Ian Skelly hosts a talk on Verdi's orchestral writing and Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony. With critic, writer and professor of English Jonathan Bate and violinist Claire Holden. Show more

Martin Handley talks to Paul Kildea about Britten and his place in 20th-century music in a discussion held at the Royal College of Music in London. Show more

In a discussion from the Royal College of Music in London, Louise Fryer explores Bruckner, the man behind the music, the inspirations and influences that led to his Symphony No 4. Show more

James Jolly discusses Prokofiev and his Fifth Symphony with Fiona McKnight, archivist of the Prokofiev Archive at Goldsmiths, University of London, and musicologist David Nice. Show more

Andrew McGregor talks to Nick Reyland and Roxanna Panufnik about Witold Lutoslawski and Andrzej Panufnik and the composer's place in the history of Polish culture. Show more

Martin Handley is joined by Stephen Fry and Stephen Johnson for a discussion about Wagner's epic final opera, Parsifal. Show more

Laura Tunbridge and Julian Johnson discuss Brahms's German Requiem in a discussion recorded at the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall of the Royal College of Music.

Louise Fryer and Jonathan Cross explore Stravinsky's The Firebird in a discussion held earlier at the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall of the Royal College of Music. Show more

Writer Judith Chernaik and music professor Kenneth Hamilton join Ian Skelly to explore the world of the Romantic piano concerto and Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No 1. Show more

Petroc Trelawny talks to Stephen Johnson about the music of Peter Eotvos and Bruckner's Seventh Symphony in a discussion recorded at the Royal College of Music in London. Show more

James Jolly talks to Norman Lebrecht and Jeremy Barham about Mahler's conversion from Judaism to Christianity, spirituality and the social context of the Resurrection Symphony. Show more

Sean Shepherd talks about Magiya, his new BBC commission, and about working with the National Youth Orchestra of the USA. Gerard McBurney introduces Shostakovich's Symphony No 10. Show more

Sara Mohr-Pietsch begins an inquiry into Wagner's Ring Cycle, with Nicholas Baragwanath and Mike Ashman joining her to discuss the background to Das Rheingold. Show more

Sara Mohr-Pietsch continues her survey of Wagner's Ring Cycle, with Elaine Padmore and Patrick Carnegie joining her for an introduction to Die Walküre. Show more

Sara Mohr-Pietsch is joined by Mark Berry, from Royal Holloway, University of London, and the BBC's Paul Mason, for an introduction to Wagner's Siegfried. Show more

Sara Mohr-Pietsch is joined by historian Sarah Lenton and writer and critic Philip Hensher for an introduction to Gotterdammerung, the last opera in Wagner's Ring cycle. Show more

Mozart and Vienna: Nicholas Till and Richard Wigmore join James Jolly to explore Mozart's Vienna, seat of the Hapsburgs and centre of the musical world. Show more

In a discussion held in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall of the Royal College of Music, James Jolly discusses Wagner's Tannhauser with Peggy Reynolds and Simon Rees. Show more

Roger Wright with guests Claire Whitaker and Nii Sackey introduce an Urban Classics Prom: music taken from the vibrant UK scene with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Show more

Petroc Trelawny discusses the link between Beethoven and the Royal Philharmonic Society with Helen Wallace. Amanda Glauert provides an introduction to his Symphony No 9. Show more