Tchaikovsky's fifth symphony, written in 1888, is a work which arouses hugely divergent opinions. Many people love it dearly, and the famous horn solo in the second movement is often cited as an example of how to write a beautiful melody. Many

Keys to Music: Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.4

Jan 23rd, 2017 52m 20s

Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony ranks as one of the most popular symphonies ever written.It must also rank as one of the most misunderstood symphonies ever written. It has been common practice for more than a century (it was written in the 1870

Keys to Music: Beethoven's Diabelli Variations

Nov 2nd, 2016 54m 52s

The Keys to Music podcast continues its survey of Beethoven’s music by exploring the Diabelli Variations.The thirty-three "Diabelli" variations on a waltz by the Viennese composer and publisher Anton Diabelli (1781-1858, pictured) make up wha

Keys to Music: Beethoven's String Quartets

Oct 11th, 2016 53m 44s

The Keys to Music podcast continues its survey of Beethoven's music with the string quartets.Beethoven's seventeen string quartets span the traditional "three periods" of his life. The six Op 18 quartets come from the early period, the three

Keys to Music: Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, Part 2

Aug 2nd, 2016 53m 41s

The Keys to Music podcast continues its survey of Beethoven's piano sonatas by looking at the last eleven, starting with Op 54 in F, written in 1804.The later sonatas of Beethoven were regarded right from their first publication as vital, gro

Keys to Music: Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas, Part 1

Jul 6th, 2016 53m 37s

Our survey of Beethoven's piano sonatas begins with the dazzling sonatas written when the composer was just 12 years old. Known as the "Electoral" sonatas because they were dedicated to the Elector of Bonn, these are not numbered among the trad

1785 and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21

Mar 22nd, 2016 16m 40s

The Times newspaper is first published in London, Benjamin Franklin invents bifocal glasses, and Mozart – aged 25 – writes his Piano Concerto No.21.

1725 and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons

Mar 22nd, 2016 10m 58s

Jonathan Swift completes Gulliver’s Travels, wallpaper and gin become popular in England, and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons are published in Amsterdam.

1570 and Tallis’ Spem in Alium

Mar 22nd, 2016 11m 51s

Ivan the Terrible commits the brutal Novgorod Massacre, the first atlas is published, and Thomas Tallis composes his 40-part motet Spem in Alium.

1721 and Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos

Mar 22nd, 2016 10m 51s

Rifles are introduced to America by Swiss immigrants, snuff is rife amongst the European elite, and the Brandenburg Concertos are written by Johann Sebastian Bach.

1610 and Monteverdi’s Vespers

Mar 22nd, 2016 4m

Galileo discovers the moons of Jupiter, ‘allegory’ and ‘victim’ enter the English language, and Venetian composer Monteverdi publishes the Vespers for the Blessed Virgin.

1788 and Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony

Mar 21st, 2016 13m 17s

The First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay, Robert Burns writes Auld Lang Syne, and Mozart composes his final symphony.

1791 and Haydn’s Surprise Symphony

Mar 21st, 2016 8m 9s

The world’s first Sunday newspaper is published, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate is completed, and Haydn pens his Surprise Symphony.

1799 and Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata

Mar 21st, 2016 7m 55s

George Washington suffers a bloody death, France introduces the metric system, and Beethoven writes his Pathétique Sonata.

1819 and Schubert’s Trout Quintet

Mar 21st, 2016 15m 44s

The Industrial Revolution is in full swing in England, Singapore is developed as a trading post, and Schubert laments the death of a fish in his Trout Quintet.

1824 and Beethoven’s Choral Symphony

Mar 21st, 2016 16m 41s

Charles Dickens is 12 years old, Emmanuel Kant sets out a manifesto for the Enlightenment, and Beethoven changes music forever with his Choral Symphony.

1859 and Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde

Mar 21st, 2016 13m 35s

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of the Species is published, as is the first self-help book, and Wagner completes his opera Tristan and Isolde.

1837 and Chopin’s Nocturnes

Mar 21st, 2016 8m 24s

The telegraph is patented in the US, Queen Victoria takes the throne of England, and Chopin – living in Paris – writes his Nocturnes Op.32.

1878 and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto

Mar 21st, 2016 20m 50s

The phonograph is patented, Stalin is born, and Tchaikovsky writes his Violin Concerto.

1894 and Mahler’s Second Symphony

Mar 21st, 2016 24m 12s

The first commercial film is shown, Oscar Wilde writes The Importance of Being Earnest, and Mahler composes his epic Symphony No.2.

1924 and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue

Mar 21st, 2016 20m 24s

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is under construction, the Klu Klux Klan reaches around 4 million members, and Gershwin brings together the genres of classical and jazz in Rhapsody in Blue.

1913 and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring

Mar 21st, 2016 5m 22s

Canberra is officially named the capital of Australia, and Stravinsky causes riots in Paris with the premiere of his The Rite of Spring.

1976 and Gorecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs

Mar 21st, 2016 11m

The Apple Computer Company is formed, Concorde flies for the first time, and Gorecki writes the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs.

1988 and Glass’ Metamorphosis

Mar 21st, 2016 6m 48s

Australia celebrates the bicentenary, the Phantom of the Opera opens on Broadway, and Philip Glass is inspired by Kafka to write his his Metamorphosis.

2002 and Kats-Chernin’s Wild Swans

Mar 21st, 2016 5m 17s

202 people die in the Bali bombings, half of the world’s data is stored in digital form for the first time, and Elena Kats-Chernin writes the ballet music Wild Swans, including Eliza’s Aria.