Composer of the Week Podcast

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.

Radio 3,439 episodes

Episodes

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Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Donald Macleod charts Joseph Haydn’s journey from isolation to international fame.
24 Apr 2026,72 mins
Thomas Adès
Donald Macleod talks to Thomas Adès.
27 Mar 2026,61 mins
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Donald Macleod follows the irresistible rise of Italian opera composer Gaetano Donizetti.
20 Mar 2026,66 mins
New Zealand Composers
Donald Macleod explores five classical composers from New Zealand.
13 Mar 2026,72 mins
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Kate Molleson explores Sibelius’s life through his seven symphonies.
06 Mar 2026,65 mins
Amy Beach (1867-1944)
Donald Macleod discover how composer Amy Beach defied the sexism of her time.
27 Feb 2026,55 mins
Heinrich Schutz (1585-1672)
Donald Macleod delves into the life of the great German composer Heinrich Schütz.
17 Feb 2026,67 mins
Erik Chisholm (1904-1965)
Kate Molleson explores Scottish composer Erik Chisholm with Dr John Purser.
06 Feb 2026,96 mins
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (1791-1844)
Donald Macleod takes a tour of the life of Franz Xaver Mozart
30 Jan 2026,72 mins
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Donald Macleod explores Copland’s quest for an American sound.
13 Jan 2026,73 mins
A Georgian Christmas
Donald Macleod discovers the seasonal customs and music of late-Georgian Britain.
19 Dec 2025,62 mins
Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Kate Molleson tells a picture-book tale of Prokofiev’s life in music.
19 Dec 2025,66 mins
John Rutter (born 1945)
Donald Macleod visits John Rutter – choral legend and the sound of Christmas – at 80.
05 Dec 2025,105 mins
Max Roach (1924-2007)
From bebop to civil rights – Kate Molleson on Max Roach’s life in music.
28 Nov 2025,105 mins
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Donald Macleod explores Wagner’s world of dreams – musical, romantic and revolutionary.
14 Nov 2025,61 mins
Elfrida Andrée (1841-1929)
Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Elfrida Andrée.
14 Nov 2025,65 mins
Michael Haydn (1737-1806)
Michael Haydn steps out of Joseph’s shadow. With Donald Macleod.
08 Nov 2025,54 mins
Luciano Berio (1925-2003)
Kate Molleson celebrates 100 years of Berio.
31 Oct 2025,54 mins
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Donald Macleod follows Johann Sebastian Bach as he makes his way in the world.
17 Oct 2025,66 mins
Eleanor Alberga
Kate Molleson speaks to Jamaican-born composer Eleanor Alberga about her life and career.
10 Oct 2025,68 mins
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Donald Macleod explores the life of Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo.
26 Sep 2025,66 mins
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Donald Macleod explores the last years of Robert Schuman’s life
12 Sep 2025,65 mins
Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
Donald explores the life of Delius through five of his relationships
22 Aug 2025,69 mins
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Donald Macleod explores Dmitri Shostakovich’s life during the years of World War II
08 Aug 2025,71 mins
Arvo Pärt
Composer of the Week celebrates the 90th birthday of Arvo Pärt
01 Aug 2025,79 mins
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s busy life away from home
25 Jul 2025,72 mins
Grace Williams (1906-1977)
Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Welsh composer, Grace Williams
11 Jul 2025,62 mins
Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie
04 Jul 2025,62 mins
Gavin Bryars
Kate Molleson meets the much-loved composer, Gavin Bryars
28 Jun 2025,80 mins
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Donald Macleod investigates the life of a Renaissance genius, Giovanni da Palestrina
20 Jun 2025,71 mins