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A A Gill

Andrew Swanston read law at Cambridge, but was inspired to write by his lifelong interest in early modern history. His Thomas Hill novels – The King’s Spy, The King’s Exile and The King’s Return – are set against the backdrops of the English Civil War, Cromwell’s Commonwealth and the early Restoration respectively. He is also the author of Waterloo: The Bravest Man and Beautiful Star and Other Stories. His first historical thriller set during the reign of Elizabeth I – Incendium (published in paperback as The Incendium Plot) – introduced readers to the academic, lawyer and intelligencer Dr Christopher Radcliff, whose adventures continue in Chaos. Andrew Swanston lives in Surrey.

A D Swanston

A E Langsford

A G Hopkins

A. J. BAIME is the New York Times best-selling author of The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War and Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans. Both books are in development for major motion pictures. Baime is a longtime regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Popular Science, and Men’s Journal. He lives in Granite Bay, California. Visit him at facebook.com/ajbaime and trumanbook.com.

A J Baime

A J Jacobs

A J P Taylor

Anthony James Pollard is a British medieval historian, specialising in the fifteenth century and in particular the Wars of the Roses. A leading authority in the field, he is profesor emeritus of Teesside University. His books include North-Eastern England during the Wars of the Roses, Richard III and the Princes in theTower, Imagining Robin Hood: the Late Medieval Stories in Historical Context and Warwick the kingmaker: Politics, Power and Fame.

A J Pollard

A J Rochester

A K Benjamin is a clinical neuropsychologist and the author of Let Me Not Be Mad: A Story of Unravelling Minds.

A K Benjamin

A. L. Berridge read English at Oxford, and taught for ten years before moving into television, where her production credits range from period drama and thrillers to long-running soaps. She has written two previous novels, Top Ten besteller Honour and the Sword and In the Name of the King. Into the Valley of Death is her third novel.

A L Berridge

Alison Gaylin's first job was as a reporter for a celebrity tabloid, which sparked a lifelong interest in writing about people committing despicable acts. More than a decade later, she wrote and published her Edgar-nominated first novel, HIDE YOUR EYES. 
 
She's since published nine more books, including the USA Today and international bestselling Brenna Spector suspense series, which has been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Thriller awards and won the Shamus award. 
 
She lives in upstate New York with her husband, daughter, cat and dog.

A L Gaylin

A Maxwell-Hyslop

A McArthur

A P Wavell

A.S. Webb is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of Chaos, the first instalment of The Dark Pantheon Trilogy. She is inspired by stories rooted in history and mythology, that push the boundaries of imagination and urge us to reflect on what it means to be human.

A S Webb

A. A. Dhand is the author of six previous novels, and has been shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger Award. His DI Harry Virdee novels are currently being adapted for TV by the BBC. He was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired all his novels. For more information about A. A. Dhand and his books, follow him on X @aadhand, and on Instagram @aa_dhand.

A. A. Dhand

A. A. Gill

A. A. Milne

A. Anatoli

A. B. Poranek grew up sharing her time between Ontario, Canada and rural Poland, and eventually completed a veterinary degree at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. A lover of mythology and history, she enjoys exploring both in her writing. Her debut novel, Where the Dark Stands Still, an instant New York Times bestseller, is an ode to Poland's folktales, while A Treachery of Swans transports readers to a world inspired by 17th century France.

A. B. Poranek

A. Bradley

Professor A. C. Grayling is Principal of the New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University, London, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy, history, science and current affairs. For several years he wrote columns for the Guardian newspaper and The Times and was the chairman of the 2014 Man Booker Prize.

A. C. Grayling

A.D. Miller is the author of Snowdrops, The Earl of Petticoat Lane and The Faithful Couple. Snowdrops was a bestseller and was shortlisted for many prizes including the Man Booker and the CWA Gold Dagger. It was translated into 25 languages. As Moscow Correspondent of The Economist A.D. Miller has travelled across the former Soviet Union and covered the Orange Revolution in Ukraine; he is now the magazine’s Culture Editor based in London. 
 
admillerbooks.com

A. D. Miller

A. E. Ellis

A. E. W. Mason

A. Humphreys

A. Igoni Barrett was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 1979 and lives in Lagos. He is a winner of the 2005 BBC World Service short story competition, the recipient of a Chinua Achebe Center Fellowship, a Norman Mailer Center Fellowship, and a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency. His short story collection, Love is Power, or Something Like That, was published in 2013. In 2014 he was named on the Africa39 list of sub-Saharan African writers under 40. Blackass is his first novel.

A. Igoni Barrett

The short life of A.J.A. Symons (1900-41) was described by his biographer as an intricate and largely harmless confidence trick. His many interests included the collection of musical boxes and rare books as well as the study and practice of forgery; they left him time to edit an anthology of Edwardian verse and compose studies of H.M. Stanley and other notable figures. He is remembered for The Quest for Corvo, one of the most remarkable biographies ever written, and for co-founding the Wine and Food Society.

