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.

Last refreshed: July 27th, 2025 at 10:20 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Sibelius

Donald Macleod explores how Sibelius's music helped bring the nation of Finland into being

Dec 11, 2015•1 hr 20 min

CPE Bach

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the second son of Johann Sebastian

Dec 10, 2015•1 hr 3 min

Handel

Donald Macleod explores Handel's early years

Dec 02, 2015•1 hr 5 min

Hoagy Carmichael

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Hoagy Carmichael.

Nov 20, 2015•1 hr 5 min

Chabrier

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Emmanuel Chabrier.

Nov 13, 2015•1 hr 3 min

Farrenc

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of 19th-century French composer Louise Farrenc

Nov 06, 2015•49 min

Nielsen

Carl Nielsen's early life in rural Denmark in the aftermath of the 1864 war with Prussia

Oct 30, 2015•1 hr 3 min

Cowell

A profile of US composer and pianist Henry Cowell

Oct 23, 2015•1 hr 30 min

Kapralova

A profile of Czech composer and conductor Vitezslava Kapralova

Oct 16, 2015•1 hr 18 min

Rachmaninov

Donald Macleod explores Rachmaninov the pianist-composer.

Oct 09, 2015•50 min

Vanhal

Donald Macleod explores the work of Vanhal.

Oct 02, 2015•1 hr 3 min

Bellini

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini

Sep 25, 2015•1 hr 4 min

Shostakovich

Donald Macleod views Dmitry Shostakovich through the prism of his string quartets

Sep 18, 2015•51 min

Elgar

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Edward Elgar.

Sep 11, 2015•57 min

Walton

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of English composer William Walton

Aug 07, 2015•1 hr 9 min

Three Choirs

Donald Macleod explores the 300-year history of the Three Choirs Festival.

Jul 31, 2015•1 hr 22 min

Poulenc

Donald Macleod charts some of Francis Poulenc's important musical friendships

Jul 24, 2015•1 hr 2 min

Arvo Part

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Estonian composer Arvo Part.

Jun 26, 2015•53 min

Bach

Donald Macleod explores Bach's vocal music.

Jun 19, 2015•1 hr

Kodaly

In conversation with David Vinden, Donald Macleod evaluates the life Zoltán Kodály.

Jun 05, 2015•1 hr 3 min

Bacewicz

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of composer and violinist Grazyna Bacewicz

May 29, 2015•52 min

Schutz

Donald Macleod explores the early years of the man described as the "father of German Music", Heinrich Schutz.

May 22, 2015•1 hr 5 min

Widor

Dr John Near joins Donald Macleod to journey through the world of Widor, looking beyond his famous organ Toccata to explore the composer's chamber and orchestral music.

May 15, 2015•1 hr 21 min

As part of Young Artists Day on Radio 3, Martin James Bartlett, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, joins Donald to explore the early life of Mozart. Donald continues with Mozart’s pioneering piano concertos.

May 08, 2015•1 hr 3 min

Scriabin

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of the virtuoso pianist and composer Alexander Scriabin, described as 'one of the most enigmatic and controversial and artistic personalities of all time'

May 01, 2015•1 hr 17 min

Tailleferre

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Germaine Tailleferre, whose published legacy reveals a rich treasure trove of chamber works, solo piano, concertos, ballets, operas and songs

Apr 17, 2015•1 hr 4 min

Chopin

Donald Macleod explores the music and life of Chopin, zooming in on five key places on his lifetime itinerary

Apr 10, 2015•1 hr 19 min

Judith Weir

Donald Macleod is joined by composer Judith Weir to discuss her life and work. Her music draws on a wide variety of sources: fairy tales, folk stories, Chinese philosophy and Indian music and culture

Apr 03, 2015•1 hr 16 min

Holst

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of English composer Gustav Holst

Mar 27, 2015•1 hr 12 min

Weber

Donald Macleod explores works by Carl Maria von Weber

Mar 20, 2015•1 hr 1 min

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