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Twenty Minutes Episodes

  1.

    Your First 1812

    Children from Amersham Music Centre prepare to perform Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

  2. Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex

    Stephen Johnson explores Stravinsky's take on the ancient tale of Oedipus Rex.

  3. Bittersweet Symphony

    Louise Fryer investigates the inspiration behind Walton's powerful First Symphony.

  4. Dracula's Guest

    Bram Stoker's classic story featuring his great gothic creation Count Dracula.

  5. The Light in Darkness

    A documentary contemplating the 'endless days and nights' that affect Finland.

  6. The Story of the Cross

    Jonathan Coffey on the story of the cross and how it became the symbol of Christianity.

  7. The Rain Horse

    Ted Hughes's short story about a man attacked by a ghostly black horse while out walking.

  8. Czeslaw Milosz: Poet-Witness

    Fiona Sampson considers the work of the Nobel Prize-winning Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz.

  9. William Byrd and Catholicism

    The Rev Richard Coles hosts a discussion on how William Byrd survived as a recusant.

  10. The Ascent of Mount Ventoux

    Petrarch's account of how he and his brother once set out to climb a mountain in Provence.

  11. The Sound of One Hand Clapping

    Musician David Bramwell explores the art of the clap in creating and teaching music.

  12. Some Bloom in Darknesss

    Simon Van Booy's story about love, flowers and mannequins, set in snowy Paris.

  13. Ragtime to Riches

    Bricklayer's son, ragtime pianist, major philanthropist: the lost story of Walter Harding.

  14. Shostakovich's Symphony No 7

    Stephen Johnson explores the symbolism of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony.

  15. Angelology

    The Rev Lucy Winkett explores traditional images of angels.

  16. What Childhood of Christ?

    Helen Bond analyses the Scriptures and the Apocrypha to discover Christ's missing years.

  17. The Art of Fireworks

    Alexandra Harris discusses the history of fireworks at the 2011 Free Thinking Festival.

  18. The Light in the Darkness

    A contemplation of the 'endless days and nights' that affect northern Scandinavia.

  19. Tiny Tales

    Six pieces by Franz Kafka exploring ideas of restlessness and our need to walk everywhere.

  20. Fiddler in the Tower

    Daniel Hope tells the story of Fernando Buschman a violinist executed for spying in WWI.

  21. Paying the Ferryman

    Paul Farley considers poetic treatments of the River Styx and Charon, ferryman of Hades.

  22. Let the Peoples Sing

    Louise Fryer explores the Let the Peoples Sing competition and talks to participants.

  23. The Colour of Genius

    Ella Spira tells the story of a forgotten prodigy, pianist and composer Philippa Schuyler.

  24. You Only Sing When You're Winning

    Simon Townley celebrates the Broadway and footballing anthem You'll Never Walk Alone.

  25. Michael Goldfarb on 9/11

    Michael Goldfarb gives a personal recollection of where he was on September 11, 2001.

  26. Stationmaster Fallmerayer

    Joseph Roth's short story about a provincial Austrian stationmaster's coup de foudre.

  27. Happy Families

    AL Kennedy recalls her first holiday abroad, aged six, arriving in Paris with her parents.

  28. Chance Would be a Fine Thing

    John Sessions reads Anthony Burgess's short story Chance Would be a Fine Thing.

  29. Quakers Don't Sing

    A montage of thoughts on the Quaker movement's relationship to music and silence.

  30. The Stone that Moved

    Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis recalls a wet childhood day in mid Wales in search of Taliesin.

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