A. J. A. Symons

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Marty Cullen

Marty Cullen’s song and story-filled odyssey around UlsterIreland’s northernmost province has a rich history of music and storytelling. From the towering mountains of the borderlands, to the barren hills of Donegal; tales of things human and mythical are told through poetry, recitation and song, leaping from the landscape into the listener’s imagination. In these two series, presenter Marty Cullen takes a literary and musical journey around his homeland, introducing us to the traditional songs and stories that have been passed down through the ages and talking to the next generation to carry this torch.Songs of Ulster sees him travelling across six counties to meet talented emerging artists who step outside the studio to perform unaccompanied, singing folk songs rooted in their locality. He listens to the traditional come all ye’s, laments and ditties of Armagh; the local favourites from the land of ghosts and giants, Tyrone; the songs of pain and promise that reflect the beauty of Fermanagh; and the familiar chants from West of the Bann. In Down, he hikes from coast to summit to hear ballads of highwaymen and unrequited love, and in Antrim, he discovers a region of emerald glens and lyrical weavers, where the songs of the county fuel the passion of its people.In Stories of Ulster, Marty mingles with traditional storytellers from around the province to hear legends of fairy folk, gods, fighters, bandits and ghosts – alongside more down-to-earth border tales of sly characters, sausage smuggling and homemade veterinary surgeries. Here are stories of a selkie’s return to the sea; Cú Chulainn’s playboy antics; rapparees, resurrections and restless souls; and rural yarns featuring a swinging plough, a wily butcher and a quick-witted, risk-taking Monaghan man...Production creditsPresented by Marty CullenSongs of Ulster featuring: Eileen McKee, Sinead Murphy, Pearse McMahon, Oonagh Mc Ardle, Cathal O'Neill, Niall Hanna, Julie-Ann McCaffery, Damian McKenna, Maria Maguire, Dermot Mulholland, Emma Lusby, Jack Warnock, Sinead Rooney, Ciara McCrickard, Jennifer Orr, Mairead and Ethlinn Walls, and Meabh MeirStories of Ulster featuring: Steve Lally, Bernadette Layden, Joe Brennan, Frances Quinn, Madeline McCully, Niamh Daly, Doreen McBride, Tony McMinn, Terry Conlon and Frank McCarronFirst broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster on the following dates:Songs of UlsterArmagh 14 May 2017Tyrone 21 May 2017Fermanagh 28 May 2017West of the Bann 4 June 2017Down 11 June 2017Antrim 18 June 2017Stories of UlsterOf Fairy Folk and Magical Beings 31 March 2019Of Gods and Fighting Men 7 April 2019Of Rapparees and Resurrections 14 April 2019Of Yarns and Tall Tales 21 April 2019© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Songs and Stories of Ulster

A BBC Radio Series

Louise Wener

Roy Boulter

Is the world ready for The Velveteens? An all-girl punk band try to make it to the top Get your crimper out, your mohawk ready and your best punk pout on - the Queens of Noise have arrived! Set in 1980s London, this modern music drama charts the rise of a girl punk band. Packed with classic hits as well as the girls very own songs, this is a drama with punk power for any music lover. Writers and music industry veterans Louise Wener (ex-singer of Sleeper) and Roy Boulter (drummer with The Farm) bring their wealth of experience to this story of a young band chasing their dream and getting their big break.In Shout to the Top it’s 1988, we meet the girls fizzing with energy and potential, starting out in London. We discover how they went from ‘young women with a dream’ to the formation of The Velveteens, to first gig; from first demo to (hopefully) first record deal.In series one, Get It On the story follows the three ambitious young women, Sylvie, Beth and Rain, and their unique band, The Velveteens, take on the world. Armed with loud guitars, attitude to burn, and a makeshift manager, the band is on the verge of signing to a major record company. However, they still only have pennies in their pockets. Can they make it in the days before the digital revolution changed the business forever?In the second series, Rip It Up, the music drama continues as the girls conquer America. The three bold band members embark on a roller-coaster ride on the road to who-knows-where, and calling the shots is their new manager, Sam Shephurst. Can he take them to champagne heights or are they on the road to Top of the Flops…?Actor, singer and comedian Shane Richie (EastEnders) stars as the band's temporary manager, Vince. This brilliant drama was commissioned by BBC Radio 2’s Head of Music and is packed with industry insight from the experts. Music production for this listening treat was taken care of by producers Brian Rawling (Bowie, Kylie, Cher, Craig David, One Direction and more) and Marky Bates (Faithless, Dido).CreditsWritten by Roy Boulter and Louise WenerDirected by Toby Swift 
 
 
 Pilot Episode - Shout To The Top Vince - Shane RichieBeth - Fiona MacraeSylvie - Samantha RobinsonRain - Hannah ArtertonMaggie - Liza SadovyRuss - Ben CroweDavid - Adam NagaitisJournalist - Joe SimsSeries 1 - Queens of Noise: Get It OnBeth - Anneika RoseSylvie - Samantha RobinsonRain - Hannah ArtertonMaggie - Liza SadovyVince - Ben CroweDavid - Adam NagaitisJournalist - Joe SimsChristy - Clare CorbettAlec - Damian LynchRichard - Matthew WatsonJoyce/Stylist - Jane SlavinLucas/Shop Assistant - Mark Edel-HuntSam - Joe AbsolomMike - Michael BertenshawSeries 2 - Queens of Noise: Rip It UpBeth - Anneika Rose Sylvie - Samantha RobinsonRain - Hannah ArtertonSam - Joe AbsolomJoyce - Janes SlavinJournalist/Mavis - Elaine ClaxtonTJ - Clive HaywardChristy - Clare CorbettUS cop - Damian LynchMono - Harry MyersRichard/Digby - Matthew Watson ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Queens of Noise

