Donald Macleod explores Dmitri Shostakovich’s life during the years of World War II
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Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Fri 25 Jul 2025
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s busy life away from home
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Grace Williams (1906-1977)
Fri 11 Jul 2025
Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Welsh composer, Grace Williams
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Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Fri 4 Jul 2025
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie
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Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Fri 20 Jun 2025
Donald Macleod investigates the life of a Renaissance genius, Giovanni da Palestrina
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Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Thu 12 Jun 2025
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Fanny Mendelssohn
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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Fri 30 May 2025
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s endeavours to become his nephew's guardian
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Leos Janacek (1854-1928)
Fri 23 May 2025
Kate Molleson explores the maverick spirit, and phenomenal twilight years of Leoš Janáček
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Max Bruch (1839-1920)
Fri 16 May 2025
Donald Macleod colours in Bruch’s life story and reveals the breadth of his output
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Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Fri 9 May 2025
Donald Macleod delves into some of Edward Elgar’s greatest passions
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Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729)
Fri 2 May 2025
Kate Molleson explores the extraordinary life and music of Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre
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Mozart's Last Years
Fri 18 Apr 2025
Donald Macleod charts the highs and lows of Mozart’s last five years
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Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Fri 11 Apr 2025
Donald Macleod explores Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, through his temperaments
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Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Fri 28 Mar 2025
Kate Molleson navigates through the personal and professional struggles of Gustav Mahler
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Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953)
Fri 14 Mar 2025
Between new sounds and old songs, Kate Molleson shares the story of Ruth Crawford-Seeger
