News
Episode 1
Writer Eva Hoffman charts the rise of a Jewish civilisation in eastern Europe. Read more
now playing
Significant Others - Jewish Life in Poland
Writer Eva Hoffman charts the rise of a Jewish civilisation in eastern Europe.
Episode 2
Eva Hoffman explores the Jewish presence in Poland in its terrible 20th century and beyond
Living and Present: Laurie Anderson on Performance Art
Pioneering artist Laurie Anderson traces the roots of contemporary performance art.
Fear and Trembling in Copenhagen - In Search of Soren Kierkegaard
Nigel Warburton explores the life and work of Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard.
The Devastation of British Art
Diarmaid MacCulloch tells the story of iconoclasm during the English Reformation.
Production-Line Living
AL Kennedy explores the impact and idea of Henry Ford's introduction of the assembly line.
Albert Camus: Inside the Outsider
Andrew Hussey celebrates the life and work of French writer and philosopher Albert Camus.
Britten 100: Cultural Conchies
Exploring the background to the pacifism which was central to Britten's creative vision.
A Profile of Ken Adam: The Spectre of Modernism
Matthew Sweet meets film production designer Ken Adam, famous for Bond and Dr Strangelove.
The Invisible Theatre: Wagner's Opera House in Bayreuth
Tom Service and others explore the ideas behind Wagner's own opera house in Bayreuth.
Ideas of
Anne McElvoy considers how Germans see their country's cultural role.
Anything But Banal - The Fascination of the Villain
Paul Allen explores, with Britain's leading actors, the allure of the villain in drama.
Somme
Paul Farley visits the Somme, a river whose sleepy character belies its violent history.
Albrecht Durer: Printing Press Native
Charlotte Higgins charts the printing prowess of German Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer.
Shanghai - World City Redux
Rana Mitter on how today's ultra-modern Shanghai is rediscovering its glamorous past.
Living with Memory in Rwanda
Zoe Norridge reports from Rwanda on how the country's devastating genocide is ed.
Eileen Gray: The Missing Heart of Design
Fiona Shaw explores the life and work of Irish-born designer and architect Eileen Gray.
Billy - The Other Lloyd Webber
Andrew Green explores the life and little-heard romantic music of William Lloyd Webber.
Merchant Ivory - Classics, Celluloid and Class
Laurence Scott re-assesses the work of the film-making team known as Merchant Ivory.
Educating Isaac
Nicholas Baragwanath explores a forgotten mode of music education once used in Naples.
Dylan Thomas the Radio Poet
Writer Rachel Trezise tells the story of Dylan Thomas's broadcasting life.
Per Petterson
A profile of Norwegian writer Per Petterson, author of the novel Out Stealing Horses.
Clocks and Clouds: An Adventure Around György Ligeti
A portrait of a magnificent and mischievous musical spirit, György Ligeti.
Sonic Art Boom - The Art of Noise
Composer Dan Jones celebrates sound art and The Art of Noise Manifesto.
Dennis Potter - With Aggressive Affection
Matthew Sweet reassseses the life, work and legacy of playwright Dennis Potter.
Bannockburn Begins
Novelist Louise Welsh explores meanings, ancient and modern, of the battle of Bannockburn.
Music in the Great War: Gavrilo Princip's Footprint
Maria Margaronis explores the legacy of Gavrilo Princip, whose shots sparked WWI.
World War One: Cradle of Jazz
Alyn Shipton charts the musical and social changes behind the emergence of jazz.
How Did Scotland's Artists Turn Nationalist?
Stuart Kelly examines why many Scottish artists today have declared for independence.
Faith Without God
Michael Goldfarb learns about the real lives of Buddha, Confucius, Thales and Pythagoras.
Michael Goldfarb explains how Buddhism and Confucianism became religions.