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Drama

Rainer Hersch

Rainer Hersch gives us his irreverent take on classical music in these BBC Radio shows‘At last a musical comedian with a difference – he is really funny’ Daily TelegraphStand-up comic, musician and conductor Rainer Hersch has performed in comedy clubs worldwide, made numerous appearances at the Edinburgh Festival and put on several comedy-concert series at London’s Southbank Centre. This audio anthology brings together two of his BBC Radio series, All Classical Music Explained and Rainer Hersch’s 20th Century Retrospective, plus the standalone programme Gershwin’s Horns and some stand-up comedy from Rainer at London’s Comedy Store.All Classical Music Explained sees him leading us through a comedic tour of our melodic past. In six spoof lectures, he reveals how 'Cosi Fan Tutte' is actually about TV chefs; assembles the largest collection of stylophones in one building; investigates the Bach family and the world’s most beautiful music; and explains the etiquette of concerts – including how to fall asleep and look like you’re still listening. Among his special guests are the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Richard Thomas, Wayne Marshall, Alistair McGowan and Tamsin Little.In Rainer Hersch’s 20th Century Retrospective, he presents five personal and idiosyncratic studies of the music of the last century. Starting with the Second Viennese School and atonality, he ponders the greatest musicians of the 20th century; gives us an abbreviated guide to the good, bad and indifferent musical premieres of the period; rummages around in the trunk marked ‘Inspirations, Muses and the Frankly Unbelievable’; and asks what music has made of the recording industry, and what the recording industry has made of us.Gershwin’s Horns finds him exploring the musical significance of cannons, typewriters, tuned salad bowls and – in the case of Gershwin’s An American in Paris – car horns. They’ve all appeared in concert performances over the last 200 years, but do they really deserve a place in the orchestra? Aided by leading British percussionists Mick Doran and Neil Percy, he demonstrates the soundscape such unusual instruments can conjure up, and discovers what can go wrong when you lose your tubular bells or inadvertently wound a conductor with the shrapnel from an anvil...Finally, in a 5-minute performance recorded at London’s legendary Comedy Store as part of 4 at the Store, Rainer keeps the audience in stitches with his fabulously funny stand-up routine, as he proves that classical music doesn't have to be a serious business.All Classical Music ExplainedProduced by Richard EdisWith Richard Thomas, Marilyn Hill-Smith, Lore Lixenberg, Patrick McCarthy, the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Thomas Hull, Susanna Candlin, Laurence Davies, Jeremy Comes, Andy Horrell, Wayne Marshall, the Hewitt-Jones family, Alistair McGowan and Tamsin LittleFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 October-18 November 1998Rainer Hersch’s 20th Century RetrospectiveProduced by Chris NeillFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 21-25 December 1998Gershwin’s HornsPresented by Rainer HerschProduced by Tom AlbanWith Mick Doran and Neil PercyFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 May 20084 at the Store: Rainer HerschProduced by Tilusha GhelaniFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 January 2004© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

All Classical Music Explained & more

A BBC Radio Comedy Collection

Giles Smith

Nick Hornby

All-star comedy about an ageing rock star and his search for fulfilment, written by Nick Hornby and Giles SmithDave Mabbutt is having a crisis. He’s the richest man in Britain, a bona fide rockstar with fans, fame and fortune. He even has a personal assistant called Mr. Tumble, who is in fact an elephant - but he’s not happy. When you have more money than sense life can have hilarious consequences. And how rock and roll does it really feel to have your mum at every gig?Dave’s crisis begins when he is persuaded to preview his 'drums-only' version of 1970s classic album, ‘Temple of the Human Mind’. Things don’t go to plan when he introduces ex-lead singer Andy to his new best friend and personal assistant, Mr Tumble the elephant. However, this is nothing compared to the drama that is unleashed when Dave’s mum is kidnapped. On the plus side, the international crisis does provide the perfect excuse to get rid of shed-loads of cash and take a trip overseas. Yet when the richest man in Britain buys some last-minute holiday Euros it promptly brings down the entire global monetary system…Written by Nick Hornby and Giles Smith, this radio comedy series stars Mark Williams (best known as Mr Weasley in the Harry Potter films) and Russell Tovey (star of TV’s Being Human) with a stellar line up of supporting cast members including Lydia Bellingham, Noddy Holder and Rosamund Pike, this is a laugh-out-loud comedy not to be missed.Writer Nick Hornby is a best-selling author with many of his books being adapted for film, including High Fidelity, About a Boy and Fever Pitch. Giles Smith is a Sunday Times journalist, New Statesman columnist and the writer of three books including Lost in Music, about life and growing up with music.Episode list:· The Interview · The Elephant in the Room · The Kidnap· The African Village · The Cultural Attache · The Meltdown Cast and creditsWritten by Nick Hornby and Giles SmithProduced by Lucy ArmitageDave Mabbutt - Mark WilliamsDom - Russell ToveyDave's Mum - Lynda BellinghamJane the Guardian Journalist - Kerry FoxAndy - Noddy HolderThe Lawyer - Gus BrownMr Green the Banker - Geoff McGivernDimitri the Kidnapper/Ken the Maintenance Man - Phil CornwellSophie/Waiter - Matt AddisNaomi, the Charity Worker - Ayesha AntoineFrancesca, The Cultural Adviser - Rosamund PikeFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 Nov-11 Dec 2009©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Richest Man in Britain

