The Invitation

Author Ian Sansom explores the meaning and mystery of invitation giving and receiving.

• 20 mins

How to Play a Cactus

Robert Worby explores the adventures undertaken by performers tackling John Cage's music.

• 20 mins

Ballet and Musicians

Catherine Bott and guests on the benefits of ballet music without accompanying dance.

• 20 mins

The Captain's Apprentice

The history of a traditional song that influenced Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes.

• 20 mins

Suffolk Sounds

Simon Barnes on the sounds of the Suffolk coast, which inspired Britten's Peter Grimes.

• 20 mins

The Last Heretic

Andrew Brown and Diarmaid MacCulloch consider why we burned heretics and why we stopped.

• 20 mins

Ne'er Cast a Clout ...

David Bramwell meets natural weather forecaster David King.

• 20 mins

From Neptune to Nixon

Adrian Mourby examines the history of the operatic plot.

• 20 mins

The German William Morris

Lesley Chamberlain tells the story of German artist and architect Heinrich Vogeler.

• 20 mins

Miles and Me

Soweto Kinch explores the profound impressions Miles Davis made on his fellow artists.

• 20 mins

A Darker Shade of Green

How 1930s novelists and composers used the pastoral mode to address the legacy of WWI.

• 20 mins

Spencer de Grey

Matthew Sweet meets architect Spencer de Grey whose designs include The Sage Gateshead.

• 20 mins

Twenty Ways to Stuff a Cat

Ian Sansom reflects on the art of taxidermy and our need to preserve life by stuffing it.

• 20 mins

Ronald Blythe in Conversation

Writer Ronald Blythe talks to Mark Cocker about his career and times.

• 20 mins

The Life and Genius of Michael Rabin

Jonathan Coffey explores the life and legacy of American virtuoso violinist Michael Rabin.

• 20 mins

Wajda: Voice of a Generation

Ian Christie explores the life and work of Polish film director Andrzej Wajda.

• 20 mins

Katharina Wolpe

Distinguished pianist and teacher Katharina Wolpe talks to Martin Handley.

• 20 mins

Sliding in at the Back

Three trombone experts talk about the life of an orchestral trombone player.

• 20 mins

Leopold Mozart's Violin Treatise

Cliff Eisen traces the history of Leopold Mozart's influential violin treatise of 1756.

• 20 mins

Left High and Dry

Vocal coach and voice expert Mary King charts the rise and fall of the castrati.

• 20 mins

National Baroque

Katie Derham explores the history of The Vyne, a 16th-century country house in Hampshire.

• 20 mins

Sounds of the City

A portrait in sound of Washington DC created by people who live there.

• 20 mins

National Baroque

Katie Derham tours Powis Castle for a closer look at its many Baroque splendours.

• 20 mins

The Laius Complex

Paul Allen argues that the downfall of Oedipus was the fault of his father, Laius.

• 20 mins

Clandon Park, Surrey

Katie Derham, Lars Tharp and Katherine Sharp take a tour of the treasures of Clandon Park.

• 20 mins

Ham House, Surrey

Katie Derham is joined by Lars Tharp and curator Victoria Bradley for a tour of Ham House.

• 20 mins

Tredegar House, Gwent

Katie Derham tours Tredegar House in Wales with Lars Tharp and the NT's Derw Thomas.

• 20 mins

I Predict a Riot

Ivan Hewett explores the myths that surround the first performance of The Rite of Spring.

• 20 mins

Are You Sleeping, Brother John

Peggy Reynolds explores the story of the children's song Frere Jacques.

• 20 mins

Going Underground

Petroc Trelawny experiences the compelling sounds of the London Underground.

• 20 mins