Podcast Episodes

The Impossible Dream

‘The Impossible Dream' is a song that talks of the resilience of the human spirit.

It tells the story of a quest and it's had a surprising journey of …

15 years, 6 months ago

Simple Gifts

Simple Gifts started life as a Shaker Hymn and became incorporated into the hymn Lord of the Dance and Aaron Copland's ballet suite Appalachian Sprin…

15 years, 6 months ago

Mozart's Clarinet Quintet

Mozart's Clarinet Quintet was written in 1789, two years before the composer’s death.

The first ever work for string quartet plus clarinet remains a …

15 years, 6 months ago

The Emperor

Beethoven's fifth and final piano concerto, The Emperor is majestic and moving in equal measure.

Richard McMahon plays extracts and discusses the virt…

15 years, 11 months ago

How Great Thou Art

An examination of the enduring popularity of the hymn, How Great Thou Art. Based on a Swedish poem by Carl Gustav Boberg, it was written by the Briti…

15 years, 11 months ago

Faure Requiem

"He wanted it to be something that's consoling and helpful. It's the end of their lives where they can rest in peace."

World renowned choral conductor…

15 years, 11 months ago

Ma Vlast

At the core of Czech cultural identity sits Bedrich Smetana’s Ma Vlast.

Written in the late 19th century, it's a series of six symphonic poems. For a…

16 years ago

Send in the Clowns

Stephen Sondheim's song, Send In the Clowns, from the musical 'A Little Night Music' was written late in rehearsals for the actress Glynis Johns, pla…

16 years ago

Bach's Goldberg Variations

Bach wrote his Goldberg Variations for harpsichord in the 1740s, but today it's performed by pianists all over the world.

People describe the place t…

16 years, 5 months ago

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands is a spiritual song originating in the USA.

But it first caught the public's attention when Laurie London took i…

16 years, 5 months ago