The Essay Episodes Available now
Chorus girls in Paris—Music Rediscovered
Adjoa Osei has been delving into the personal archives of some 1930s Plaza Tiller dancers.
Esther Inglis's musical self portraits—Music Rediscovered
Eleanor Chan delves into the world of a Huguenot bookmaker who used music as a code.
The Star-Spangled Banner, Jacobins and Abolitionists—Music Rediscovered
Oskar Jensen on what links Liverpool politics, a street ballad and the American anthem.
Tudor music and politics—Music Rediscovered
Christina Faraday tells us how Robert Cecil used a song to curry favour with Elizabeth I.
Teresa del Riego's suffrage anthem—Music Rediscovered
Naomi Paxton shares research on a suffrage song with a special performance by Lucy Stevens
20/09/2024—Five Kinds of Amadeus
Geoffrey Colman meets Simon Callow, who first played Mozart in Peter Shaffer's Amadeus.
19/09/2024—Five Kinds of Amadeus
Geoffrey Colman discovers Mark-Anthony Turnage's take on Mozart and composer rivalries.
18/09/2024—Five Kinds of Amadeus
Geoffrey Colman discovers Dame Jane Glover's reactions to Peter Shaffer's Amadeus.
17/09/2024—Five Kinds of Amadeus
Geoffrey Colman explores what it's really like to be a musical prodigy with Vanessa-Mae.
16/09/2024—Five Kinds of Amadeus
Geoffrey Colman asks Patrick Mackie what Peter Shaffer's 'Amadeus' reveals about Mozart.