My Classical Favourites: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio 3
Discover classical music loved by celebrated guests from all walks of life. To hear the music in full go to BBC Playlister.
Rob's guest this week is the film director, writer, photographer and composer Mike Figgis
As Radio 3 celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Sarah's guest is the historian Ian Mortimer
Sarah's guest this week is the columnist, broadcaster and campaigner, Mariella Frostrup.
Two specially commissioned comedy sketches written by John Finnemore, performed by John and friends plus Sarah Walker
Sarah's joined by the cricket broadcaster and former international cricketer Graeme Swann
Rob's guest this week is the actor, comedian, impressionist and writer, Alistair McGowan
Sarah's guest is the space scientist, broadcaster and presenter, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
This week Sarah's guest is the broadcaster and former England cricket captain David Gower
Sarah's guest this week is the jeweller and trained classical musician, Catherine Martin.
This week Rob’s joined by the composer, producer, DJ and instrumentalist, Nitin Sawhney.
This week Rob's joined by a film producer and educator who left school with 3 O-Levels and now has 45 honorary degrees: David Puttnam. His choices include music by Mozart, Schumann, Beethoven and Vivaldi.
This week Sarah's joined by the actor Hugh Bonneville, famous for his roles in television series such as Downton Abbey and W1A. Hugh chooses some favourite music, including Grieg, Strauss and Elgar.
Composer, record producer and Goldfrapp member Will Gregory joins Rob in the studio. Will's far-ranging choices include Perotin, Monteverdi, Mahler, Berio and Stravinsky.
Rob's guest this week is the actor and comedian Omid Djalili, who talks about his love of dance, the need for a thick skin in stand-up comedy, and his passion for music, including works by Gershwin, Prokofiev and Louis Prima.
Sarah's joined by the gardener and broadcaster Monty Don, who talks abut his career and chooses some favourite music, including Bach's Mass in B Minor, Beethoven's 'Eroica' Symphony, and Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary.
Director and writer Mike Leigh talks to Rob about his films (including his most recent, Mr Turner), his new production of The Pirates of Penzance for ENO, and his eclectic tastes in music, from Gilbert and Sullivan to Mozart to Bartok.
The screen and stage actor Martin Shaw is Sarah's guest this week. He discusses playing various roles, from Elvis Presley to Inspector George Gently, and chooses music by Bach, Richard Strauss, Puccini and Handel.
Sarah's joined by the chef, restaurateur and broadcaster Michel Roux, who shares his passion for cooking and music, including works by Vivaldi, Mozart, Verdi and Tchaikovsky.
This week Rob's joined by the performance poet John Hegley, a distant relation of Rameau. John's eclectic choices include music by Bach, Jim Parker, Debussy and Elvis Costello.
This week Rob is joined by the historian and crime novelist, Lady Antonia Fraser. She tells him about her conversion to Catholicism, what it was like to have her work read by her late husband, Harold Pinter, and her experience of playing Bridge with Mitsuko Uchida, including music by Byrd, Beethoven and Adams.
Rob's joined by the stage and screen actor, Charles Dance, who talks about his involvement with Game of Thrones and chooses music by Mendelssohn, Wagner and Bach.
Film and stage director Declan Donnellan shares some of his favourite pieces of classic music, including works by Mozart, Field and Sondheim.
Rob's guest this week is the celebrated screen and stage actress, Gerladine James. She chooses music including Ives' Holidays Symphony, Wagner's Das Rheingold and Bach played by Pablo Casals.
Rob's joined by the playwright, novelist and critic Bonnie Greer, who talks about her career and chooses some American classics (Copland, Barber, Adams) as well music by Vaughan Williams and Bach.
Sarah's guest this week is the actress Julia Sawalha, who picks out some great music classics, and talks about her many acting roles, including Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous.
Author and teacher Erica Jong shares favourite music choices and talks about her work, including her first novel 'Fear of Flying', a feminist classic.
