The Latest Podcasts from BBC Radio 3

Arts & Ideas

Arts & Ideas

Leading artists, writers, thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives & links between past & present and new academic research. Broadcast as Free Thinking Tues – Thurs 10pm on BBC Radio 3 + Proms Plus events

Record Review Podcast

Record Review Podcast

Building a Library: a guide to the best recordings of the greatest classical music. Each week an expert and enthusiast brings along a wide range of recordings of a well-known piece. They explore the music and the different ways of performing it, ending with a recommendation for your library

The Music & Meditation Podcast

The Music & Meditation Podcast

Join Izzy Judd to escape the noise of daily life through the power of music and meditation in the ultimate therapeutic podcast. Experience guided meditations covering themes such as reducing stress levels to making peace with imperfections from a range of experts enhanced by an immersive classical soundtrack. And if you want the guided meditations without the chat, each one is available separately as a Ten Minute Meditation.

Classical Fix

Classical Fix

The podcast for classical newbies. If you fancy giving classical music a go, start here.

This Classical Life

This Classical Life

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too. Music, eclectic playlists and chat, with a new guest every week.

Music Matters

Music Matters

The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters

The Verb

The Verb

Radio 3's cabaret of the word, featuring the best poetry, new writing and performance

The Essay

The Essay

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

Composer of the Week

Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3's Composer Of The Week is a guide to composers and their music. The podcast is compiled from the week's programmes and published on Friday, it is only available in the UK.

Private Passions

Private Passions

Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical loves and hates, and talk about the influence music has had on their lives

The Listening Service

The Listening Service

Rethink music with The Listening Service. Tom Service presents a journey of imagination and insight, exploring how music works

Between the Ears

Between the Ears

Innovative and thought-provoking features that make adventurous use of sound and explore a wide variety of subjects. Made by leading radio producers.

Slow Radio

Slow Radio

An antidote to today’s frenzied world. Step back, let go, immerse yourself: it’s time to go slow. Listen to the sounds of birds, mountain climbing, monks chatting as you go about your day. A lo-fi celebration of pure sound.

The Early Music Show

The Early Music Show

An exploration of early music, looking at early developments in musical performance and composition in Britain and abroad. UK only: please note that not all episodes are podcast.

Music Planet: Road Trip

Music Planet: Road Trip

Discover the world with music. Join local experts for a sonic journey around the globe.

Sound of Cinema

Sound of Cinema

Matthew Sweet's weekly look at music for the screen

The Radio 3 Documentary

The Radio 3 Documentary

In-depth documentaries which explore a different aspect of history, science, philosophy, film, visual arts and literature. The Sunday Feature is broadcast every Sunday at 6.45pm on BBC Radio 3.

Sound of Gaming

Sound of Gaming

Radio 3's regular jaunt into the latest, brightest and best gaming soundtracks.

The Shakespeare Sessions

The Shakespeare Sessions

Your one-stop shop for all things Shakespeare. Catch A-List casts in brand new audio versions of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, plus documentaries from the brightest minds on the bard’s life and work.

Time Travellers

Time Travellers

Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough presents a collection of quirky tales gathered from the corners of history by an intrepid band of time travelling correspondents, with a new theme every week.

The Way I See It

The Way I See It

Leading creative thinkers choose an artwork from the Museum of Modern Art, and talk about how it inspires or provokes, thrills or surprises them. Presented by Alastair Sooke.

Sound of Dance

Sound of Dance

Katie Derham explores the relationship between music and dance in a variety of genres.

Unplucked

Unplucked

How do you get into the biggest classical music festival in the world? Follow composer and comedian Vikki Stone as she unbuttons the BBC Proms and asks the questions everyone else is afraid to ask.

Saturday Classics

Saturday Classics

A personal view of classical music from a range of presenters. Authored, themed mini-series and one-off programmes offer a chance to share the musical interests of the presenters.

My Classical Favourites

My Classical Favourites

Discover classical music loved by celebrated guests from all walks of life. To hear the music in full go to BBC Playlister.

Modern Muses

Modern Muses

Creative collaborations in new music. A series where the world’s leading composers and performers explain how they cooperate in the creation of new work.

