The Essay Episodes Available now
Inspiring Women in Music: Alice Farnham—Inspiring Women in Music
4/5 Alice Farnham, one of Britain's leading female conductors, discusses her life in music.
Inspiring Women in Music: Kathryn McAdam—Inspiring Women in Music
3/5 Soprano Kathryn McAdam discusses her life in music as well as what and who inspires her.
Inspiring Women in Music: Nicola LeFanu—Inspiring Women in Music
2/5 Composer Nicola LeFanu discusses her musical career, spanning over half a century.
Inspiring Women in Music: Sarah Connolly—Inspiring Women in Music
1/5 Mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly on her career, her family and characters she has played.
Music in Its Time - Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks—Music in Its Time
10/10 The spectacular state-of-the-art first performance of Handel's Royal Fireworks.
Music in Its Time - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 4—Music in Its Time
9/10 Stephen Johnson on Beethoven's decision to unveil three new works at one public concert.
Music in Its Time - Shostakovich: Symphony No 5—Music in Its Time
8/10 Stephen Johnson considers how Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony surprised its audience.
Music in Its Time - Byrd: Mass for Four Voices—Music in Its Time
7/10 The secret performances of Byrd's masses in Elizabethan England.
Music in Its Time - Mahler's Symphony No 8—Music in Its Time
6/10 The 1910 premiere of Mahler's Eighth Symphony, for which he hired impresario Emil Gutman.
Rachel Joyce on Bronte as a Literary Star—I Am, Yours Sincerely, C Bronte
5/5 Novelist Rachel Joyce on how Charlotte Bronte reacted to becoming a literary sensation.