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series

Mitch Benn

Robin Ince

Music, mayhem and madness from Mitch Benn and Robin Ince 
 
There can be only one parody musical master, and Mitch Benn thinks it’s him. Although Richard Stilgoe may have something to say about that… 
 
Laugh out loud as Mitch sets out on a musical journey through the showbiz glitz and backstage litter of pop music. Teaming up with Mitch is comedian Robin Ince, and between them they delve into the world of super fans, the glamorous trappings and excesses of pop-star life and its highs and lows. Along with special guest presenters, they wonder if you really can manufacture greatness, why pop stars need fans, and the art of self-promotion. Can death revive a rock star's career? How many people does it take to make something a music 'scene'? And is heavy metal getting soft? 
 
Mitch’s music-master credentials are tested in every episode as he performs a newly written song, hoping to prove he is indeed the world’s greatest musical satirist. Robin Ince’s trademark cynicism and occasional appearances as Satan make this a fast-paced, hilarious show full of musical mastery, mayhem and laughs. When, in search of global superstardom, the duo try and take their show on a world tour, things only get funnier. 
 
Mitch Benn has been a regular voice on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show and has toured extensively as a comedian in the UK and internationally. Co-writer Robin Ince is a comedian and radio presenter, perhaps best known for his comedy science radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage, which he presents with Professor Brian Cox. 
 
If you’re a fan of Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section or Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better, you’ll love this anarchic mix of music and comedy. Listen for the first time to all three series – you won’t be able to resist tapping your foot to the beat… 
 
Written by Mitch Ben and Robin Ince 
Produced by Adam Bromley 
 
Featuring: 
Mitch Benn 
Robert Ince 
Alfie Joey 
Tash Baylis 
Kirsty Newton 
Jane Perry 
Craig Campbell 
Tom Price 
Lloyd Langford 
Steven Kynman 
Brendon Burns 
 
With special guest: 
Richard Stilgoe 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 February 2004 – 4 July 2006 
 
©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mitch Benn’s Crimes Against Music: The Complete Series 1-3

A BBC Radio Comedy Series

John Wilson

Bill Morris

Marcus du Sautoy

Tasmin Little

Lauren Child

Gary Rhodes

Digby Jones

Rachel Portman

Michael Portillo

Andrea Levy

Major public figures go back to their beginnings and uncover where they really started 
 
John Wilson (acclaimed arts and culture reporter and journalist, and presenter of Front Row, Newsnight Review and Pick of the Week) meets up with a variety of public figures from such diverse fields as food, mathematics, politics, writing and music, and takes them back to the influential schools, teachers, and early workplaces they may have forgotten, but which have not forgotten them. 
 
His guests include the first Black trade union leader, Lord Bill Morris; classical violinist Tasmin Little; the late restaurateur and television chef, Gary Rhodes; Lord Digby Jones, former Minister of State for Trade and Investment; the late Women's Prize and Costa Book Award winning author, Andrea Levy; veteran journalist, broadcaster and former politician Michael Portillo, and many more. The locations too are widely varied and richly formative - from car component manufacturers and specialist vocational institutions to grammar and private schools. 
 
Top of the Class is a fascinating look beneath the usual façade of a public figure, perfect for anyone wanting to see the human face behind a successful life story, as well as the teachers, mentors, best friends and rivals who helped them grow into the person they became. 
 
Episode guide 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
Bill Morris 28 July 2008 
Tasmin Little 4 August 2008 
Lauren Child 11 August 2008 
Gary Rhodes 18 August 2008 
Marcus du Sautoy 28 December 2010 
Rachel Portman 18 January 2011 
Lord Digby Jones 25 January 2011 
Michael Portillo 19 July 2011 
Andrea Levy 26 July 2011 
 
Production credits 
Presented by John Wilson 
Produced by Sarah Taylor 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Top of the Class

The complete BBC Radio 4 series

Joan Bakewell

Humphrey Carpenter

Francine Stock

Matthew Parris

Distinguished guests nominate a great musician for BBC Radio 4's Great Lives 
 
For 20 years, Great Lives has been a linchpin of Radio 4, presented by Joan Bakewell, Humphrey Carpenter, Francine Stock and Matthew Parris. In it, a household name is invited to choose one of their heroes to discuss with the presenter and a guest expert. But will their chosen person live up to intensive scrutiny, and merit the description of having led a great life? 
 