Sir Richard Stilgoe joins Rob Cowan to share his musical choices and discuss his diverse and illustrious career in the world of music, comedy and beyond!
Former Director General of MI5 Dame Stella Rimington recalls moments from her career, such as meeting the KGB for the first time, and chooses favourite music including a recording of 'Land of Hope and Glory' from 1930, conducted by Elgar.
Jenny Agutter shares insights about her acting career, from The Railway Children to Call the Midwife, and chooses some favourite music including works by Ravel, Brahms and Vaughan Williams.
Writer and broadcaster Stuart Maconie shares recent musical discoveries with Sarah and chooses an eclectic selection of his favourite classical music.
Celebrated actress Penelope Keith shares a selection of her favourite classical music and reminisces about her time on the popular 70s sitcom, The Good Life.
Playwright and novelist Michael Frayn recalls meeting the great violinist David Oistrakh, and reveals which piece of Mozart reduced him - and his teenage granddaughter - to tears.
Ballet dancer Leanne Benjamin shares her passion for music with Sarah, including works she's danced to, and featuring music by Faure, Beethoven and Stravinsky.
Broadcaster and journalist Andrew Marr discusses his career, talks about how Mahler aided him in his recovery after a stroke, and reveals how the music of Wagner helped him meet girls.
Top Gear presenter (and music graduate) James May talks about his passion for music, toys and cars, while Rob reveals to James how many attempts he made before passing his driving test.
Comedienne, actress, singer-songwriter and director Victoria Wood talks to Sarah about her career and shares some of her favourite music choices.
Masterchef Monica Galetti talks to Rob Cowan about the world of michelin starred cooking and shares her favourite pieces of music.
Big Issue founder John Bird talks about his extraordinary life and shares his musical passions, including Wagner, Hildegard of Bingen and Caruso.
Best-selling author Patricia Cornwell discusses her books, her theories about Jack the Ripper, and reveals her favourite pieces of music.
Music journalist Paul Morley shares his opinions about the classical and pop worlds, and chooses music by Vaughan Williams, Mozart and Pachelbel remixed by Brian Eno.
Saxophonist and band leader Branford Marsalis tells Sarah about his love of Mahler and Wagner, and reveals what he thinks of Radio 3.
Entrepreneur and founder of the Ministry of Sound, James Palumbo, talks to Sarah about his passion for opera, ballet, Berlioz and Beethoven.
This week's guest is the broadcaster and novelist, Francine Stock, who talks to Rob about her passion for dance, opera and film music.
Susan talks to Rob about her work as a novelist and selects some of her favourite music.
This week's guest is the philosopher AC Grayling, who shares his thoughts and favourite music choices with Sarah.
This week's guest singer-songwriter Cerys Matthews shares her favourite music with Rob and he chooses a piece especially for her.
Highlights from this week's guest, the comedian, writer and producer, Armando Iannucci.
This week's guest Victoria Glendinning talks to Sarah Walker about her writing, and introduces some of her favourite music
The novelist Jonathan Coe talks to Rob Cowan and chooses music from Rosza and Reich to Ravel.
Highlights from this week's guest, author of the latest James Bond novel Solo, William Boyd.
Rob Cowan talks to the clinical psychologist Oliver James about issues affecting the Society we live in today and shares his musical passions.
This week choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone shares his favourite music with Rob Cowan, and Rob chooses a piece with Gareth's tastes in mind.
This week's guest is Simon Thurley - historian, writer, broadcaster and Chief Executive of English Heritage. He talks to Sarah Walker about the pleasures and challenges of conserving the nation's heritage, his early work as Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, his childhood, his attitude towards the teaching of history and of course the music that he loves. Sarah concludes by choosing a piece of music specially for him, based on his choices during the week.
This week's guest, Joanne Harris, talks about her love of French poetry, a novel way to experience Mozart's Requiem and her trilogy of books with food at her heart, and Rob chooses a piece of music especially for her.
Highlights from this week's guest, Professor of History at Yale University, Jay Winter.
