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Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata
Allyson Devenish picks her favourite recording of Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata Op.53.
Humility
From Spinoza's thinking and the approach of different religions to the Dickens' character Uriah Heep and the "humble brag" - in Radio 4's late night ideas discussion programme Matthew Sweet and guests explore humility.Lamorna Ash is a writer and journalist and the author of Don't Forget We're Here Forever, which explores what it means to be a Christian for young people throughout the UK today and reflected on her own journey into faith.Sir Robert Buckland is the former Conservative MP for South Swindon, a former Lord Chancellor and Solicitor General. He is a practicing barrister with Foundry Chambers, a visiting law professor at the LSE and the Third Church Estates Commissioner.Aaron Reeves is Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics and co author of Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite with Sam Friedman.Ceri Sullivan is a Professor of English Literature at Cardiff University. Her research has encompassed the managerial techniques presented in Shakespeare's history plays, pragmatism in literary texts and devotional poetry.Dr Dan Taylor is Senior Lecturer in Social and Political Thought at the Open University. He is the author of Spinoza and the Politics of Freedom and is involved in long term projects with long-term projects examining inclusion and housing in Barking and Dagenham; unpaid care in Gateshead; and community in the Fens.Producer: Ruth Watts
Thomas Adès
Donald Macleod talks to British composer, pianist and conductor Thomas Adès.Music featured:Hotel Suite from Powder Her FaceGefriolsae Me, Op 3BArcadiana Chamber Symphony…but all shall be wellPowder Her FaceStill SorrowingAsylaConcerto ConcisoThe TempestLieux retrouvés (Les champs)Violin ConcertoConcert Paraphrase on Powder Her Face In Seven DaysThe Four QuartersTotentanz Coffee-Spoon CavatinaAlchymiaBlanca VariationsNövények Concerto for piano and orchestraAquiferProduced by Luke Whitlock.For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Thomas Adès: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002sq64And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z
Vaughan Williams' 'A London Symphony'
Kate Kennedy picks her top recording of Vaughan Williams' 'A London Symphony'.
Sir Ian Blatchford, Science Museum director
Sir Ian Blatchford has been the Director of the Science Museum in London for more than 15 years – the longest serving director in its history. He also oversees the National Railway Museum in York, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, Locomotion in County Durham, and the Science and Innovation Park in Wiltshire - all enjoyed by more than four million visitors last year. He was the first in his family to go to university and his early career was in banking, but his passion was for culture. He combined the two as Finance Director at the V+A, before crossing the road to lead the Science Museum. It’s currently a very challenging time for anyone running a museum, with hard questions about funding, sponsorship and exhibition content. His musical choices include Elgar, Monteverdi, Wagner and Sarah Vaughan.Producer: Katy Hickman
Oral tradition and oracy
Oracy - the ability to express oneself fluently - has been included in plans to modernise the national curriculum, with a new focus on equipping young people with the skills they need for life and work. In Radio 4's round-table discussion programme, Anne McElvoy and guests look at how you teach oracy and explore the value of passing on traditional knowledge using methods like songs and poems. Joining Anne areReetika Subramanian is based at the University of East Anglia and is currently a researcher in residence with BBC Radio 4. She hosts the Climate Brides podcast and studies women’s work songs as records of environmental changeEdith Hall, Professor of Classics at Durham University who champions the use of Classical rhetoric to foster oracy in schoolsPhilip Collins, former speechwriter to Tony BlairEdith and Philip have taken part in Our Public House, a theatre performance staged by Dash Arts that builds on workshops with over 700 people nationwide who shared their visions for our nation's future.Stephen Batchelor, secular Buddhist teacher and writer and author of Buddha, Socrates and Us: Ethical Living in Uncertain Times, published by Yale University Press (2025).Tom F. Wright, historian of rhetoric at the University of SussexProducer: Eliane Glaser
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Gaetano Donizetti was one of Italy’s most prolific tunesmiths, with almost 70 operas to his name – about as many as Rossini, Bellini and Verdi all combined - whose arias still cut straight to the heart today. Donald Macleod follows his irresistible rise: from a child brought up in a dark, cramped cellar to become a pioneering master of the style known as bel canto. And like any opera plot, there’s triumph and tragedy, headaches and heartbreak…Music featured:L’Elisir d’amoreGloria (from Messa di Gloria)String Quartet No 5 in E minor Waltz in G majorZoraidaAmor marinaroL’Esule di RomaLucrezia BorgiaLucia di LammermoorString Quartet No 16 Maria StuardaMessa di Requiemll sogno “Nostre misere menti”Il sospiro “Donna felice, stanca d’amore”PoliutoLa fille du regimentLes MartyrsLa fille du regimentMaria PadillaTrovatella “Sovra il campo della vita”Don PasqualeString Quartet No 18Dom Sebastien: Seul sur la terreRequiem: Offertorio – Lux AeternaProduced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales and West.For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002sd9nAnd you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z
Taste
'It's all in the best possible taste'. But what does it mean to have good taste? And does pursuing good taste lead to favouring style over substance? Who are the thinkers who have considered a philosophy of aestheticsMatthew Sweet hosts Radio 4's late night ideas discussion programme. His guests are:Film historian and New Generation Thinker Sarah Smyth, who lectures in film and TV at the University of EssexPhilosopher Dr John Callanan, who lectures on Kant at King's College LondonWriter and management consultant Peter York, whose books include Style War, co-author of The Official Sloane Ranger handbookBroadcaster and writer Emma Dabiri who co-presented Britain's Lost Masterpieces for BBC 4 and whose latest book is Disobedient Bodies: Reclaim Your Unruly BeautyOpera singer Le Gateau ChocolatProducer Luke Mulhall
Janacek's Sinfonietta
Nigel Simeone surveys recordings of Janacek's Sinfonietta and makes a top recommendation.
George Saunders, writer
The American writer George Saunders won the 2017 Booker Prize with his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s a moving exploration of the grief of President Lincoln as he mourns his 11-year-old son Willie – and it’s voiced by the weird and wonderful spirits trapped in the cemetery. George was 58 when the novel was published. In the decades before that, he won renown and awards as a master of the short story. He’s also won legions of followers for his close analysis of the form.Most recently he’s published a second novel, Vigil, in which spirits return – this time to the deathbed of an oil tycoon. His musical choices include John Adams, William Grant Still, Caroline Shaw and Dvorak.Producer: Katy Hickman
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