In this special collection, celebrating the programme's 20th anniversary, the very best episodes featuring musicians' lives are collected together. From Marvin Gaye to Lonnie Donegan, here are examples both classical and contemporary. Simon Armitage expresses his admiration for on Ian Curtis, Phill Jupitus nominates Joe Strummer, pianist Joanna MacGregor selects Nina Simone, and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo champions Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Whether it's Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie or Stuart Maconie on Ralph Vaughan Williams or the lives of the proponents are every bit as interesting as those of their nominees. 
 
Fascinating and engaging, these captivating episodes follow the ups and downs of some of the most iconic musicians of all time, separating the truth from the myths to reveal just what made them so great, and why they continue to influence and inspire us today. 
 
 
List of episodes and date of first broadcast on BBC Radio 4: 
 
 Louis Armstrong 12.7.02 
 Sergei Rachmaninoff 11.4.03 
 Pyotr Tchaikovsky 16.4.04 
 Marvin Gaye 5.11.04 
 Sir Edward Elgar 19.11.04 
 Mozart 19.4.05 
 Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 21.10.05 
 Ella Fitzgerald 2.5.06 
 Nina Simone 19.9.06 
 Joe Strummer 3.4.07 
 Billie Holiday 1.5.07 
 John Cage 04.09.07 
 Paul Robeson 29.4.08 
 Ian Curtis 6.5.08 
 Alan Freed 26.8.08 
 Pavarotti 9.12.08 
 Thomas Beecham 21.04.09 
 John Coltrane 12.05.09 
 Miriam Makeba 15.09.09 
 Agustin Barrios Mangore 26.1.10 
 Malcolm McLaren 07.12.10 
 Kathleen Ferrier 26.04.11 
 Kirtsy McColl 09.08.11 
 Lonnie Donegan 03.1.12 
 Ralph Vaughan Williams 25.12.12 
 Fela Kuti 13.8.13 
 Jacqueline Du Pre 1.04.14 
 Dinu Lipatti 20.12.16 
 Captain Beefheart 03.04.18 
 Miles Davis 17.04.18 
 David Bowie 31.07.18 
 Ferruccio Busoni 30.04.19 
 Brian Epstein 14.5.19 
 Herbert Howells 06.08.19 
 
Copyright © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Presented by Humphrey Carpenter, Matthew Parris and Francine Stock 
Produced by Mark Smalley, Miles Warde, Perminder Khatkar, Peter Everett, Isobel Eaton, Jolyon Jenkins, John Byrne, Maggie Ayre, Christine Hall, Julia Johnson, Mark Smalley, Chris Ledgard, Beth O'Dea, Lucy Lunt, Eliza Lomas, Melvin Rickarby

Great Musicians' Lives

A BBC biography collection

Frances Fyfield

Clemency Burton Hill

Frances Fyfield and Clemency Burton-Hill explore the tales and tribulations behind the scores of well-known pieces of music 
 
'Endlessly fascinating' New Statesman 
 
Crime writer Frances Fyfield and classical music broadcaster Clemency Burton-Hill pore over the hand-written scores of great composers to decipher the hidden tales of creativity locked within. Behind the hieroglyphics, scribbles and corrections on these priceless pages are clues that, when forensically examined by an expert eye, reveal the extraordinary craft, skill and inventiveness of geniuses such as Beethoven, Handel, Elgar, Stravinsky, Schubert, Puccini, Rachmaninov and Chopin. 
 
Accompanied by a team of musical sleuths, including world-leading performers, conductors, writers and graphologists, Frances and Clemency travel the UK, Europe and America to track down these rare and treasured documents. Among their discoveries are the manuscripts for famous songs like 'On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring', and some of the best-loved operas, operettas and musicals of all time including Madame Butterfly, Porgy and Bess, and The Pirates of Penzance. 
 
They scour the fragile pages of Bach's B-Minor Mass, so thick with music that the ink has burned through the paper; the ballet score for Aaron Copland's 'Appalachian Spring', revealing the changes made to please guest dancer Rudolf Nureyev; and a long-lost flute concerto by Vivaldi, rediscovered after being buried in an Edinburgh archive for 250 years. Through detailed study of these, and many other, manuscripts, they reveal the answers to questions such as, how did Debussy attempt to capture the sea? What famous lines were adapted for their first singers? Why was one of Mozart's boldest lines crossed out? And did the shooting of a German diplomat inspire Tippett's A Child of Our Time? 
 
Inspired, insightful and often surprising, this is an unparalleled look at the astonishing secret history of musical invention - ink blots, doodles, coffee stains and all. 
 
