This music-theatre work, based on Russian folk tales, tells of a violin-playing soldier tricked by the Devil. Presented by Elizabeth Kerr (RNZ)

Indra Hughes provides an introduction to the wonderful 'Magnificat', written by J S Bach to celebrate the Christmas of 1723, at the end of his first year as Director of Music at St Thomas's Church in Leipzig.

Amber Read talks to Ross Harris about his music and the four poems by Vincent O'Sullivan which serve as the text and subject matter of his sixth symphony.

Illuminations of the Beyond expresses Messiaen's dazzlement and ecstatic spirituality in his last composition. Presented by Elizabeth Kerr.

The shimmering beauty of Paris is reflected in Ravel's strongly structured masterpiece of 1903. Presented by Charlotte Wilson.

In this 1909 symphony for orchestra, choir and soloists, the vast spaces between haze-shrouded vistas and unfathomable depths of the sea become a metaphor for eternity. Presented by Peter Mechen.

In the summer of 1889 Strauss wrote that: "Beethoven's Eroica is so little beloved of our conductors, and is on this this account now only rarely performed, that to fulfil a pressing need I am composing a largish tone poem entitled Heldenleben, admittedly without a funeral march, but yet … with lots of horns, which are always a yardstick of heroism".

Beethoven’s Third Symphony was criticised for being too long, but he’d already declared his intentions after finishing his  second symphony, in 1802. The 'Eroica' is introduced by Peter Watts.

Inspired by the paintings of Whistler, Debussy creates three moody impressions. Presented by Kenneth Young.

Mahler creates a whole world in a symphony with grand concepts reflecting nature and humanity. He said, "My work forms a musical poem covering all stages of evolution, ascending stepwise. It begins with inanimate nature and rises steadily to the love of God." Presented by David Morriss.