Composer of the Week

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.

Radio 3,431 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

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
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Fanny Mendelssohn
12 Jun 2025,53 mins
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s endeavours to become his nephew's guardian
30 May 2025,56 mins
Leos Janacek (1854-1928)
Kate Molleson explores the maverick spirit, and phenomenal twilight years of Leoš Janáček
23 May 2025,64 mins
Max Bruch (1839-1920)
Donald Macleod colours in Bruch’s life story and reveals the breadth of his output
16 May 2025,69 mins
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Donald Macleod delves into some of Edward Elgar’s greatest passions
09 May 2025,71 mins
Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729)
Kate Molleson explores the extraordinary life and music of Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre
02 May 2025,63 mins
Mozart's Last Years
Donald Macleod charts the highs and lows of Mozart’s last five years
18 Apr 2025,68 mins
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Donald Macleod explores Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, through his temperaments
11 Apr 2025,70 mins