Copyright © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, May 2004 - August 2020 
 
Presented by Frances Fyfield, Clemency Burton-Hill 
Christine Andreas and Ted Sperling (Series 19, Episode 3) 
Loras Schissel (Series 19, Episode 4) 
Produced by Tom Alban, Simon Elmes, Mohini Patel

Tales from the Stave

The extraordinary stories behind classical musical manuscripts

Christopher Green

The collected radio shows of country music superstar and global activist Tina C., the creation of award-winning entertainer Christopher Green 
 
'One of my favourite performers ... witty, often outrageous and always in tune!' Sir Ian McKellen 
 
'Christopher Green's Tina C. is one of the great comic creations of the age. A genuinely fine country singer, but with a twist of satire and insight which is rare and to be highly prized' Stephen Fry 
 
From the moment her second album 'No Dick's As Hard As My Life' was released, the world took notice of country music singer Tina C. Grammy Award-winning singer, international peace icon, US presidential hopeful and poster girl for American democracy, Tina C. is the living embodiment (and what a body) of soft power. Now, in these seven sensational radio shows, she's here to recruit you to her world view. You can run, but you can't hide from Tina C.... 
 
In Tina C.: Herstory, she presents her life story, from her humble Tennessee origins to worldwide fame, and discusses her struggles with guest interviewers Raj Persaud, Jenni Murray, Ritula Shah and Bob Harris. With the help of a red-hot live band, she also recreates her biggest hits. 
 
Tina C.'s Tiny Island Tour finds her exploring our very own Great Britain through comedy and song, bringing her inimitable brand of gingham-flavoured repartee to the US and UK's special relationship. 
 
Tina C.'s State of the Union Tour sees her investigating just what is Europe? Visiting Stockholm, Paris, the Baltics, Ireland, Berlin and Madrid, she gets to grips with European culture. 
 
Tina C. Goes Down Under: The Aborogynal Monologues follows the country and western star from Alice Springs to the Gold Coast, Canberra and Tamworth as she examines Australian's love of country music. 
 
And in Tina C.'s Election Night BBQ Special, Tina assesses her chances of becoming President and does an in-depth interview with Martha Kearney. 
 
Tina C.'s Global Depression Tour takes her to the US, Iceland, Australia, Europe, China and the UK, as she tries to save the world from its financial mess - with the help of economists and financial journalists including Will Hutton, Paul Mason and Gillian Tett. 
 
Finally, in Tina C.'s Commonwealth of Nations: The Empire Strikes Back, Tina - fresh from the 2014 Commonwealth Games' spectacular opening ceremony - guides a Glasgow audience through her own unique take on the Commonwealth, and why she should be in it. 
 
Written and performed by Christopher Green

Tina C.: Country Music Legend

A BBC Radio comedy collection

Donald Macleod

He was a revolutionary, an innovator, a disruptor. A man who accomplished incredible success, but endured serious personal hardships. A legend who changed the way audiences listen to music and whose melodies still resonate today, 250 years after his birth. 
 
Go on a journey to explore the life and works of arguably the greatest composer in history: Ludwig van Beethoven. 
 
Join Donald Macleod, presenter of BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week, as he brings Beethoven vividly to life: from his childhood in Bonn to how he won over the aristocratic music circles of Vienna, from the creation of his timeless works to the tragic loss of his hearing - and everything in between. 
 
Beethoven the legendary composer is just part of the story. In this exclusive BBC Audio release, other sides to his personality will be revealed, such as the man who experienced ordinary difficulties in family, friendship and love; and the playful character who introduced the scherzo (literally, "joke") into symphony. 
 
Over 60 episodes, this radio masterpiece includes more than six hours of Beethoven's timeless music performed by the BBC Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra. 
 
BBC Philharmonic / Gianandrea Noseda (conductor): 
 
Symphony No 4 B flat major, Op 60 
Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67 
Symphony No 6 in F major, Op 63 
Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 
Overture from Die Ruinen von Athen, Op 113 
 
BBC Symphony Orchestra; Sakari Oramo (conductor): 
 
Symphony No 3 in E flat major, Op 55 
Leonore Overture No 2 
 
BBC Philharmonic / Vassily Sinaisky (conductor): 
 
Fidelio Overture 
 
BBC Philharmonic / Juanjo Mena (conductor): 
 
Musik zu einem Ritterballet Woo.1 
Egmont overture 
Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 
 
Khatia Buniatishvili (piano): 
 
Khatia Buniatishvili appears courtesy of Sony Classical 
Excerpts from: 
Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor, Op.31 No.2, "The Tempest" 
Piano sonata No.19 in G minor, Op.49 No.1 
Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata" 
 
Written and presented by Donald Macleod 
Produced by Martin Smith, Chris Taylor, Sam Phillips, Mike Evans, Amelia Parker, Amy Wheel 
Consultant: Dr Erica Buurman 
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 
 
Music copyright restrictions mean that the musical interludes in this programme are provided as punctuation to the narrative, rather than a direct illustration.

Beethoven Unleashed

The music, the man and how he became an icon

Alex Horne

Alex Horne and his special guests bring together stand-up and live music in a free-wheeling and spontaneous combination. 
 
 Each episode sees Alex, his band and guests explore a different topic. These range from love to technology, the seasons to the body. 
 In this collection of the complete series 1-3 Alex is joined by comedians including David O’Doherty, Isy Suttie, Kevin Eldon, Phill Jupitus, Matt Lucas, Doc Brown, Sara Pascoe, James Acaster, Marcus Brigstocke and Adam Buxton. 
 They are also joined by Al Murray and Tim Key in their Edinburgh Special from 2012, and the band kick off celebrations in style with a New Year Special. 
 Come join Alex and his band Joe Auckland (trumpet and banjo), Mark Brown (sax and clarinet), Will Collier (double bass and guitar), Ben Reynolds (drums and percussion) and Joe Stilgoe and Ed Sheldrake (piano and keyboard) for some much needed joy and jolity.

Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section: The Complete Series 1-3

The BBC Radio 4 comedy show

Chris Emmett

Five delightful pantomimes featuring musical numbers, silly jokes and fun for all the family! 
 
In Puss In Boots, young Tom dreams of winning the heart of Princess Rose Petal. Can Puss in Boots help Tom defeat Baron Skinflint and his greedy ogre, and win the princess’ heart? 
 
Aladdin is a happy peasant boy. But the wicked Abanazar needs his help, as only Aladdin can enter the secret cave to find a very special lamp… 
 
In Mother Goose, Jack and Jill are in love and want to get married. Will their wish come true, thanks to a magical goose which lays golden eggs? 
 
Dick Whittington has come to London to seek his fortune. It seems his luck is changing – until the evil King Rat threatens everything… 
 
In Sleeping Beauty, the christening of Princess Rosebud is interrupted by the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, who gives the baby a terrible gift. If Rosebud pricks her finger and spills a drop of blood she will fall into a deep sleep… 
 
With stellar casts including Terry Wogan, Maureen Lipman, Anita Harris, June Whitfield, Kenneth Connor and Frank Thornton. 
 
Everyone loves a traditional Christmas pantomime, and with this classic BBC Radio collection you can enjoy the festive fun whenever you wish. With rousing songs, corny jokes and the obligatory Widow Twankey, it’s perfect entertainment for all the family. Oh, yes it is!

The Classic BBC Panto Collection: Puss In Boots, Aladdin, Mother Goose, Dick Whittington & Sleeping Beauty

Five live full-cast panto productions

James Naughtie

In this major BBC Radio 4 series, James Naughtie uncovers the roots of our music and reveals the soundtrack to our own history. 
 
The history of classical music is inextricably linked with the places it was written, its purpose and its patrons, as well as with politics, war and social change. From the earliest music of the monasteries, to the court and church music of the Renaissance and Reformation and beyond, composers have always changed with the times. 
 
In these programmes, James Naughtie reveals how the chance happenings of history built a classical tradition that tells a glittering and inspiring story. His journey takes him from early beginnings to the present day, where he examines the current state of classical music. 
 
This epic and important series features extracts from the music itself, as well as the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch, Alison Carney, Laurence Fox and Simon Russell Beale alongside James Naughtie’s own.

The Making of Music

The complete landmark BBC Radio 4 series

Roald Dahl

Two new BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations of Roald Dahl's gripping autobiographical stories. 
 
These two compelling adaptations, based on Roald Dahl’s real-life tales of his of his boyhood and youthful overseas adventures, celebrate his remarkable life and commemorate his genius. 
 
Boy Dahl’s childhood was one of excitement, wonder, terror and sadness. From his fascination with the local sweetshop to the Great Mouse Plot, the horrors of boarding school, the obnoxious Boazers and his time as a chocolate taster for Cadbury’s, we hear of the extraordinary events that shaped him and inspired his bestselling books. 
 
Going Solo Setting sail for Africa on the SS Montola, aged 22, Dahl is plunged into an unfamiliar world of eccentric colonial characters. In Tanzania he enjoys life on the savannah, encountering lions and deadly mambas – but when World War II breaks out, and he must round up the Germans in Dar es Salaam, he experiences the brutality of war. As he leaves the bush behind and takes to the skies as an RAF pilot, many thrilling adventures and dangerous missions will ensue before he finally makes his way back home... 
 
Starring Patrick Malahide as the voice of Dahl, these colourful dramatisations will carry you away into worlds every bit as amazing, strange and memorable as the ones in his acclaimed fiction. Duration: 3 hours approx

Boy & Going Solo

BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas

Jeremy Summerly

Jeremy Summerly tells the story of the Christmas Carol in England in these illuminating and delightful programmes. 
 
The Christmas carol is as popular now as it was when singers celebrated the birth of Edward III in 1312. But the journey it has taken is unique in music history. Here Jeremy Summerly follows that journey from medieval times to the present day. It's a story that sees the carol veer between the sacred and secular, in a tradition that has always had one foot in the pub and another in the church. 
 
The carol is an expression of seasonal joy in the coldest, hardest time of the year. However inefficient the heating system may be, the carol still generates warmth and positive nostalgia. Many favourite carols were actually written for children to sing, including Once in Royal David's City. It famously leads off the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, a service broadcast by the BBC from King’s College, Cambridge since the 1920s, commanding a worldwide audience of several million. But has it left an imbalance in the appreciation of our caroling tradition? And why do carols remain popular and familiar to so many? 
 
Illustrated with examples of carols obscure and familiar through the ages, and taking in numerous locations around Britain along the way, this is a history of the carol to bring comfort and joy.