The Choir - The Choral Interview

The Choir - The Choral Interview

Sara Mohr-Pietsch interviews performers about their choral passions. The Choir programme broadcasts every Sunday at 4pm, exploring all things choral, with performances and...

Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition

Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition

The final shortlist of winning carols in the Breakfast Christmas Carol Competition. Composed by listeners, a setting of a poem by Susan Hill specially written for Radio 3

Kiri's 20 Favourite Voices

Kiri's 20 Favourite Voices

Drawing from her amazing career Dame Kiri selects her 20 favourite voices, including not only Classical but pop singers too, illustrating with music why they make her top list.

In Tune Highlights

In Tune Highlights

Highlights from BBC Radio 3’s In Tune - featuring interviews with guests from the world of music and the arts. In Tune is presented by Sean Rafferty and Katie Derham.

Radio 3’s Composers’ Rooms

Radio 3’s Composers’ Rooms

Sara Mohr-Pietsch interviews today’s composers exploring the relationship between their immediate environment and the music they write. From BBC Radio 3’s Hear and Now, published on Sunday mornings.

Radio 3 Opera Guides

Radio 3 Opera Guides

BBC Radio 3 Opera guides

Commonwealth Connections

Commonwealth Connections

World music from the Commonwealth countries for BBC Radio 3’s World on 3, Fridays. Musicians, sportspeople and cultural figures introduce music recorded on location.

Music and Culture of WW1

Music and Culture of WW1

Highlights of BBC Radio 3’s special programmes to mark the WW1 centenary. Classical music, art, literature, film, popular songs and cultural life inspired by the war.

Georgian Pleasures

Georgian Pleasures

Key pieces of music from the Georgian period explored by Suzy Klein and Christian Curnyn. From BBC Radio 3

Ravel Revealed

Ravel Revealed

Maurice Ravel revealed through guides to his work and life. First broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Ravel Day, 7 March 2014.

Britten 100

Britten 100

Britten 100. Highlights from Radio 3’s Britten centenary weekend in Aldeburgh with special features, interviews and on location reports recorded in Suffolk.

In Tune Sound of Cinema

In Tune Sound of Cinema

As part of BBC Sound of Cinema, a special series of interviews with major names from the industry, providing a fascinating insight into how music works in film.

The Story of Music in Fifty Pieces

The Story of Music in Fifty Pieces

BBC Radio 3's Story of Music told through 50 Pieces. Howard Goodall in conversation with Suzy Klein about 50 pieces of music that changed the course of music history.

The Story of Music Question Time

The Story of Music Question Time

Sue Perkins and Tom Service unravel everything listeners have ever wondered about music - but were too afraid to ask

Radio 3's Fifty Modern Classics

Radio 3's Fifty Modern Classics

Artists, musicians and composers introduce fifty key pieces of classical music composed between 1950 and 2000. As featured in the BBC Radio 3 programme, Hear & Now.

Radio 3's Piano A to Z

Radio 3's Piano A to Z

BBC Radio 3's Piano A to Z

BBC Proms Music Guide

BBC Proms Music Guide

In this set of free downloads, BBC Radio 3 presenters introduce a key composer and work featured in BBC Prom concerts.

The Lebrecht Interview

The Lebrecht Interview

Classical music critic Norman Lebrecht talks to major figures in the field

Jazz Library

Jazz Library

Advice and guidance to those interested in building a library of jazz recordings.

The Spirit of Schubert

The Spirit of Schubert

BBC Radio 3 tells you everything you need to know about Franz Schubert. These free downloads will cover every aspect of the life of one of the greatest ever composers.

A History of Mozart in a Dozen Objects

A History of Mozart in a Dozen Objects

Mozart’s world rediscovered in objects of his time. Professor Cliff Eisen looks at Mozart’s world through objects that were close to him. From BBC Radio 3.

The In Tune A-Z of Opera

The In Tune A-Z of Opera

A comprehensive guide to the language of opera with contributions from singers, conductors, directors and vocal coaches. From BBC Radio 3, May 2010