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Adeel Akhtar tells the story of Dvořák’s trauma, grief and musical rebirth after the deaths of his three young children - and how he came to create a powerful musical memorial.

By his late 30s, Antonín Dvořák was a musical hero in his home nation of Bohemia: his music famous for brimming with joy, happiness and the natural world. Yet around the same time, as a young father, he had to endure an almost unimaginable series of bereavement – after losing all three of his children to illness and accidents in barely two years. Adeel Akhtar explores Dvořák’s struggle to go on musically and personally – and how he channeled his deep grief into a powerful and moving memorial to his loss: his Stabat Mater.

In Facing The Music, we experience the human drama behind some of the most extraordinary classical music ever written, told by legendary figures of stage and screen including Toby Jones, Maxine Peake, Andrew Lincoln and Don Warrington. Ten episodes explore the human frailties, obsessions, emotions and vulnerabilities we all experience, and the composers who confronted them - to create extraordinary music that would stand the test of time. In each episode we hear from creatives, psychologists and other experts to understand what we can all learn from their hopes, their struggles and their music.

This episode is narrated by Adeel Akhtar, and features contributors from musician and composer Ben Kweller and psychotherapist Dr Liz Gleeson. The programme is written and produced by Hannah Dean.

Facing The Music is an Overcoat Media production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sounds and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3
The series is written and produced by Hannah Dean, Leonie Thomas, Gareth Ceredig, Katie Hill and Barney Rowntree – with additional production from Melvin Rickarby
Original Music: Peter Gregson
Sound Design and Mixing: Mike Woolley, with additional mixing by John Scott
Executive Producer: Steven Rajam
Production Management: Amy Wheel and Janice Jardine