A Cause for Caroling

A celebration of the Christmas carol in Britain

Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim was a multi award-winning American composer, whose works garnered over 60 Tony Awards, as well as an Oscar for Best Song and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Here he discusses his life and achievements in a series of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive: PM, BBC Radio, 21 July 1973 (featuring Pete Myers); The Lively Arts, BBC Television, 2 January 1977 (featuring André Previn); The Levin Interviews, BBC Television, 24 May 1980 (featuring Bernard Levin); Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio, 16 August 1980 (featuring Roy Plomley); Face To Face, BBC Television, 9 January 1995 (featuring Jeremy Isaacs) and Front Row, BBC Radio, 19 October 2010 (featuring Mark Lawson). 
 
Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary. 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Stephen Sondheim In His Own Words

John Lennon

John Lennon was a world famous and influential singer/songwriter and former member of the Beatles. 
 
Here he discusses his life and achievements in a series of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive: Tonight, broadcast on BBC TV, 18 June 1965 (featuring Kenneth Allsop); The World of Books, broadcast on BBC Radio, 3 July 1965 (featuring Wilfred De'Ath); The Beatles in New York, broadcast on BBC Radio, 30 August 1965 (featuring Brian Mathew); Release, broadcast on BBC TV, 22 June 1968 (featuring Peter Lewis, Victor Spinetti); BBC Radio archive interview, dated 30 March 1969 (featuring Bob Parrin); BBC Radio archive interview, dated 1 January 1970 (featuring David Wigg, Yoko Ono); The Lennon Tapes, broadcast on BBC Radio, 18 &amp; 21 January 1981 (featuring Andy Peebles, Yoko Ono). 
 
Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary. 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

John Lennon In His Own Words

Mick Jagger

In this fascinating collection of archive interviews with the famed lead singer of the Rolling Stones, we hear - in his owns words - about being the voice of his generation. 
 
Mick Jagger talks about touring with one of the biggest bands in the world and why he needs to perform. He discusses his favourite Stones songs and is extraordinarily open about some of his personal experiences, which have included drugs and alcohol, prison and being anti-establishment. He is particularly candid about earning money, being the businessman of the Stones and hating awards and ceremonies. In addition, Mick talks about his solo work, the longevity of the Rolling Stones, fatherhood and family, his love of cricket and, ultimately, making music to make you happy. 
 
Interviews include: archive radio newsreel, BBC Radio (first broadcast 25 July 1964); The Look of the Week, BBC TV (first broadcast 21 May 1967); 24 Hours, BBC TV (first broadcast 9 October 1970); My Top 12, BBC Radio 1 (first broadcast 8 August 1974); archive radio recording, BBC Radio (dated 1st January 1975); Rock On, BBC Radio 1 (first broadcast 21st October 1981); Whistle Test Special, BBC Two (first broadcast 9th April 1985); Janice Long, BBC Radio 1 (first broadcast 22 June 1986); Mick Jagger, BBC TV (28 August 1987); Steve Wright, BBC Radio 1 (first broadcast 8 September 1987); Nicky Campbell, BBC Radio 1 (first broadcast 5 September 1989); Simon Bates, BBC Radio 1 (first broadcast 21 November 1992). 
 
Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary. 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mick Jagger In His Own Words

Paul McCartney

In interviews ranging from 1968 to 2009, Paul McCartney talks about touring the UK with Wings (which was then a new band); a mid-70s offer to re-form the Beatles; the early days of the Beatles, and their final break-up. He also discusses his solo albums; receiving the freedom of the City of Liverpool; Christmas with his family; his love of music, and his career since the break-up of the Beatles up to 2009. 
 
 Interviews include: The World at One, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 24 March 1968); Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 24 February 1972); archive interview, BBC Radio (first broadcast 1 June 1972); Insight, BBC Radio 1 (11 April 1976); Rock On, BBC Radio 1 (first broadcast 23 December 1978); archive interview, BBC Radio (first broadcast 18 April1982); The World at One, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 28 November 1984); archive interview, BBC Radio (first broadcast 15 December 1985); archive interview, BBC Radio (first broadcast 12 May 1989); archive interview, BBC Radio (first broadcast 15 December 1982); Parkinson Meets Paul McCartney, BBC 1 (first broadcast 3 December 1999); Sold on Song, BBC Radio 2 (first broadcast 17 September 2005); Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the Seventies, BBC Radio 2 (first broadcast 30 August 2009). 
 
 Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary. 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Paul McCartney In His Own Words

J.R.R. Tolkien

The musical soundtrack that accompanies Brian Sibley's highly acclaimed BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of J R R Tolkien's classic Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Lord of the Rings, The Soundtrack

The year is 1Q84. This is the real world, there is no doubt about that. But in this world, there are two moons in the sky. Discover the 1Q84 Trilogy by Haruki Murakami.

1Q84

365 Days of Art

A BBC Christmas

A Black Book Thriller

A Box Full of Murders

A Cal Leandros Novel

A Christmas Mystery

The intelligent and capable police commissioner Guido Brunetti confronts crime in and around his home town of Venice.

A Commissario Brunetti Mystery

A DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation Series

A Daisy Story

Chronicling the lives of over three hundred characters, unrivalled for its scope and humour, this is a unique evocation of life in twentieth-century England.

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