Judith Weir: Stories from Life. A self-portrait of Judith Weir in words and music.

Judith Weir talks to Iain Burnside about her songs and the texts she likes to use.

To mark 50 years since the death Vaughan Williams, Steven Johnson visits the Royal College of Music to investigate the composer's time there. Show more

An exploration of the ancient heart of the Parisian Latin Quarter through the family history of novelist and historian Gillian Tindall. Show more

A profile of the New York Philharmonic, one of the world's oldest orchestras. With contributions from its president, orchestral players and current music director Lorin Maazel. Show more

Helen Dunmore's short story, read by Jonathan Firth, is set aboard a ferry as a traveller encounters the intriguing teenager Sophie, just as strange storm clouds begin to appear. Show more

Stuart Kelly tells how in 1826, publisher John Murray II's attempts to create a newspaper to rival The Times, led to financial disaster and a life-long feud. Show more

Ondes martenot player Thomas Bloch discusses the power of the instrument and its uses in classical, rock and film music with ex-Pogues member David Coulter. Show more

Tom Service is joined by Messiaen scholars Peter Hill and Nigel Simeone, and artistic director of the Netherlands Opera Pierre Audi to discuss Messiaen's Saint Francis of Assisi. Show more

Mark Bazeley reads Kurt Vonnegut's cautionary tale about eavesdropping. A well-intentioned act by a young boy who overhears the couple next door arguing unleashes chaos. Show more

Stephen Poliakoff joins Susan Hitch to discuss his favourite Russian literature, and how it relates to his own Russian family history. Show more

Kathleen Jamie tries to discover why, all around the coast of the British Isles, as well as inland, there can be found the remains of whales. Show more

Art critic Louisa Buck explores the reasons why artists down the centuries have painted picnics, taking in Titian, Manet and Picasso and moving up to artists such as Matt Collishaw. Show more

Paul Bailey tells the story of Romanian Jewish playwright, novelist and music lover Mihail Sebastian, who wrote a journal charting Romania's Nazi collaboration. Show more

A new story by celebrated author and screenwriter Deborah Moggach, written especially to mark the occasion of the 2008 Last Night of the Proms. Show more

Petroc Trelawny talks to BBC Singers chief conductor David Hill and associate composer Judith Bingham about their activities in the studio and outside, and about their future plans. Show more

Petroc Trelawny and guests discuss the recent portrayal of conductors in BBC TV's Maestro series.

Culinary expert Ivan Day explores the history of British picnics while cooking up a heritage hamper of goodies in his Lakeland kitchen.

Philip Hammond explores the depth of the friendship between composer, pianist and teacher Howard Ferguson, and composer Gerald Finzi, in Ferguson's centenary year. Show more

Robbie Meredith marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of the Irish poet and musician Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies. With contributions from Nobel Laureate Seaumus Heaney. Show more