Highlights from this week's guest, academic and consultant to the Radio 3 World War One programming, Kate Kennedy
Terry Waite talks with Rob about the music he enjoys, his time spent as a hostage in Lebanon, and his love of Vladimir Horowitz.
This week's guest, composer and former drummer of The Police, Stewart Copeland talks to Rob about growing up in the Middle East in the 1960s, composing for film, his love of John Adams and Aaron Copland, and Rob chooses a piece with him in mind, which certainly provokes a strong reaction.
This week's guest, Alice Goodman, talks about her conversion from Reformed Judaism to the Church of England, the debate concerning women priests and bishops and her work on the operas Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer with composer John Adams. Finally, Rob chooses music with Alice's tastes in mind.
Sarah Walker talks to former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Sir Michael Boyd, and chooses a Personal Shopper piece for him.
This week's guest, Douglas Kennedy, talks about Bach and Sarah chooses a piece of music especially for him, based upon his music choices this week.
A second chance to hear Sarah's guest James May talking about how he became a TV presenter, his love of Beethoven and how to play the Moonlight Sonata. Sarah chooses a piece of music especially for him.
Actress Niamh Cusack talks to Sarah Walker about performing on stage with her sisters and father in Chekhov, and how to get a top 'C' on the flute. Plus Sarah recommends her own choice of music for Niamh.
This week's guest, John Sergeant, talks about his political career and meeting Rab C. Nesbitt, and Rob chooses music especially for him.
This week's guest, Nigel Williams, talks about his latest novel,'Unfaithfully Yours', and Rob chooses a piece of music especially for him, based upon his musical choices this week
This week's guest, Charles Emmerson, talks about the music and cultural life of London on the eve of World War I, and Sarah chooses a piece of music especially for him.
Stand-up comedian and actor Tim Vine stays in time with his Metronome Song, and takes advice from Sarah Walker on waltzes and animal-based music.
This week's guest, Sandi Toksvig, talks about her work, her family life and her love of suffragist Ethyl Smyth. Her musical choices are from Bernstein's West Side Story and Smyth's Mass in D. Rob Cowan chooses a piece of music especially for her, based on her own choices earlier in the week.
This week's guest, Russell Grant, talks about some of his plans for the future and Rob chooses a piece of music especially for him, based upon his musical choices this week.
This week's guest, Howard Brenton, talks about a composer he feels is the heir to Sibelius, sums up the nature of his work in two words, and Sarah chooses a piece of music for him, with his tastes in mind.
This week's guest, Amanda Foreman, talks about her love of the cello, and Rob plays her a piece he has chosen with her in mind.
Philip Pullman talks to Sarah about his work and his love of comic books, and Sarah chooses a piece of music with Philip's taste in mind.
This week's guest, Michael Dobbs, talks about his work in the House of Lords and Sarah plays a piece of music that she has chosen with Michael in mind.
Penelope Wilton and Rob Cowan discuss silences on the stage, and Rob plays a piece of music he has chosen with her in mind.
This week's guest, Richard Eyre, talks about his role as interviewer rather than director and Rob chooses a piece of music for Sir Richard.
This week's guest Julian Barnes talks about his endeavours in the kitchen, how we listen to sacred music today, and Sarah chooses a piece of music that she hopes he'll enjoy.
This week's guest, astronomer Carolin Crawford, talks about whether or not she'd like to go into space herself, as well as the possibility of aliens. Sarah chooses a piece of music that she hopes Carolin will enjoy.
This week's guest, Olivia Williams, talks about how to prepare for a role at short notice, and mud-wrestling with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Rob chooses a piece of music that he hopes she will enjoy.
This week's guest, Debbie Wiseman, talks about the screen music of Joseph Horowitz, and Rob chooses a piece of music especially for Debbie based upon her musical choices this week.
This week’s guest, Tim Pigott-Smith, talks about his son, Tom, a professional violinist, and Sarah chooses a piece of music especially for him based upon his musical choices this week.